Change of train numbers

[Aurora SL 1]

Have just finished reading (again) Peter Hansen's excellent article on Northern Pacific's decision to modernize the North Coast Limited ('Dream Trains', Classic Trains, 2003) and I am puzzled about one element of the process. When the the NCL was improved, The Mainstreeter was introduced as its running mate, serving communities that would no longer be conveniently served on the NCL's new, faster schedule, Hansen explains it this way: '... The Mainstreeter, which would assume the North Coast's numbers, 1 and 2 (the North Coast became 25 and 26)'. 

Why the need to change the number? Why not leave the NCL as 1 & 2 and make The Mainstreeter 25 & 26? 

 

[rcdrye]

The NCL was a through train from Chicago to Seattle (and Portland).  The Mainstreeter carried through cars from Chicago, but originated in St. Paul.  NP's desire to have the train carry the same number the entire way meant that Burlington set the number, not NP.  Burlington used 1 on the Denver Zephyr (eastbound was 10, train 2 was an unnamed Zephyr from Hannibal Missouri covered by one of the low 9900 articulated trains).  The pre-streamlined NCL ran as 51 and 50 on the Burlington.

GN used 1 and 2 for the Empire Builder west of St. Paul.  Burlington ran it as 31 and 32 for many years, but it ran under other numbers as well, before it was combined with the NCL and Zephyrs on the Chicago-Minneapolis leg.

[Aurora SL 1]

Hi rcdrye, thanks for the response, makes a lot of sense. Aand I haden't really ever considered that the Mainstreeter originated in St. Paul - something pretty obvious, now that you have pointed it out. I presume the case was the same with GN's 'Western Star'. 

[BaltACD]

One thing to remember - Timetable Schedules are TOOLS for the Train Dispatcher to operate his segment of railroad.  Class of Schedule and Direction of Travel convey operating authority - authority that the Train Dispatcher doesn't have to create through the use of Train Orders.  Timetable Schedules were created to reduce the work load on the position operating the various track segments, especially single track segments - the Train Dispatcher.

First Class schedules were applied to a carriers passenger trains.  Second Class schedules were applied to the carriers freight trains.  Third Class schedules were usually applied to local freights, wayfreights etc.  Theoretically a track segment could be operated on Schedules alone - as the schedules also define the meeting points among the scheduled trains across the track segments.