Why are many railway infrastructure wagons in the UK named after fish?

Question

There are wagons called Salmon, for example, but where do the origins of naming wagons after fish come from?

Answer 1

I've copied this explanation from the Bluebell Railway website:-

The exact origin of the BR practice of allocating 'fish' names to civil engineering vehicles is unknown. When railway operations messages were conveyed by Morse telegraph or teleprinter, if the number of words in a message could be reduced, it could be transmitted quicker. There were lists of code words for certain regular instructions and also for wagon type and capacity. The Great Western Railway favoured fish names for engineering wagons, and this may have been the origin. Whatever the reason, if one refers to a 'Grampus', any railwayman will know that one is not referring to the similar 'Lamprey' or 'Tunney'.

(I googled 'Grampus' as that is the name I always remember inthis connection!)

Answer 2

cos they have to go over water