Dear English-speaking visitors

How should we refer to each locomotive in our precious collection?

For us, there is no problem. In our language, a locomotive – lokomotiva – is a “she”. That’s simply how our language works.

For you, we understand, there is a choice. An engine, like a boat, can be a “she” or an “it”. Your great engineers often refer to their locomotives quite dispassionately as “it”.

Yet we know that men who worked with steam engines – drivers, firemen, fitters, cleaners – often spoke of their charges as “she”, as if each were a living thing: something to be respected, pampered and coaxed.

We like to think of our locomotives in this latter way, as objects to be treasured and cared for to the best of our ability.

Therefore, we will take advantage of the possibilities your language offers and refer to each of our locomotives as “she”.

It sounds right to us. We hope that you will think so too.

Railway Museum of the Slovenian Railways