I have a question about the train numbers seen on timetables: while I understand that Train #2 would the eastward run of a train, and #1 the westward, but how were these numbers chosen?
Does anyone know of some good reference books on the railroads of the South? I'd also like to know where one can find timetables and rule books for these roads, particularly the Southern, L&N, and NC&StL.
Each railroad would choose it's own numbering system for their timetable, although sometimes if a train ran over more than one railroad each railroad would use the same number for it in their schedules.
Generally - but not always - the lowest numbered trains would be the most important, so single-digit train numbers usually were given to the railroad's 'top of the line' passenger trains.
Hi ncandstl576,
There are a number of books on the NC&StL and L&N, but I'll have to dig back for the details. Are you wanting general history, locomotives, rolling stock, etc.? I've been a member of the L&NHS which covers both the L&N and NC&StL, and the NC&StL has a historic society of their own out of Nash-Vegas as well. LMK what you're looking for, and I'll try to help you out.
Ride the Battlefield Route!Ride the Dixie Line!
To and From Dixieland!
Warren
aka dixieflyer500
Attempting to model the L&N and NC&StL in western Kentucky
Ride the Battlefield Route!
Ride the Dixie Line!
To and From Dixieland
NC&Stl Railway
"Railroads of the South" is an extremely broad and deep subject that, can best be answered in the same fashion. Most of the major railroads that served the south are now represented by historical societies that preserve artifacts, publications, etc, of the railroad of interest. Most railroads of the south have been covered in print as well. May I suggest you go to the NMRA's website (www.nmra.org) and visiting their directory of world wide websites. There is a listing of historical societies that may be of use to you. There is also a listing of railroadiana dealers that also lists book publishers and sellers, that may have something of interest to you. Without a specific railroad, era, etc, a better answer cannot be provided.
NHTX "Railroads of the South" is an extremely broad and deep subject that, can best be answered in the same fashion. Most of the major railroads that served the south are now represented by historical societies that preserve artifacts, publications, etc, of the railroad of interest. Most railroads of the south have been covered in print as well. May I suggest you go to the NMRA's website (www.nmra.org) and visiting their directory of world wide websites. There is a listing of historical societies that may be of use to you. There is also a listing of railroadiana dealers that also lists book publishers and sellers, that may have something of interest to you. Without a specific railroad, era, etc, a better answer cannot be provided.
I'd mention the Tennessee Central, but there's really only Cliff Downey's book.
Timetables and rule books can be bought on eBay.
Historical societies might have a timetable or rule book digitized.
The train numbers generally were chosen by the railroad's operating department and may (or may not) have some sort of pattern to them.
For example the passenger trains in the 1800's on my line were numbered up from 2 in order roughly based on the time they originated. The freight train schedules started in the 40's and 50's. After the railroad was bought by a bigger railroad in 1900, the train numbers (and schedules) were more or less the same, but had 700 added to them (2 > 702, 3 > 702, 42 > 742). Then trains that operated a different schedule on and "off day" had 1000 or 2000 added to them. If No 704 operated Mon-Sat and there was a similar train in a similar time slot that operated Sunday only, it was No. 2704.
Train numbers can change over time.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
I have couple question on trackage rights:
If Railroad A has trackage rights over a stretch of Railroad B, and an interchange with Railroad C was on this line, would Railroad A interchange with C the same as B interchanges with C?
ncandstl576If Railroad A has trackage rights over a stretch of Railroad B, and an interchange with Railroad C was on this line, would Railroad A interchange with C the same as B interchanges with C?
Probably no. Trackage rights are a contract between railroad's A and B. It only grants railroad A the rights in the contract. Generally the only trackage rights that allow the tenant road to switch local industries or interchange with other railroads are those granted to preserve competition as a result of a merger. The vast majority of trackage rights prior to the 1980's would NOT allow the tenant to do anything but get on at ONE point, run across the railroad and get off at one point. Trackage rights agreements might have restrictions on the number of trains or even the type of trains allowed to operate.