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Re: origin of the word "fettler" ?
- Subject: Re: origin of the word "fettler" ?
- From: "chris 'fufas' grace" <chris@transdata.co.nz>
- Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 10:19:01 +1200
- Newsgroups: aus.rail,aus.rail.models
- Organization: transdata corporation ltd, auckland n.z.
- References: <390b8344@newshost.pcug.org.au> <390bfc43.0@203.24.52.5>
- Xref: bclass.spectrum.com.au aus.rail:7473 aus.rail.models:907
Marc Hunt wrote:
>
> My guess, albeit an uneducated one , would be that "fettler" may have to do
> with the condition of the track ie "fettle" = state or condition. Therefore
> a " fettler" is someone who keeps track in "fine fettle"
>
> OK flamers , do your best.
It's like a lot of other terms, most of which have now vanished
outside the USA, which came from the pre-rail stagecoach days. Your
guess is not far from the truth as a fettler was one of the legion of
people who looked after stagecoaches or horses or something -
unfortunately I can't find my Dictionary right now to check.
Another old term, used in the USA, is 'Hostler', who is someone who
works in a locomotive shed. This was derived from 'Ostler', who was a
guy who looked after post horses.