What’s in a name?

The Monument City Terminal Division. That’s the name of my layout. I can understand if you have questions as to why; it’s not exactly what I would call an intuitive name for a Chessie System-based layout modeled after Baltimore.

But it does make sense. Mostly. If you have some background info. Let’s see if breaking it down helps you understand better…

“The”

A definite article that indicates that its noun is a particular one identifiable to the listener or to refer to objects we regard as unique.

(I included that one for the grammar geeks out there. And I know you’re out there…)

“Monument City”

I decided early that while I wanted the layout to represent Baltimore, I did not want to be tied down to faithfully replicating each detail. I wanted the license to change things as I saw fit. Prototype-based freelancing. So I decided that I would rename the city and various elements within it. It’s not Baltimore, it’s the flavor of Baltimore. Which is not as good as the flavor of bacon… but what is?

Anyway, for those that have been following along, you’ll know that I discovered Wicomico St. via the B-More Ghosts site. The observant among you will notice that their web address is www.monumentalcity.net, and that is because one of Baltimore’s nicknames is—you guessed it—The Monumental City.  A trip to the Baltimore page on Wikipedia uncovers the following:

Baltimore acquired its moniker, "The Monumental City" after an 1827 visit to Baltimore by President John Quincy Adams. At an evening function Adams gave the following toast: "Baltimore: the Monumental City—May the days of her safety be as prosperous and happy, as the days of her dangers have been trying and triumphant."

Those observant folks I mentioned before will also probably have noticed that they call it the “Monumental City” while I use “Monument City.” There are reasons for that. Really. And here they are:

1. I thought “Monumental City” didn’t roll off the tongue as well.
   
2. Since no one but me—and now you, enlightened readers—are going to know what the reference is anyway, I could get away with it.
   
3. Truth be told, when I decided on the name, I hadn’t looked the the B-More Ghosts site for quite some time, and I actually misremembered the name as “Monument City.” By the time I realized my gaffe, I liked the name the way I had it. After considering it, <refer to item 1>.  

Ultimately, it’s because, as the layout owner who is admittedly proto-freelancing, I can. If you don’t like it, feel free to create your own “Monumental City” layout. I have no issue with that. I’m sticking with “Monument City.”

“Terminal Division”

Someone asked me, after reading my initial post, whether I called it the “Terminal Division” because it was to be my last layout. While I suppose it could be my last layout (building it may kill me—alternately Laura will kill me if I don’t build it), I’m not saying that definitively.

No, I called it that for a very different reason.

First, various railroads have “Terminals,” “Terminal Division”s or “Terminal Subdivision”s. They tend to be areas where a line ends or where there is a lot of switching to be done, as is the plan on the MCTD. 

Second, the Baltimore & Ohio (and later CSX) called the area the “Baltimore Terminal.” In fact, the roadway book that I used to create the Wicomico St. plan covers the Baltimore Terminal circa 1989. This subdivision basically includes the entire city of Baltimore and some of its outskirts. To this day, CSX has a Baltimore Terminal Subdivision.

So you replace Baltimore—which I’ve cleverly pseudonymed “Monument City”—and you can pretty easily make the jump to “Monument City Terminal Subdivision.”  (For you aforementioned grammar geeks, no, “pseudonymed” is not a word.)

Which begs the question: why is mine the “Monument City Terminal Division” (minus the “sub”)? I’ll give you a hint. It’s a little like item 1 above.

And because I can.