How can I find out what the train symbols are of the trains that I have shot video of? I shoot the BNSF and would like to identify what the trains are, their point of origin and their destination.
First of all - and this is so important - record the date and location of each photograph. Also be sure to have either the reporting marks (initials and number) of any engine in the locomotive consist or at least one freight car in the train consist.
Now, to specifically answer your question you might try either of two approaches.
You might invest in a inexpensive hand held scanner and simply listen in...if the area where you shoot has defect detectors you can hear the detector "talk" to the train, it will ID the train for you...or you will hear the dispatcher talk to the crew and you can pick the ID up then.
23 17 46 11
Unfortunately, I don't live in a part of the country where BNSF employees can be easily found. Secondly, I have posted on a railfan website and am waiting for a reply. Sure wish it could be easier, but I suppose 9/11 has had some influence on making it harder to get that kind of information.
From whenever I have heard trackside detectors, they do not give the train symbol. They only give information regarding hot boxes, dragging equipment, number of axles, track mileage location, and maybe the temperature outside.
You might get the train symbol/ID by listening to a scanner if the train is setting out or picking up cars at a yard. But if you are out on the mainline between yards, you will not hear much radio chatter about the train, unless it is given special instructions (slow orders, etc.) and they happen to get identified by both the leading engine number and the train ID (which I have only heard maybe once or twice in 10 years... Usually it is only the leading engine number around here where I listen to the U.P. dishbasher.)
But for identifying the train in a video or such, just use the leading engine number and the location, date/time and direction. Most people would have no idea what the "Symbol" of the train means anyway.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Since you're railfanning BNSF, you'll at least need the list linked below....
http://www.qstation.org/bnsf/bnsfsymbols.html
The next step is simply to pay attention to what type of train it is. The freight car consist can sometimes give away the origin/destination of the train. You just have to have a ballpark idea of where the merchandise is headed. Here on NS and CSX, I can tell this by the specific cars that each train carries. For instance, if I see a bunch of kaolin tank cars on an NS northbound, train #174 is the dead giveaway; it's the only train on the corridor that carries them. And unlike NS and CSX who usually announce the train number over the radio when calling signals, a scanner is pretty much useless on BNSF for finding out the symbol/number. They typically just use the lead engine number for identity purposes.
Joe H. (Milepost S256.0; NS Griffin District)
Pictures: http://anb740.rrpicturearchives.net
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/anb740
Thanks anb740. Rather difficult for me to observe and learn the trains of BNSF, since I live 6 hours from the nearest ones. Otherwise your advice is sound.
So I will continue to hope that someone will come up with a way that I can learn of all the BNSF train "line-ups", if nothing else, so that I can get a clue in trying to identify them.
Thanks again.
EMD FAN:
May I suggest that you use the Forum Search Engine within these Forums:
SEARCH COMMUNITY. Located on the right side of the pages. Enter your topic and you'll be surprised the stuff you can access. A search topic you might fined of use ' Railroad Radio Frequencies' might be od use in your search.
http://www.raillinks.com/railfan/pages/Radio_Scanner_Frequencies/ This link might be another resource as well.
Are there any carriers who use numbers instead of these silly letter symbols? Its goofy and just think if Amtrak switched to such a system (which I would never expect to take place but it is one of those 'what if' discussions). Instead of having a ticket on train 4 from Newton-Chicago you would be ticketed on the LACCHI. The old SF number zone symbols were much better than the six letter code BNSF adopted in 1997
Thanks Sam, I'll give it a try.
Mike
CP uses train numbers in the US ie 290 291 292 293 199 198 490 493 496 497 498 499 this is parcel list of trains going thru Glenwood MN.
herdebuCP uses train numbers in the US ie 290 291 292 293 199 198 490 493 496 497 498 499 this is parcel list of trains going thru Glenwood MN.
The problem with CP's system is that it changes over time. In the Ninety's Train #580 was a hot Calgary to Chicago freight, in the 2k's it's a not very hot St. Paul, MN to LaCrosse, WI local freight.
SFbrkmnAre there any carriers who use numbers instead of these silly letter symbols? Its goofy and just think if Amtrak switched to such a system (which I would never expect to take place but it is one of those 'what if' discussions). Instead of having a ticket on train 4 from Newton-Chicago you would be ticketed on the LACCHI. The old SF number zone symbols were much better than the six letter code BNSF adopted in 1997
Actually, the CSX lettering isn't that bad. For Example: X being Extra and G trains are grain. Q seems to be Hot Shots, frequently Intermodals.
-Morgan
EMD FAN From whenever I have heard trackside detectors, they do not give the train symbol. They only give information regarding hot boxes, dragging equipment, number of axles, track mileage location, and maybe the temperature outside.
With CSX changing from a 24 hour 7 day week to a 28 hour 6 day week - the letter identification of merchandise trains is 'all over the alphabet' from the previous Q, R, S, L options for scheduled trains.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
How is the 28 hour / 6 day operation working out?Ed
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.