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Old Trains Article

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Huntsville, AR
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Old Trains Article
Posted by oldline1 on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 9:27 PM

Does anyone remember an article in an older Trains (maybe in the 1980s) about engine numbers? It was talking about how certain numbers just seemed "right" and kind of ran off your tongue and just sounded better?

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    November 2008
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Posted by Leo_Ames on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 4:09 PM

I believe that you're remembering 'Fast Numbers?' by E. W. “Ed” King Jr. 

It was on page 29 in the July 1983 issue.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Huntsville, AR
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Posted by oldline1 on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 1:55 PM

That doesn't sound familiar but it was a long time ago. Do you have a copy you could send? I don't have anyn prior TRAINS magazines.

 

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Posted by kgbw49 on Saturday, December 2, 2023 11:30 AM

SP Daylights in the 4440s and 4450s sort of snap off your tongue like an auctioneer - forty four forty nine, forty four fifty five, etc., because of the cadence of the syllables.

UP 840s also for the same reason - eight forty one, eight forty four, etc.

NYC L3as as L3bs in the 3030s too - thirty thirty one, thirty thirty nine, etc.

Or NYC&HRRR locomotives in the 990s - nine ninety one, nine ninety nine, etc.

 

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