Let me take this time to explain to you folks about the symbols of railroads back in the 90's: SANTA FE: For these guys in the 90's, Santa Fe had quite an interesting system for assigning numbers to their trains. They indicate to where the train originated with the FIRST number, reference to the trains priority with the SECOND number, and refer the trains destination with the THIRD number. At the same time, a number digit before the THREE number symbol would indicate the trains section of it's schedule with 1 as the FIRST, 2 as the SECOND, and 3 as an UNSCHEDULED EXTRA that's runs on an AS NEEDED basis : 1: Chicgao Area 2: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana(VIA CONRAIL CONNECTION AT STREATOR IL) 3: Kansas City 4: Colorado, Kansas, & Oklahoma 5: East Texas 6: West Texas(VIA BURLINGTON NORTHERN CONNECTION AT AVARD OK) 7: New Mexico & Arizona 8: Southern California 9: Northern California For intermodal & manifest/General merchandise freights a #1 would indicate a LOW Priority train while a #9 indicate a HOT high priority train. Then in September 1993, Santa Fe switched to an alphabetical train symbol and while most of all their fleet of trains went to this change, the HOT PRIORITY intermodal trains kept their numerical symbols all the up to and even after the merger with Burlington Northern in September 1995. Those symbol changes come as the following: INTERMODAL Q: Guaranteed Time Sensitive Service P: Priority T: Standard S: Double Stacks or Single Customer Service B: Baretable Trains MANIFEST/GENERAL MERCHANDISE Q: Guaranteed Time Sensitive Service H: Priority Manifest M: Standard Manifest V: Vehicle/Autorack trains U: Unit trains(Potash, Coil Steel, Military Equipment) C: Coal Trains G: Grain Trains L: Local Frieghts Y: Yard Jobs Z: Light Engines(POWER MOVE) F: Foreign Trains From Other Railroads PASSENGER/BUSINESS SPECIALS O: Office Car/Passenger Extra At this same time, Origination & Destination points for trains would start with the FIRST, SECOND, or THIRD letters depending. BURLINGTON NORTHERN: The Burlington Northern mainly kept their numerical symbols all the way to and past the 1995 merger before switching to alphabetical codes in 1997 1-99: Intermodal trains 100-200: Manifest/General Merchandise frights G.#: GRAIN TRAINS AA: Coal Trains Origination 000: Coal Trains Destination SOUTHERN PACIFIC: SP mainly kept certain type of symbols for their trains. Much like Santa Fe, the SP also utilize the the FIRST, SECOND, or THIRD letters of their symbols to determine a trains ORIGINATION & DESTINATION. Even utilize symbols for connecting railroads like NS for NORFOLK SOUTHERN or CX: CSX. NS: Norfolk Southern M: Manifest/General Merchandise trains Q: Quality Manifest G: Grain Trains C: Coal Trains F: Fast HOT Intermodal trains FF: HOTTEST intermodal trains X: Expedited Express Intermodal Trains U: Unit Trains(Rock, Military Equipment) UNION PACIFIC: For these guys like SP, they to stick to alphabetical symbols. Much like Santa Fe, the UP also utilize the the FIRST, SECOND, or THIRD letters of their symbols to determine a trains ORIGINATION & DESTINATION. Even utilize symbols for connecting railroads like NS for NORFOLK SOUTHERN or CX for CSX: T: Standard Intermodal Z: HOTTEST Intermodal A: First Section of Manifest/General Merchandise Freights B: Second Section of Manifest/General Merchandise Freights C: Third(Unscheduled Extra) Section of Manifest/General Merchandise Freights C: Coal Trains G: Grain Trains V: Vehicle(Autorack) Trains NORFOLK SOUTHERN: Train symbols on NS can be quite puzzling but do have meaning once explained: 000-099: Excursion(Passenger/Business) Specials 100-199: Manifest/General Merchandise Freights operating over more than one division. 200-300: Intermodal & Autorack Trains. 300-400: Manifest/General Merchandise Freights operating within a single division. 500-600: Grain Trains 600-700: Unit Trains 700-800: Coal Trains 734-739: Low Sulfur POWDER RIVER BASIN Coal Trains 900-1000: Hi-Wide Specials or Test Inspection Trains In addition to these, the NS also utilizes LETTERS to indicate SECOND(EXTRA) sections of their trains by replacing the first number in the train symbol with either an M, I, W, Z, Y, X, & Q. M: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Manifest/General Merchandise Freights I: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Intermodal/Autorack Trains W: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of 300 Series Trains Z: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Unit Trains Y: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Grains Trains X: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of 400 Series Trains Q: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Coal Trains
Great job Danny! Fun fact, CFRC adopted all of CSX’s operating rules, and with that, CSX trains here are also mow considered foreign, so trains like N040, O741, A784, now operate on the CFRC under Z status so while they’re still N, O, and A, they run on this corridor as Z. Z040, Z741, Z784.
