Ever see a steering wheel on a train? Growing up in Alabama it was of the utmost importance that the gangling young sons of the south understand the meaning and implications of the phrase "Get on the stick". It meant "Get moving! Now! And Fast!" The "stick" we understood to be the lever that gave leverage (sic) to close the valve to increase the pressure of the steam so that steam engines could gain speed. The engineer would lean forward on the heavy lever therefore "getting on the stick".


Please excuse my hasty departure. I wanted to get my post recorded before the quick wits among you did. Now I will go research my resources and uncover substantiation.