CSX train symbol change

[Junctionfan]

Hello all,

A friend of mine told me that CSX is going to go back to the lettering instead of the numbers, for I.D. That means instead of Q284 (Chicago to Buffalo) it will be CHIBU. If that is the case, what if there are multiple trains that could be running at the same time through out the system in a givin day with the same I.D. A good example of this would be the N, T and U trains that run coal from Russell Kentucky to Toledo Ohio. There is also a couple of regular Q not L intermodals that do the Chicago 59th Street to South Kearny New Jersey run (Q156, and 164) even if they use TV symbol, they still run no more than 12 hours apart which I would think would be a little confusing for dispatchers in Jacksonville.

I know BNSF and UP do this but how? In my made up railroad for Train Dispatcher, I designate an entire letter for the intermodals using "I" for intermodal which makes sense. The 100 series are for mail, the 200 series are for domestic stacks priority, the 300 series are for roadrailer, the 400 series are for piggyback and the 500 series are for normal priority intermodal. Because alot of the intermodal trains go to and from the same place, I used this system as it was less difficult to memorize the numbers and single letter than to mermorize the city symbols etc.

[dehusman]

The UP and BNSF use an optional digit for section number, a letter for the train type, a pair of two (UP) or three (BNSF) letter designations for the origin and destination towns, then various qualifying codes and finally the origina date of the train. The MHONL 21 would be a manifest train from Houston to N Little Rock that departed Houston on the 21st. There are variations and exceptions to that but it works well.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

I've heard the same but instead Q284 (I used the Q284 as an example since you also used it) would be called ACHIBUF

[CSXrules4eva]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

Hello all,

A friend of mine told me that CSX is going to go back to the lettering instead of the numbers, for I.D. That means instead of Q284 (Chicago to Buffalo) it will be CHIBU. If that is the case, what if there are multiple trains that could be running at the same time through out the system in a givin day with the same I.D. A good example of this would be the N, T and U trains that run coal from Russell Kentucky to Toledo Ohio. There is also a couple of regular Q not L intermodals that do the Chicago 59th Street to South Kearny New Jersey run (Q156, and 164) even if they use TV symbol, they still run no more than 12 hours apart which I would think would be a little confusing for dispatchers in Jacksonville.

I know BNSF and UP do this but how? In my made up railroad for Train Dispatcher, I designate an entire letter for the intermodals using "I" for intermodal which makes sense. The 100 series are for mail, the 200 series are for domestic stacks priority, the 300 series are for roadrailer, the 400 series are for piggyback and the 500 series are for normal priority intermodal. Because alot of the intermodal trains go to and from the same place, I used this system as it was less difficult to memorize the numbers and single letter than to mermorize the city symbols etc.

I can't beleive it CSX is thinking about going back to the lettering system instead of the numbering?// Interesting. mmmm. This will make things more confusing not only for me but for the many dispatchers out there and train crews. I have enough trouble understanding the number system.