I just wanted say, I've personally adored trains my entire life. And this is the most informative, well presented source of train knowledge I've ever come across. Well done
Most likely because most of the ethanol traffic runs through Canada on both CN and CP. Many times the lead units stay on the train after crossing the border, sometimes the 'accepting' railroad, like CSX or NS, depending on their union rules regarding head end power, or lead power, add their own locomotives to the consist in the lead position.
Well Danny you don’t know what you don’t know and after watching this and many of your videos I learned that I know absolutely zero about trains, terminology, locomotives, signals you name it. Your narration and explanations make these very interesting to watch. I now am addicted.
As always very informative. I have been an arm chair railfan for several years, yet this is the first time I have seen an explanation of train numbering. Great info - thanks.
One of my better consists that I have caught was a Death Star leading a pair of CN cowl units (one was a 60f which has been retired) and a standard cab dash 8
Hello. What a great pedagogy. I've been watching train videos for a long time, not to say years, and your video has given me a lot of answers. It's kind of your part, thank you.
I recently stumbled upon your work here, Danny. Really impressive, outstanding stuff, man. I've been railfanning myself ever since my father started taking me to the tracks all around Maryland when I was a tiny kid, specifically the DC to Brunswick Metropolitan Subdivision. But there is an awful lot of technical info that I just never learned or knew about, until I found your channel. Simply the best videos, knowledge, and passion I've ever come across. Hats off to you, Sir, thank you. You've gained another big fan here.
Thanks so much, Peter! I'm so glad you've found the channel. Sounds like you began railfanning the same way I did; with my dad. Please don't hesitate to send any subject ideas you may have. Thanks again. DH
Mr. Harmon, I’ve been watching your videos since I was about 13 (about 6 years). You have such a smooth, narrative, genuine voice. There’s something about your videos that’s just plain hypnotizing to me. I was pleasantly surprised to see that you recently uploaded a video. Thanks for the quality film. You’ll always get a thumbs up from me on whatever video of yours I happen to watch.
One of the best videos I have watched so far from you. If there was a dedicated train channel on television, you'd be the one I'd advocate for to frontline.
Danny, I am so impressed by the information given on your videos! What I find very interesting is all the little single tracks or sidings these behemoths must navigate. I’d love to visit Florida and see all this in person. Thank you for the great scenery shots and valuable information you share. Please keep it going!
Danny; As one of the people asking about train designations, I thank you from the bottom of my A.D.D. afflicted brain! Again thanks for posting! John Shaw
Coal is making a come back from what I've seen just over the course of a couple months, I've been on the CSX Allegheny Sub past Hinton WV near Talcott and the Big Bend Tunnel and there's been several gigantic coal trains two locomotives with 110 bethgon coal porters and then two more locomotives in the middle followed up by an additional 110 bethgon coal porters, there's also a covered hopper train that has middle DPUs and of course the Amtrak Cardinal passed through there as well, but this video has helped me to try and identify those trains and figure out their destinations
I can't believe they still back into Tampa Station, I remember on the ACL West Coast champion we'd come around a wye, back into the station, there they dropped the coach I was on or a sleeper going to Ft Myers. I lived in Sarasota and went to Florida Central Academy close to Sanford where I caught the train to home, Long wait at Tampa. sometimes up to 3-4 hours.
