Trains.com

Railroad themed license plates..

15925 views
40 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • 223 posts
Railroad themed license plates..
Posted by MarknLisa on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 5:06 PM

What railroad themed licensed plates do you own, have you seen or heard of? Today in downtown Minneapolis I saw a black Telsa with Wisconsin plates: FE EQUUS 

 

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 6:29 PM

STM PWR

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 9:06 PM

A friend has "NW611".

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,901 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 10:37 PM

I see a few of these Nebraska specialty plates in my travels around Fremont/Omaha/Council Bluffs.

http://www.up.com/aboutup/community/license_plate/

Jeff

  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Northern Florida
  • 1,429 posts
Posted by SALfan on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 10:43 PM

Virginia used to have a specialty plate with the N&W 611 on it.  The 611 is Virginia's Official State Steam Locomotive, or some such title.  Was tempted to get one those plates when we lived there, but never did.

 

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, May 4, 2017 7:05 AM

I drive around with "IHB 2920" on my Honda.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,901 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Thursday, May 4, 2017 8:49 AM

Some of my co-workers have railroad plates, but maybe not as obvious to most.

One has "MZ ENGR" on her vehicle.  One guy has "Unstoppable" (shortened to the maximum number of characters Iowa allows) which while referencing the movie, is actually due to an incident a few years ago.

One guy has "Kick Em" on his truck. The railroad relevance is probably more obvious to Ed, Zug and other working/retired rails on here.

Jeff 

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 602 posts
Posted by Bruce Kelly on Thursday, May 4, 2017 11:01 AM

The late Jim Boyd, editor of Railfan & Railroad magazine, had NJ plates that read "RAILFAN." (R&R originated as Railfan magazine, later becoming R&R after absorbing Railroad magazine.)

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Thursday, May 4, 2017 11:03 AM

My plate is simply the four letters denoting a western class I. Most people in Michigan don't have a clue.

Norm


  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, May 4, 2017 3:35 PM

Former co-worker has 'TRN DSPR'

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Thursday, May 4, 2017 4:15 PM

The Pennsylvania "Preserve Our Heritage" series of license plates has what looks like a Grif Teller painting of a PRR (note the Keystone-shaped number plate in the middle of the smokebox) rushing toward the viewer on a triple (or more ?) track main line.  The plate numbers all start with "RR" as in "RR XXX" (see image below):   

http://www.dmv.pa.gov/VEHICLE-SERVICES/Registration%20Plates/Special-Fund/PublishingImages/Preserve%20Our%20Heritage.jpg 

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    April 2016
  • 1,447 posts
Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Thursday, May 4, 2017 4:24 PM

My husband had when he was single ATSF 199 in IL in reference to one of their hottest TOFC trains when he was growing up. 

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Thursday, May 4, 2017 6:07 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
The Pennsylvania "Preserve Our Heritage" series of license plates has what looks like a Grif Teller painting of a PRR (note the Keystone-shaped number plate in the middle of the smokebox) rushing toward the viewer on a triple (or more ?) track main line. The plate numbers all start with "RR" as in "RR XXX" (see image below):

Was never a fan of them.  But I was never a Grif Teller fan, either.  Just not into his style of artwork.

My license plate is a combination of letters and numbers.  Although my front license plate has a cartoon on it (shocking, huh?)

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 1,345 posts
Posted by ATSFGuy on Thursday, May 4, 2017 6:37 PM

Where can you find a railroad themed license plate?

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 1,530 posts
Posted by NKP guy on Thursday, May 4, 2017 7:51 PM

ATSFGuy
Where can you find a railroad themed license plate?

 

   Probably all states sell vanity license plates, because that's what we're talking about.  I envy Pennsylvanians who apparently have a Grif Teller painting available to them.

   Go to your state's BMV website and investigate.  I've often thought of ordering NKP RR or ERIE RR or NKP 765 or even NYCSTL, but my current vanity plate is already something else.

   So spend a few extra dollars and enjoy yourself. 

   How about NO HUNTR or POOR CSX ?

   

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Thursday, May 4, 2017 8:05 PM

NKP guy
Probably all states sell vanity license plates, because that's what we're talking about. I envy Pennsylvanians who apparently have a Grif Teller painting available to them.

