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The BNSF is similar but different. <br /> <br />Sample non coal train: <br /> <br />Z ALTLAC1 20 <br /> <br />First letter is the train type code letters A through Z" <br /> <br />A=Amtrak trains on BNSF track <br />B=Bare table (intermodal with no containers) <br />C=Loaded coal train <br />D=light engine <br />E=empty coal <br />F=foreign train on bnsf track <br />G=loaded grain <br />H=hi priority merchandise <br />I=deadhead crew move <br />J=High/wide special <br />K=helpers <br />L=locals <br />M=regular merchandise <br />N=relief crew <br />O=officers special <br />P=premium service intermodal <br />Q=Guaranteed service intermodal <br />R=road switcher <br />S=Container stack intermodal <br />T=transferservice <br />U=unit train other than coals or grain <br />V=vehicle train <br />W=work train <br />X=empty grain <br />Y=yard <br />Z=Priority UPS <br /> <br />The 2nd through 4th letters are the departing station initials, sometimes intuitive but not always. In this case ALT is Alliance, Tx <br /> <br />The letters 5-7 are the arrival station, in this case LosAngeles, Ca <br /> <br />The station abbreviations can be found at : http://www.bnsf.com/business/html/station_list.html <br /> <br />The number after the stations is the section number (1-9). Which can stand for several different types of trains depending on what type of train is involved (the first letter) such as a grain train whose section number is 6 means "Beans" or 8 means "Corn". You get the drift, it's not that important to railfans. <br /> <br />The last two numbers is the day of the month the train departed. <br /> <br />So our sample would mean a High priority UPS train, from Alliance, Tx to LA, Ca. 1St section, departed on the 20th of the month <br /> <br />For Coal trains the stations are the coal mine and the utility plant and the last three numbers would mean the train number count for the year.
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