Thank you Danny for your very very professional presentation, you have a fantastic "Radio voice" and you never falter. I'm fairly new to this game but commend you on your work my friend, thanks from tones1957 in New Zealand.
Another great video Danny I found this one to be very informative keep up the great work. And CSX will sometimes combine manifest and auto racks an example of this Q200 Blue Island Illinois (IHB) to Walbridge Ohio or Q264 Walbridge Ohio to East Brookfield Massachusetts.
Great! Thanks for the information. CSX runs many trains around here (MI, IN, OH) and I was curious as to what the letters/numbers meant. IMO, some of the Conrail symbols were the easiest to understand...for example train symbol STEL ran from Sterling, MI to Elkhart, IN.
These days, CSX intermodals carry an "I" prefix. A while back, I caught I038, which runs from Jacksonville to Pinoca Yard, Charlotte. That was the only time I can recall seeing a live CSX intermodal, though I see a ton of NS intermodal. And up here in the Carolinas, CSX locals carry the "F" designation.
Expanding a bit more on the P-letter trains, but this time centered around Washington DC: Amtrak has P-Zero numbers, but for two lines you have a local commuter rail, MARC, that have P-800 series. This is operated on CSX track by Bombardier under contract with Maryland Transit Administrator's MARC service (Maryland Area Rail Car). They operate on the Cumberland, Metropolitan, Old Main, Capital, and Baltimore Terminal subdivisions. P840 to P860 trains are trains going between Washington DC to Camden Yards in Baltimore; P870 through P890 is DC to Brunswick, MD or Martinsburg, MD; P880 goes to Frederick, MD on MARC owned track and could technically be Z trains were they not passenger trains. And if not known, even trains go west to east; odds go east to west.
Very educational. I did know about the Amtrak numbering system. So many people use the word or letter O instead of saying zero or 0. Thanks for sharing!
Hey, Danny! I was wondering, can you do a video (or a series of videos, whatever you prefer) on the different locomotives? I'm a newer railfan and most new railfans like me can't yet really tell the difference between some of the GE, EMD and other engines. If you could include the things that make them different from each other (maybe the layout of different parts of the locomotive, or different sounds they make (such as the GE 'whooooop!')) that would be great too! Thanks for all of your hardwork you put into these videos!
Great job, as always Danny, but i don't know about this learning while watching my favorite channel on RUclips. Very informative, I had always wondered where CSX and you got the numbers and letters from, thanks for the great info. Now if you could do the same with NS and my favorite FEC, you just might be on to something. Keep up the great work and i'm already looking forward to the next one.
Just realized the K421 with the CN power comes all the way from here in Iowa! It was U70491 from Tara, IA to Hawthorne, IL where it enters CSX territory.
Danny, Nicely done sir. I’ve managed to pull together what I think is a list of the major traffic here on the Mississippi Coast and it matches your characterizations. You did miss the designations for wind turbine trains however - which we see about once every six weeks running west (Railroad south) from Jacksonville toward New Orleans and then points beyond.
Very educational! I live in New Jersey and most of the CSX come on the Lehigh Valley Line. Q300, Q301, Q032 and I think Q031. We also have Q409, Q410, Q434, Q438 & Q439 as well as K140, etc.
We have nearly the same thing here in Australia with the ARTC for interstate trains but we have 2 numbers and 2 letters for it, first number is what day it is, the letters are for destinations and the last number is the company (ie: 3MA8. Tuesday, Melbourne to Adelaide, Great Southern Rail
Great video 😀👍👍 I’ve been watching for 6 or 7 years! I just wanted to let you know, that you should’ve explained X Trains, and how they’re used as extra trains, and as a second train name. Also L, for altered schedule. Great Work, thanks!!!!
