Is "All Aboard" a command or a statement?

Question

When the conductor of a train yells "All aboard!" is it supposed to be a command for everyone to get aboard, or a statement that everyone is already aboard? I like trains so I've been railroad parks and everyone's walking around yelling "all aboard" but they don't seem like they actually know what they're doing.

Answer 1

its a general warning..

Answer 2

I'd say at one time it was both.

When we were running cabooses, the rear man would say when everyone was on the caboose with, "All aboard. Highball."

On a station platform, it is an announcement to let people know that the train was preparing to depart.

And Rango is quite correct about hand signals and lantern signals. How in the hell are these people gonna operate when the radio fails? Did you know you can count to 30 with hand signals, as well as convey a ton of other info, such as pull, shove, drop, kick, cut in the air, uncouple, hold on to a car, line the switch ahead or behind, baby load, easy, go on spot, get coffee, eat, main track, siding, call the dispatcher, stop, forward, reverse, come to me, move away from me, pull the plug (dump the air, emergency, big hole), bleed the air from the cars, tie hand brakes, release hand brakes, set up the air brakes, release the air brakes, we're f****d, go to the house (end of trip or shift), get in the clear, clear the crossing, cut the crossing and many, many more I'm sure I have forgotten. You could work all day long and never have to say a word.

And, it was an art. Almost graceful, at times.........

Answer 3

It is more of a final command, the engineer does not proceed on the command "all aboard". It is to the passengers on the platform.
The engineer wont move until he gets a "highball" or proceed signal, either with hand or lantern if at night.
Of course that's mostly done with radios now, hand signaling is a dying art form, alas.
Working with a switch crew that uses good hand signaling is a joy, a good swithcman (person) can tell you more with hand signals than a radio and have BOTH hands free to work!!
As to your last line, yeah, I know what you mean, I have noticed the more people yell, the less they know LOL.

Answer 4

I always thought of it being a warning, as in, the train will be taking off soon so get aboard if you don't wan to be waiting for the next one. So it is a suggestive warning if you really think about it. A suggestion to the people warning them about the train taking off in a few moments.

Answer 5

It is an "advisement". The conductor is saying, "We are leaving now" so anyone poking around the platform who should be on the train knows that they are going to miss the train if they do not get on immediately.

Answer 6

It's more of a command to let the passengers know that they better get their butt in gear and get on the train because it's leaving the station, and if they don't get on immediately, they're getting left behind.

Answer 7

last minute command to passengers who may have stepped off of the train to get some fresh air or buy something in the station, or kiss a lover good-bye one more time
(if you're thinking trains, might as well think romance too, right?)

Answer 8

A lot of times I don't know what I'm doin' either but I would think it's more like .. hey you people ... helloooooo! .. we're leavin' already .. so get yer booty on the train babe! lol

oh and I was gonna say .. wow hoghead thats awesome! but I could never go all day at work and not say anything at all .. but y'all probably know that already! lol

Answer 9

both : passengers better git onboard, visitors clear the area
and engineer knows the conductor is clearing for departure

Answer 10

yes this is a command that lets the passengers know it;s time to board and take seats

Answer 11

Statement...