I generally agree with your statements. The term is somewhat, but not
totally, archaic; and did indeed apply to steam locomotives. It may have
originated there, since an early term for railways was 'tram', and THAT
usage seems to have originated in Britian. The word 'tram' evolved,
becomming a widely used term for electric streetcars, both in Europe and
the USA. The word is still often used today as regards underground
mining and tunneling railroads.

However, it also appears frequently in MANY, especially older, machine
operating manuals, machine shop instruction manuals, etc.. These are not
at all just those involved in railroad practice. The word may well have
'migrated' from RR shops, among the earlier heavy industries, to more
general use. It still appears in such publications today, especially as
regards squaring and aligning various machine axes in mills, drill
presses, and the like.

And, it's still MUCH in use in the steam loco fraternity, both with
model locomotives and the preserved full sized ones.

Personally, I've encountered the word MANY times in many places, but I
will admit that I hang around with 'steam loco folks' a lot! :-)

A 'Google' search turned up MANY hits, in various contexts.

The word is certainly specialized, but it's FAR from 'dead'.

Dan Mitchell
==========

Harold & Susan Vordos wrote:

"John Manders" wrote in message
...

"Wet Dog" wrote in message
...
left right is no brainer but in out or back and forth has got me
stumped.......shims is all i can think of but that can't be right
enlighten me please
thanks

For us Brits, what is tramming?

John,

You're question is valid, not only in the UK, but here in the States as
well. Tramming, as far as I know, is an archaic term that was applied to
the application of a tramming tool to time motion on steam locomotives and
other steam engines. How in hell it became the term for truing machinery
is a mystery to me. I've worked in the shop (commercially) since 1957 and
had never heard the term used. Only when I got online, talking with a huge
number of people that run machines for pleasure, did I hear the term used.
Everywhere I worked, dialing in, or sweeping, was the term used. I guess
it doesn't really matter what terminology is used so long as everyone is on
the same page. It appears in this instance that is not the case.

Sort of reminds me of how the word " swarf" is being used. If you buy a
new machine, if it's CNC and produces a lot of chips, they sell you a chip
removal system, not a swarf removal system. A lathe comes with a CHIP
pan, not a swarf pan. Swarf, by definition, is fine residue created by
abrasion or machining. Grinding machines create swarf, lathes and mills
create chips.

Harold