If you are also able to obtain a copy of Trains Magazine issue from February 2015, one of the main articles is how railroads number their trains. I have found this article very helpful when attempting to figure out what the heck I am listening to.
Great and very informative video. I always did wonder how they ID their trains. Thanks! Will you also be doing number videos on the 4 other Class 1 RRs?
Great vid Danny! It’s really interesting to see how Csx number their trains and their priority. Out west in Montana coal and grain trains run by bnsf and goes through Montana rail link trackage rights are extremely low priority. Z trains or intermodals are high priority hotshot trains. Also it’s interesting because bnsf does not use the train number on their trains, rather the lead loco. So for instances a coal train is bnsf 7504, regardless of load .
The early days of Conrail and Jersey Central used TV symbols or Trail Van. In the Philadelphia are WP was for local switching, such WPFJ-10 the Bustleton Branch line. WPFJ-10 service industries along US-1 Roosevelt Boulevard in the Far Northeast Philadelphia.
You forgot about the BK symbol. Let me explain. Q518 needed a poke signal out the north end of a siding for switching. DS said Q026 is an hour away so yeah, I'll give you one. Crew replied, "We're not worried about Q026". DS said, "That's the Burger King train. You hold it up and you'll be working at Burger King flipping burgers". Crew replied, "We'll take a couple Whoppers". DS said, "I'll probably also screw those up". :) Great video Danny. Empty grain trains carry a "V" symbol. Mostly northbounds going to load. Sometimes it's hard to tell on the radio if they say V or G. ;)
Very useful info! Now I can hopefully know which CSX trains I'm seeing Now what model of radio would you recommend for listening to crews and dispatch?
Thank you for the number designation video, on CSX. I live in the Midwest, where UP, BNSF, NS, CP, KCS and others are. Wonder how they number? We also have AMTRAK.
This is what I found on the web: On CN, the assignment of train numbers is as follows: 100 = Intermodal 200 = High priority general freight, usually has auto racks 300 = General priority freight traffic 400 = Lower priority freight traffic 500 = Switch jobs etc. 600 = "Potash off CP". 700 = Coal, Sulphur 800 = Grain, sometimes other junk with it 900 = Work trains. On CPR, the assignment of train numbers is as follows: 100-199 Priority intermodal and automotive traffic 200-299 Intermodal and merchandise traffic 300-399 Unit grain trains 400-499 Regional freight trains 500-599 Local freight trains 600-699 Bulk unit trains (other than grain and coal) 700-799 Overflow traffic and detours 800-899 Unit coal trains 900-999 Foreign railroad haulage and non-revenue trains
There is more: To expand on CN's number system: CN uses an TAAABCDD system, where the T is the train type prefix (see list below,) AAA is the train number, B is the region it originated in (see second list below,) C indidcates the section (0 = advance section, 1 = regular, 2 = second) and DD is the date the train originated. Train type prefixes: A = 400-series short haul freight B = 700- and 300-series potash C = 700-series coal E = 200-series priority freight/automotive F = foreign detours and running rights G = 800-series grain H = CPR origin, shared running K = 500-series transfers L = 500-series locals M = 300-series long haul freight P = VIA passenger trains (001 - 099, 600-series) Q = 100-series priority intermodal R = 900-series roadswitchers (IC lines only) S = 700-series sulphur U = 700-series miscellaneous W = work trains X = extras Regions: 1 = Atlantic 2 = St. Lawrence 3 = Great Lakes 4 = Prairie 5 = Pacific 6 = Michigan Division 7 = Central Division 8 = Wisconsin Division 9 = Central Division Example: Train Q1489112 is priority intermodal train 148 (Chicago-Halifax,) originated in the Central Division, regular section, on the 12th of the month.
