# Big Bang Theory, February 6, 2014 -- "The Locomotion Manipulation" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684 "2014-02-06T19:21:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/21 "2014-02-07T16:47:57Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That’s what he started to do, but he enjoyed the kiss (he leaned in and put his hands on her butt). So he made the first tentative steps toward a physical relationship with her. Maybe by the season finale, they’ll be in bed together. (Still dressed, but in bed together.) I’m pretty sure his hands were on her waist, not her butt. That’s a big enough deal when he just doesn’t do personal contact. This season has been pretty bad so far, and last night was no funnier than the past couple of weeks (i.e. not at all). If the series continues this slide, some will look back and mark “the kiss” as the beginning of the end. If they do, they will be wrong. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/22 "2014-02-07T17:04:49Z")
AFF is due for another chest cold. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/23 "2014-02-07T17:18:10Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > If the series continues this slide, some will look back and mark “the kiss” as the beginning of the end. If they do, they will be wrong. I hope the phrase ‘jumped the shark’ isn’t going to be replaced by ‘kissed Amy Farrah Fowler.’ As in, “remember that episode of Happy Days where Fonz tries to jump over a sharktank? That’s where the show really kissed Amy Farrah Fowler, on the lips.” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/24 "2014-02-07T17:18:36Z")
I too am not enjoying the Sheldon-Amy dynamic. And I agree with **Quimby** , Amy basically had to bribe him to get him to come do anything for Valentine’s Day the least he could do is not ignore her. I did appreciate that the show seems to at least advancing a couple of story lines, Sheldon and Amy and Raj hopefully getting a lasting girlfriend. I will be very disappointed if this ends up being yet another girl that Raj can’t connect with fully. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/25 "2014-02-07T17:37:23Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > As a train geek, I was pretty bothered by them. > [ul] > [li]Amy called it an Alcoa locomotive rather than an Alco. Well, OK, but . . . [/li][li]No railfan would expect the cars to have anything _other than_ an AAR coupler, standard for a century. A particular type (Type H) has been standard for excursion and passenger trains since a bad accident in 1986.[/li][li]I didn’t understand the choo-choo sound effects for electrified trains like the Acela. Or for that matter, ones hauled by diesels (like _The Wolverine)_ that are utterly interchangeable with any other Amtrak equipment in the Midwest.[/li][li]Trains don’t have an _engine compartment,_ they have an _engine_.[/li][li]And it sounded like Sheldon had the _conductor_ confused with the _engineer_. On a passenger train, the conductor stays back in the passenger cars, responsible only for paperwork and closing the doors.[/li][/ul] They got the Whyte nomenclature right; a 4-6-4-4 is some kind of locomotive with 2 cylinders- one set driving the 6 driven wheels, and the second set driving the 4 driven wheels. I don’t quite understand how the nerd was claiming that this could be a 4-10-4 though; they’re not interchangeable terms. I’m also surprised that Sheldon would care about a diesel locomotive; they’re not substantially different now than they were in the 1950s. I could see him geeking out about a steam locomotive though. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/26 "2014-02-07T18:12:50Z")
> [@bump](#): > > They got the Whyte nomenclature right; a 4-6-4-4 is some kind of locomotive with 2 cylinders- one set driving the 6 driven wheels, and the second set driving the 4 driven wheels. I don’t quite understand how the nerd was claiming that this could be a 4-10-4 though; they’re not interchangeable terms. I thought he mentioned something about connecting the two sets of driven wheels with a coupling rod, making an (arguably) 4-10-4, a configuration which otherwise didn’t exist. I got the impression it might have been an obscure experiment or one-off; I can similarly cite a seven-engined airplane. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/27 "2014-02-07T20:14:09Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I thought he mentioned something about connecting the two sets of driven wheels with a coupling rod, making an (arguably) 4-10-4, a configuration which otherwise didn’t exist. I got the impression it might have been an obscure experiment or one-off; I can similarly cite a seven-engined airplane. I’m not a train geek so I won’t pretend to be one. But I did find this on wiki: 4-4-6-4 ([PRR Q2](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRR_Q2)) [37] The footnote says: \*\*[ \*\* [INDENT]Herring, S. E. and Morgan, David P. (June 1966). _ **“Instead of a 4-10-4”** _. Trains (Kalmbach Publishing). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whyte\_notation#Common\_wheel\_arrangements](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whyte_notation#cite_ref-37) [/INDENT]Is that what they were babbling about? As an aside, I’m a little surprised that Howard wasn’t at least a little interested in the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/28 "2014-02-07T20:43:59Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > As an aside, I’m a little surprised that Howard wasn’t at least a little interested in the subject. He’s not that kind of engineer. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/29 "2014-02-07T20:45:38Z")
