Category talk:Rolling stock of China

Naming conventions

From Talk:DF4:

"I removed/-named this page back to the original DF4, as the renaming to China Railway Class did not make anysense in the context that the Chinese do not use this terminology and only (afaik) applies to British railways. Biscuittin, if you still want to move the page, please discuss it here first. Thanks, Poeloq"

That would suggest "China Railways xxx", rather than the current "China Railways Class xxx" or just "xxx", then? The relevant style guide specifies the format (railway) (class) or (manufacturer) (model); it doesn't require the word "class" (see e.g.Category:EMD locomotives), which I agree shouldn't be there if the country/company in question doesn't normally say "Class xx".--QuantumEngineer 18:49, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

I don't really mind what we call it as long as we make it clear that it is a railway locomotive and not a computer or a motorbike. DF4 by itself is meaningless. Biscuittin 21:03, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

I'd like to explain why I made the change. This is an English-language encyclopedia so the article needs an English heading. "China Railways Class DF4" may not be an exact translation of the Chinese characters but I think it conveys the meaning so I don't actually understand why it's a problem. I'd be quite happy to leave out the word "class", as suggested by QuantumEngineer, if this helps. Biscuittin 22:15, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

I've just noticed that all the China Railways Electric Locomotives are headed "China Railways Class xxx" and that was without any help from me. Biscuittin 00:52, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

A further word of explanation. When doing translation it is often necessary to deviate from the literal in order to convey meaning. For example, the Spanish phrase "huevo pasado por agua" translates literally as "an egg passed through water" but, in English, we would say "a boiled egg". Biscuittin 08:57, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

Useful sources

Gathered together for my own easy reference but may be of use to others:

Manufacturers Dalian DF4B/C/D/DD, DF6, DF10D/F, SS4, SS7E and a few units (specifications in Chinese only: Babelfish translation) Datong SS3B, SS4G, SS6B, SS7C/D/E, China Star Sifang No apparent specifications Tangshan Zhuzhou SS3/B, SS4/B, SS6/B, SS8, SS9, DJ, DJ1, DJ2, DDJ1, China Star Ziyang DF4B/C/CA1A, DF8B/BJ, DF12, SS3/B, SS4G

Other (warning: probably fail WP:SPS) Railways of China diesel and electric, including units Railography steam and diesel Hans Schaefer mostly Jitong Railway/QJ --QuantumEngineer 15:00, 23 October 2007 (UTC)