I’ve heard of trains being called things like “LACBAR” and “BARLAC” by BNSF. Also, I’ve heard them just using numbers of what I think is the leading unit. Finally, sometimes they just call the train by a simple phrase. In LA, we have a daily train that carries rocks. The dispatcher calls it the “rock train”
I will be in the Lakeland / Mulberry area doing some urban exploration of an old Phosphate plant in Nichol, Florida. It seems like the general area is a prime location for train spotting. Are there any favorite intersections or places you prefer to get really good train photos?
3:56 what a catch!!! CN and Illinois Central! Very rare to see that combo!
Let me take this time to explain to you folks about the symbols of railroads back in the 90's:
SANTA FE: For these guys in the 90's, Santa Fe had quite an interesting system for assigning numbers to their trains. They indicate to where the train originated with the FIRST number, reference to the trains priority with the SECOND number, and refer the trains destination with the THIRD number. At the same time, a number digit before the THREE number symbol would indicate the trains section of it's schedule with 1 as the FIRST, 2 as the SECOND, and 3 as an UNSCHEDULED EXTRA that's runs on an AS NEEDED basis :
1: Chicgao Area
2: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana(VIA CONRAIL CONNECTION AT STREATOR IL)
3: Kansas City
4: Colorado, Kansas, & Oklahoma
5: East Texas
6: West Texas(VIA BURLINGTON NORTHERN CONNECTION AT AVARD OK)
7: New Mexico & Arizona
8: Southern California
9: Northern California
For intermodal & manifest/General merchandise freights a #1 would indicate a LOW Priority train while a #9 indicate a HOT high priority train. Then in September 1993, Santa Fe switched to an alphabetical train symbol and while most of all their fleet of trains went to this change, the HOT PRIORITY intermodal trains kept their numerical symbols all the up to and even after the merger with Burlington Northern in September 1995. Those symbol changes come as the following:
INTERMODAL
Q: Guaranteed Time Sensitive Service
P: Priority
T: Standard
S: Double Stacks or Single Customer Service
B: Baretable Trains
MANIFEST/GENERAL MERCHANDISE
Q: Guaranteed Time Sensitive Service
H: Priority Manifest
M: Standard Manifest
V: Vehicle/Autorack trains
U: Unit trains(Potash, Coil Steel, Military Equipment)
C: Coal Trains
G: Grain Trains
L: Local Frieghts
Y: Yard Jobs
Z: Light Engines(POWER MOVE)
F: Foreign Trains From Other Railroads
PASSENGER/BUSINESS SPECIALS
O: Office Car/Passenger Extra
At this same time, Origination & Destination points for trains would start with the FIRST, SECOND, or THIRD letters depending.
BURLINGTON NORTHERN: The Burlington Northern mainly kept their numerical symbols all the way to and past the 1995 merger before switching to alphabetical codes in 1997
1-99: Intermodal trains
100-200: Manifest/General Merchandise frights
G.#: GRAIN TRAINS
AA: Coal Trains Origination
000: Coal Trains Destination
SOUTHERN PACIFIC: SP mainly kept certain type of symbols for their trains. Much like Santa Fe, the SP also utilize the the FIRST, SECOND, or THIRD letters of their symbols to determine a trains ORIGINATION & DESTINATION. Even utilize symbols for connecting railroads like NS for NORFOLK SOUTHERN or CX: CSX.
NS: Norfolk Southern
M: Manifest/General Merchandise trains
Q: Quality Manifest
G: Grain Trains
C: Coal Trains
F: Fast HOT Intermodal trains
FF: HOTTEST intermodal trains
X: Expedited Express Intermodal Trains
U: Unit Trains(Rock, Military Equipment)
UNION PACIFIC: For these guys like SP, they to stick to alphabetical symbols. Much like Santa Fe, the UP also utilize the the FIRST, SECOND, or THIRD letters of their symbols to determine a trains ORIGINATION & DESTINATION. Even utilize symbols for connecting railroads like NS for NORFOLK SOUTHERN or CX for CSX:
T: Standard Intermodal
Z: HOTTEST Intermodal
A: First Section of Manifest/General Merchandise Freights
B: Second Section of Manifest/General Merchandise Freights
C: Third(Unscheduled Extra) Section of Manifest/General Merchandise Freights
C: Coal Trains
G: Grain Trains
V: Vehicle(Autorack) Trains
NORFOLK SOUTHERN: Train symbols on NS can be quite puzzling but do have meaning once explained:
000-099: Excursion(Passenger/Business) Specials
100-199: Manifest/General Merchandise Freights operating over more than one division.
