2006-10-02 11:24:06 · 4 answers · asked by STORMY K 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
HIGHBALL—Signal made by waving hand or lamp in a high, wide semicircle, meaning "Come ahead" or "Leave town" or, which is the most common usage, "Pick up full speed." Verb highball or phrase "ball the jack" means to make a fast run. Word highball originated from old-time ball signal on post, raised aloft by pulley when track was clear. A very few of these are still in service, in New England and elsewhere
2006-10-02 11:36:10 · answer #1 · answered by Scottie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is in reference to a railroad yard signal. It is similar to a modern traffic light. Highball means red. This is usually a sign to other locomotives that another train is heading down that particular line.
2006-10-02 18:26:09 · answer #2 · answered by Oklahoman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I've heard from someone who used to work the railroad, the slang term means to push the train hard enought to get it at top speed. Here is what I've found.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highball
2006-10-02 18:29:44 · answer #3 · answered by Sunny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well for those of us old enough to remember "Engineer Bill" on TV in the 50's, I remember him saying "Happy High Ball Engineers" After all these years I just heard a conductor say Something about 'High Ball" on a Amtrak Video. I never new what that meant until today. You learn something new every day!
2014-03-04 21:32:38 · answer #4 · answered by James 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