Automatic Car Identification ACI railroad ID

[CShaveRR]

Glad I could be of help.  Don't know if you'll find anything in the way of photographs, but this car was part of GN series 18500-19499.

[Steve Monson]

You were right, it was 18700. Thanks all for the info that it was a GN 40 foot box. Steve

[Steve Monson]

I believe it is 0310  0187000, meaning the car number is 187000, but I will check again tonight.  Thanks.

 

Steve 

[BaltACD]

CShaveRR

ACI labels were intended to be applied to every piece of railroad rolling stock, whether it was used in interchange service or not, and whether it rolled on steel or rubber tires.  They had big plans for this system, but a bit of dirt got in the way...

A little dirt and a little heat....labels were routinely burned off on gons use in hot slab loading as well as hoppers that went through the thaw sheds for winter time coal dumping.  A juvenile technology that needed more refinement, refinement which has lead to today's identification systems.

[CShaveRR]

Your reading of the plate contains an extra digit--there should be four for the railroad and six for the number, between "Start" and "Stop".  So it's either "0310/187000" or "0310/018700".

I suspect the latter, because I could find no record of any GN car numbered 187000 (at least not from the ACI-label era).  However, GN 18700 would have been an ordinary all-steel 40-foot box car with a six-foot door opening.

[Steve Monson]

Great Northern - thank you.  

Here is a key I found: 

http://www.icrr.net/aci.htm 

 

My plate reads: 03100187000  

187000 is a nice even number.  Maybe it was saved on purpose because of that?  I don't have any GN books that would tell me what type of car it is, so I would appreciate the answer.  Thanks. 

 

[CShaveRR]

310 is indeed the number for the Great Northern.

Obviously, you're adept at reading these labels, so how about providing the rest of the label's numbers (everything between "Start" and "Stop")?  Maybe we can come up with a good description of whatever it was mounted on.

My friend and fellow freight-car freak Eric Neubauer has a list of the railroad and private car identifications on his website:

http://www.ericsrailroadcarhistory.com/

ACI labels were intended to be applied to every piece of railroad rolling stock, whether it was used in interchange service or not, and whether it rolled on steel or rubber tires.  They had big plans for this system, but a bit of dirt got in the way...

[Bob-Fryml]

Many years ago I was taking a pleasant stroll of several blocks through a back alley in downtown Durango, Colo.  Along the way I found some mixed freight equipment parked in a little-used spur, and on one of those narrow gauge, D.& R.G.W. livestock cars some wag wired an A.C.I. label next to the side door.  I found that sight quietly amusing because I doubted then (and still doubt today) that the Rio Grande would have ever equipped such non-interchange equipment with A.C.I. placards.

[Steve Monson]

 It was found in Minnesota.  I suppose it is likely from the GN, NP, Soo ???  Thanks. Steve

[gopherstate]

I can't find any railroads listed as #310 in my most current issue of the Official Railroad Equipment Register.  Could be a fallen flag, I will try to remember to check on older register tonight.  Matt

[Steve Monson]

 I recently acquired a nice old ACI plate.  The railroad number is 310.  I was wondering what railroad it is from.  Anybody know where to find an ID number list?  Thank you.