NS Train Symbols

How do the symbols work for Norfolk Southern? I cant seem to get an idea of the way they work.

100's Manifest/Mixed trains
200-270 Intermodal trains
270-299 Auto trains
300-400 Mixed trains
500-600-700 Some coal, also ore, stone, and other bulk commodities
800 coal
900 light engine moves/special work, I believe

In theory, eastbounds have even numbers and westbounds odd, not sure about north/south.

When NS added Conrail's trains back in '99, they ran out of 3 digit #'s so they started using 13 letters of the alphabet to replace the final number of certain trains.

For example, NS train 145 passes westbound thru Fostoria, Ohio each day.
So does eastbound coal train 84M. This train is an 840 series coal train.

There's lots more but that's a start.

So i take it that the letters are used to add more symbols into the system. Thats what was confusing me especially since im used to CSX symbols and to me those seem very simple.

Matt, traditionally North and East trains (as well as airplanes and inter-city busses such as Greyhound) are designated with even numbered designations. And at the same time Southward and Westwards with odd numbered designations.

This is a good subject, I`m bringing back to the main page.

Len

East end with Even Numbers
West end with Odd Numbers
North end with Even Numbers
South end with Odd Numbers

I'm looking for local train # for the Franklin Secondary (Meadville to Oil City, PA branch) and the Meadville Line (ex-Erie Lackawanna main line)?

Would it be odd if it was a Miami to LA Train?

John

AmtrakFan wrote:Would it be odd if it was a Miami to LA Train?

John

I would assume so, since LA is west of Miami.

That seems so arcane and unnecessary. I like the BNSF system much better.

not to throw things off topic but dosen't BNSF's Ore Trains start at 1, 2, 3, 4, ect till the end of the year no matter what direction the train is going??

Santa Fe Sucks wrote:That seems so arcane and unnecessary. I like the BNSF system much better.

NS uses the old Southern Railway computer system and is limited to only three digits. When they ran out of numbers they simply started substituting letters in their place.

SRS125 wrote:not to throw things off topic but dosen't BNSF's Ore Trains start at 1, 2, 3, 4, ect till the end of the year no matter what direction the train is going??

Nope.

I'll throw out another question for the group to collectively gnaw on: What letters does NS use to replace the last digit of its freight trains? I'm familiar with the use of A, K, G, M, N, and J. What other letters are used? Could there be a, for example, "38D" somewhere on the system?