What's in a name? TRAINS mag editorial.

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
Any one seen the editorial at the beginning of the February TRAINS magazine? The writer wonders how BNSF and CSX might fare if they had names that meant something instead of initials. The editorial includes an artist's rendition of a BNSF loco with the name "Great Western" as an example. The writer suggests Seaboard or Chessie might better serve as names for the CSX. Interesting thoughts. Whaddya think?

Ralph
 
N

nachoman

It would be more interesting, no doubt. But, i don't think it would affect business or public perception. I've worked with clients before that have to look up what their acronym stands for. And the funny thing is, the meaning often no longer applies because the company has now changed its focus. Back in the days when railroads hauled passengers, I can see where having a catchy or descriptive name or nickname would help business. The problem now is that railroads have gotten so large, that regional names no longer apply.

Kevin
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
Names may be sexy, they may be catchy, but unless they were to get back into the passenger business, I doubt that that would be the way to attract more customers. I wonder just how many customers stopped eating chicken when Kentucky Fried Chicken changed thier name to KFC?

Oh, BNSF would have to make their logo on an engine about 10 pt. for:
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Northern Pacific, Spokane, Portland & Seattle, Great Northern, Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company....

Interesting concept though...
 
N

nachoman

HAHA. I remember meeting someone once who was confused then I said "Kentucky Fried Chicken". But then again I was confused when my dad said "Colonel Sanders'" :D

Kevin
 

who_dat73

Member
On the first point I agree with Nachoman

On the Second point from him I pick on my girls all the time for not knowing what the Snorks and Smurfs are and other great cartoons from my generation now that there are no more Sat. morning cartoons I got no reason to get up early on Sat. morning at 30 some years old...
Anybody agree:thumb:?
 

60103

Pooh Bah
A survey many years ago showed that the public preferred firms that had meaningful names rather than initials or abbreviations.
One firm that I used to deal with started as the National Biscuit Company, shortened it to Nabisco, then Nabisco Brands Limited, then became NBL something.
I think it's fine to refer to a company by its initials, but I hate when the name changes to initials.
 

brakie

Active Member
I would hate to see this on engines and cars:
Burlington Northern Santa Fe.That's what BNSF means so it has a name.

CSX last time I heard that meant Chessie Seaboard Multiple Transportation or CSXT for short.

Gotta watch what you read in Trains Magazine and be prepared to use salt if needed.
 
N

nachoman

I was having a few drinks after work this afternoon with my ex-boss and a few managers from my ex-company (my last day with the company was today). We were relating stories of how annoying it is when people use inside-lingo or acronyms, leaving everyone else confused. As company tradition, we always used our name in reports, rather than abbreviating. Many other companies like to use acronyms or abbreviations. A client of ours recently became a little annoyed that we would not abbreviate our company name. I guess he didn't want to pay for the extra ink :) But seriously, what does he care?

Kevin
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
So what if Nabisco changed its name to NBC? No confusion there...! Or even Enbeesee...

I agree with Kevin - no acronyms, no short forms... They are convenient, but quickly loose meaning to those that use them, and convey no information to those that don't.

My favourite response to TMA (too many acronyms ;)) was used by a group I used to meet with on a semi-annual basis. In every breakout room there was a cup in the middle of the table. Over the course of Friday and Saturday (weekend retreat) anyone who used an acronym had to pay a fine into the cup - usually $1 or $2. On Saturday afternoon before dinner, the organizer would round up the cups and buy beer for Saturday night. Suffice to say, we were never short of beer... ;) :D


Andrew
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
My Dad used to work for Nabisco...when it was called The National Biscuit Company. :)

Ralph
 
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