Re: Derivation of Gunzel

["Steve Zvillis" <szvillis@netspace.net.au>]

John Kerley <deaftech@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
D7mk6.2268$v4.96079@ozemail.com.au">news:D7mk6.2268$v4.96079@ozemail.com.au...
>
> Is not the term "gricer" the British equivalent of gunzel?

I seem to recall that "Gricer" was a non insulting term referring to British
fans who were principally interested in particular locomotives (diesels)
either by chasing them down around the country (Hard work if you like '08's
or '47's [or now even '66's!!]) or riding behind them. Other terms like
"Spotter" (self explanatory and the more civilised class of "Anorak") and
"Basher" (an enthusiast who insists on covering as much track milage as
possible) are of British origin AFAIK.
Of course I might be wrong. I expect a U.K. correspondent to set me
straight!!
Regards, Steve Z.

> Whilst gricers
> are stereotyped as always wearing anoraks, the term "anorak" seems in
modern
> British parlance to be a general term applied to all sorts of people who
> don't fit the mainstream, not just railway enthusiasts.
>
> As mentioned in previous posts, the term gunzel has become much more
> respectable in the past decade or so, even to the extent that several
> posters to this group include it in their e-mail address - including one
who
> appears also guilty of overacting!
>
> Nevertheless there are still a few rail fans who get quite upset when I
ask
> how their gunzelling is going.
>
> Yours in gunzelling,
>
> John Kerley
>
>
>
>