Brass hats are trainmasters, road foremen of engines, superintendents and other officials, a name borrowed from the gold-trimmed caps of senior military officers. Their visits mean efficiency tests, rules checks and questions, so a crew hearing that a brass hat is in the yard straightens up fast. Crews say officials or management in the same tone.
Heard on the job
Watch your three-step, there's a brass hat in a white pickup parked by the west switch doing tests.
Insider tip
Crews warn each other about officials with casual radio remarks, so a mention of a white pickup by the west switch has everyone checking their rules.
Also heard as
- officials
- white hat
- suits