I’m starting to feel a little bit like Howard. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/30 "2014-02-07T21:02:31Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > As an aside, I’m a little surprised that Howard wasn’t at least a little interested in the subject. He’s an Aerospace Engineer. I can imagine steam power being outside his field of interest. And I can imagine Bernadette in an affectionate mood could be distracting. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/31 "2014-02-07T21:07:35Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > He’s not that kind of engineer. 😛 A good friend was apparently extremely put out as a small boy when he finally got to go to work with his dad, an engineer, and found out that he worked at a paper mill and not with trains. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/32 "2014-02-07T21:25:17Z")
My grandfather was a railway stationary engineer. I was disappointed to find out he only built stuff, and didn’t drive the train. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/33 "2014-02-07T21:57:25Z")
I think Sheldon has become rather nasty. In the beginning of the series, his thoughtlessness didn’t seem to be as selfish and mean. Now he just strikes me as a spoiled brat and I don’t see why any of them have anything to do with him. Even for a sitcom where I’m willing to suspend a lot of disbelief, I’m finding this show hard to swallow. They either need better writers or a quick end to the series. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/34 "2014-02-07T22:09:37Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > He’s not that kind of engineer. 😛 😃 Still, he seems to (or used to before Bernadette) have a wide range of interests. Didn’t he once build a fighting robot and even a robot hand (that’s all he needed)? ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/35 "2014-02-07T22:13:04Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > 😃 Still, he seems to (or used to before Bernadette) have a wide range of interests. Didn’t he once build a fighting robot and even a robot hand (that’s all he needed)? Yeah, I wouldn’t mind seeing Howard do something like that (loved the fighting robot) again. ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/36 "2014-02-07T22:13:44Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > My grandfather was a railway stationary engineer. I was disappointed to find out he only built stuff, and didn’t drive the train. I’ve been an engineer for over 25 years and I’m STILL pissed about that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/37 "2014-02-07T22:31:09Z")
AFF is a neurobiologist who is fascinated with brains. Sheldon being an intellectual equal AND having a clearly dysfunctional brain has got to be an irresistable draw for her. Getting him to behave normally is at once a challenge, an experiment, an investigation, and an act of mercy. She is no more abused by Sheldon than madame Curie was abused by radiation. Penny & Leonard is abuse. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/38 "2014-02-07T23:03:54Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > AFF … is no more abused by Sheldon than madame Curie was abused by radiation. Maybe I’m being whooshed, but Madame Curie died of radiation poisoning. Sounds pretty abusive. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/39 "2014-02-07T23:05:59Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > She is no more abused by Sheldon than madame Curie was abused by radiation. Umm. Radiation KILLED Madame Curie, didn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/40 "2014-02-08T00:23:34Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I think Sheldon has become rather nasty. In the beginning of the series, his thoughtlessness didn’t seem to be as selfish and mean. Now he just strikes me as a spoiled brat and I don’t see why any of them have anything to do with him. Even for a sitcom where I’m willing to suspend a lot of disbelief, I’m finding this show hard to swallow. > > They either need better writers or a quick end to the series. Better writers. Now they have written themselves into a corner - up until now, Sheldon has been either asexual or perhaps deep in the closet. Now with “the kiss” they are going to have to decide if that relationship will progress. I suppose they couldn’t keep up the asexual charade forever, but still - now they do have to choose one path. By turning Amy into a very frustrated heterosexual woman, they are forced to eventually drop her from the relationship or make Sheldon her sexual partner. I think from the beginning they should have shown Sheldon and Amy as the perfect closet cases who are still clueless and thus quite happy to be together and NOT have any sexual encounter whatsoever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684.md?page=3)