What's a Good Term for a "Prisoner Transport?"

[fedorable1]

There's a vehicle mentioned several times in my WIP that is essentially a large military prisoner-moving transport unit. I'm trying to find a good name for it, but I'm drawing a blank. The options seem either too bland or too long.

Any suggestions?

[Nicholas S.H.J.M Woodhouse]

how about just initials which someone could explain at some point in the novel once and that would be all it needed

so, if its a prisoner transport vehicle
its the ptv

?

[fedorable1]

Hm. Could work.

[MadScientistMatt]

Would "Paddy Wagon" make sense for this thing? "Prison bus?" They might very well have carried over old terms even if buses can fly in your setting.

[Nicholas S.H.J.M Woodhouse]

it depends if this is a special ship or not

there are millions of buses now, so the names not worth anything

but the prototype was given a really special name

is it a one of a kind ship?

[fedorable1]

No, it's just a type of vehicle.

[Nicholas S.H.J.M Woodhouse]

then its name probably isn't too great and maybe you shouldn't be too hard on yourself for coming up with 'bland' names, since it would be a (in the context) normal, everyday vehicle

[TheIT]

If the prison has a fearsome reputation, then perhaps the prisoner transport is nicknamed after the prison, something like the Alcatraz.

In Star Trek, the ship Khan and his people stole was named the Botany Bay, and I always found it amusing on Blake's 7 that the prison ship was named the London.

[Andrew Jameson]

How about a "Black Maria"?

[preyer]

i agree with NZ, a PTV works just fine. you could have the characters call it a nickname, but that's impossible for us to know without some details about it.

[alleycat]

PTV works for me. Or PTS (Prisoner Transport Shuttle) or PTU (Prisoner Transport Unit); or maybe just Prison Transporter.

ac

[ANNIE]

what about something simple like the bus. You know, you could say something like- " they loaded the prisoners on to the transport affectionally dubbed 'the bus' by those who routinley manned it." From then it coulld just be called 'the bus' without further explanations.

[preyer]

yep, you could do that. seems reasonable to me they'd have some sort of insider word for it, like 'the con cab' or 'the one-way express.'

just for fun:

http://www.8bm.com/diatribes/volume01/043/892.htm

further, i found this an interesting MB discussion:

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/shank.html


'con carriers'? 'rolling bird cages.' 'meat wagons.' 'ho rides.' 'transom transports.' 'bum rushers.' 'criminal rolls royce.' 'sugar paddies.' 'gangstas last ride.' women brought in for conjugal visits arrive in 'fvck trucks.'

hope any of that helps.

[fedorable1]

Those are funny. :) Thanks for the tips.