small r.r., small fleet

[cabforward]

**there are many small lines that have boxcars with 3- or 2-digit numbers.. why do they spend big money when they should certainly have access to any old empty car? the car could end up on the other side of the continent for weeks.. what's the payoff? is it just to have the name in front of the public?
also, i have seen long strings of hoppers from one r.r., with only 4-digit numbers, where it seems they should be longer.. with a great volume of cars, the numbering would be exhausted..

[Anonymous]

The size of the road has nothing to do with it. A generation ago, the president of a mid-sized railroad, remembering his clerking days writing long 5 or 6 digit numbers, ordered that HIS railroad would be less typical. Mr. Barringer's Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville, the "Monon Route", had a boxcar numbered "1". The number series started at one and went up into three digits. Today, five and six digit numbers are almost necessary account of computer programs.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible for a hopper car owned by one railroad to have the same number as a hopper car owned by another?Who decides how railcars should be numbered?
TIM A

[Jackflash]

Also keep in mind that a large 6 digit number may tell other things about the car than just its
serial number, for instance, the first one or two
digits in a 5 or 6 digit string might be a series
indicating what kind of car it is or note some
other fact about that series of cars,
or most rapid discharge coal cars the first two
digits indicate the year built (or ordered)
such as JHMX 94100, this would be car #100, built
in 1994. JHMX 99100 would be car #100 built in 1999. A lot of the rapid discharge coal cars
follow this pattern. (but not all).
Happy Hollidays,,,jackflash

[Jackflash]

The reporting marks would be different, such as
CSX 123456, NS 123456, UP 123456

[Anonymous]

Yes, two railroads can have a car the same number. The reporting marks (i.e. NS, CSXT, UP, BNSF, etc) and/or the car type would be the delineation. If both were the same car type, for instance a box car, then it would just be the reporting marks. Every now and again two cars with the same number would end up coupled to each other. Each railroad decides how to number their own cars all within AAR computer guidelines. gdc