Virgina has a 611 plate.  They sell them as souveniers to hang on your wall if you want. https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#splates/info.asp?idnm=JLOC

 

Maybe you can a Grif Teller one from PA as well.  I can't find a link to do so, though.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Thursday, May 4, 2017 9:02 PM

This is a link, but I doubt if you can acquire a plate without owning a PA registered vehicle - though you could contact that PennDOT unit and ask:

http://www.dmv.org/pa-pennsylvania/apply-for-special-license-plates.php 

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    October 2013
  • 75 posts
Posted by spsffan on Friday, May 5, 2017 1:19 PM

I used to have SPSFFAN meaning Southern Pacific Santa Fe Fan. That one went to the junk yard with my 91 Jeep Cherokee and I didn't want to keep paying for it at the time. 

Some years later, when buying a new car, I found that I couldn't get that back, as it was listed as taken by the DMV (probably by me, but who knows). So now I have SPSFMAN. I wash the new car by hand, but back with the old one, the guy at the carwash would always say, " Hi Sports Fan!" I let it go. 

Cheers, 

Dave

  • Member since
    March 2013
  • 61 posts
Posted by usmc1401 on Friday, May 5, 2017 7:30 PM

In San Luis Obispo CA saw ALCO 251 about twenty five years ago.

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • 18 posts
Posted by GERALD A EDGAR on Monday, May 8, 2017 3:48 PM

At our BRHS meets there are always some mbrs with plates relating to the Burlington.  Either NH or VT is the only state to allow use of an '&' (or so I was told) & a mbr has CB&Q on his plate; others use CBQ, Zephyr, etc.

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • 27 posts
Posted by Wake_Hoagland on Monday, May 8, 2017 5:13 PM

The image is the 1928 Grif Teller calendar painting "When the Broad Way Meets the Dawn", which was the first calendar painting Teller did for the PRR. He went on to paint 27 out of the total 33 scenes for PRR calendars. The original oil painting now belongs to the Railroad Museum of Pa., which is how the image got to be selected for license-plate usage. The scene shows the eastbound Broadway Limited meeting the first rays of a sunrise in the Juniata Valley west of Harrisburg, Pa., on the PRR's four-track Middle Division main line. A portion of the extra fees motorists pay for these specialty plates goes toward state historic preservation programs, though not specifically earmarked for the RMofPa.    

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • 2 posts
Posted by SPdave on Monday, May 8, 2017 11:26 PM

SP Passenger Train Historian and firend Jeff Cauthen had SP 27, the number of his favorite SP train the Overland

  • Member since
    November 2016
  • 4 posts
Posted by smph50 on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 5:43 AM

For over 20 years and three different trucks my New York plates read "PRR 4483"

I'm a life member of the WNYRHS, owner of the last I1sa Decapod.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • 1,243 posts
Posted by Sunnyland on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 11:35 AM

very interesting, I have not seen any, but I don't drive far from my neighborhood, I'll have to look when I'm traveling with friends who do highways or on road trips. 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 12:34 PM

Sunnyland
very interesting, I have not seen any, but I don't drive far from my neighborhood, I'll have to look when I'm traveling with friends who do highways or on road trips. 

You might have, and did not realize it.  F'rinstance, "8223NYC" or "NYC999" or even "BLINER" might not be significant to you, but I'd pick up on them immediately.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • 30 posts
Posted by fordv10 on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 1:47 PM

My plates are SD 90 on Illinois route 66 plates.

  • Member since
    June 2011
  • 5 posts
Posted by SRQ Sid on Monday, May 15, 2017 9:38 PM

Since "TRAIN" was taken in Massachusetts, I had "TRAIN1" for years. Lost it when I became a Florida resident. Sniff.

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Anaheim, CA Bayfield, CO
  • 1,829 posts
Posted by Southwest Chief on Monday, May 15, 2017 11:09 PM

Here's mine (For Amtrak train #3...the westbound Southwest Chief):

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
Click Here for my model train photo website

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Oxford, Mich. USA
  • 128 posts
Posted by dmitzel on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 1:12 PM

Bruce Kelly

The late Jim Boyd, editor of Railfan & Railroad magazine, had NJ plates that read "RAILFAN." (R&R originated as Railfan magazine, later becoming R&R after absorbing Railroad magazine.)

 

 

I'm not in NJ but have the Great Lakes State covered.

Helps let the authorities know I'm not a threat when trackside.

D.M. Mitzel Div. 8-NCR-NMRA Oxford, Mich. USA
  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 6 posts
Posted by PETER H ORMSON on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 9:09 PM

NM offers a Cumbres & Toltec plate with a very well done silouette of a locomotive and consist along the bottom

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy