Re: origin of the word "fettler" ?

["chris 'fufas' grace" <chris@transdata.co.nz>]

Marc Hunt wrote:
> 
> My guess, albeit an uneducated one , would be that "fettler" may have to do
> with the condition of the track  ie "fettle" = state or condition. Therefore
> a " fettler" is someone who keeps track in "fine fettle"
> 
> OK flamers , do your best.


It's like a lot of other terms, most of which have now vanished
outside the USA, which came from the pre-rail stagecoach days. Your
guess is not far from the truth as a fettler was  one of the legion of
people who looked after stagecoaches or horses or something -
unfortunately I can't find my Dictionary right now to check.

Another old term, used in the USA, is 'Hostler', who is someone who
works in a locomotive shed. This was derived from 'Ostler', who was a
guy who looked after post horses.