Re: Fish & Chip(s)

["Garry R. Ford" <garry@merddyn.apana.org.au>]

tezza wrote:

> Can anyone tell me the origin of the name of the old Fish & Chip(s) service.
> There was a lot of discussion in the Telegraph a few years ago but I don't
> know what the outcome was and someone brought it up the other day.

The official version (as reported in 1955) is that the driver of the first train
that later became "The Fish" was a Mr John Heron. He was called derogatorily by
fellow employees the "Big Fish". He regularly worked the up workers' train to
Sydney so it was eventually called  "The Fish".

It  was from around 1880 that the train for workers from Mt Victoria east to
Sydney became known as "The Fish".  It was only a matter of time before the
return trip for workers was called "The Chips".

Forget other stories that have evolved over the years, especially ones relating
to electric stock. This one is well documented by official records and has
always been the only accepted true story both officially and unofficially.

Cheers

Garry