200-300: Intermodal & Autorack Trains.
300-400: Manifest/General Merchandise Freights operating within a single division.
500-600: Grain Trains
600-700: Unit Trains
700-800: Coal Trains
734-739: Low Sulfur POWDER RIVER BASIN Coal Trains
900-1000: Hi-Wide Specials or Test Inspection Trains
In addition to these, the NS also utilizes LETTERS to indicate SECOND(EXTRA) sections of their trains by replacing the first number in the train symbol with either an M, I, W, Z, Y, X, & Q.
M: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Manifest/General Merchandise Freights
I: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Intermodal/Autorack Trains
W: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of 300 Series Trains
Z: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Unit Trains
Y: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Grains Trains
X: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of 400 Series Trains
Q: SECOND(EXTRA) Section Of Coal Trains
Good God Almighty. My head spins. Either from all the designations or you typing out all this. I'll say both. Thank you!
@@roadtoad7704 You're very welcome. Train designations back then were basically alphabet soup.
Wow. Thanks a lot, i appreciate that to explain to my little sons.
@@hathazarathoustra You're very welcome.
So... NS only uses seven letters but they decided to pick I. Which genius thought that up?
Great job Danny!
Fun fact, CFRC adopted all of CSX’s operating rules, and with that, CSX trains here are also mow considered foreign, so trains like N040, O741, A784, now operate on the CFRC under Z status so while they’re still N, O, and A, they run on this corridor as Z. Z040, Z741, Z784.
I just wanted say, I've personally adored trains my entire life. And this is the most informative, well presented source of train knowledge I've ever come across. Well done
3:50 That CN unit was a long way from home
And the IC in trail
I think I seen that train and it was a sight
Yeah. But the IC is harder to catch, especially far east where this takes place (Florida).
A CSX train without a single CSX unit in the consist. Indeed
Most likely because most of the ethanol traffic runs through Canada on both CN and CP. Many times the lead units stay on the train after crossing the border, sometimes the 'accepting' railroad, like CSX or NS, depending on their union rules regarding head end power, or lead power, add their own locomotives to the consist in the lead position.
Well Danny you don’t know what you don’t know and after watching this and many of your videos I learned that I know absolutely zero about trains, terminology, locomotives, signals you name it. Your narration and explanations make these very interesting to watch. I now am addicted.
As always very informative. I have been an arm chair railfan for several years, yet this is the first time I have seen an explanation of train numbering. Great info - thanks.
Wow Danny! You got lucky with that Illinois Central!
I agree!
Yep - very few if any Death Star locos left unpainted
I was up in Ashtabula, Ohio the other day and caught an CN train with 3 of them leading. Wonderful stuff that is.
Wow! Cool!
One of my better consists that I have caught was a Death Star leading a pair of CN cowl units (one was a 60f which has been retired) and a standard cab dash 8
Excellently Produced and Narrated video Danny! Thanks for sharing!
Hello. What a great pedagogy. I've been watching train videos for a long time, not to say years, and your video has given me a lot of answers. It's kind of your part, thank you.
You are such a pro Mr. Harmon. I love watching your videos as I learn so much.
I recently stumbled upon your work here, Danny. Really impressive, outstanding stuff, man. I've been railfanning myself ever since my father started taking me to the tracks all around Maryland when I was a tiny kid, specifically the DC to Brunswick Metropolitan Subdivision. But there is an awful lot of technical info that I just never learned or knew about, until I found your channel. Simply the best videos, knowledge, and passion I've ever come across. Hats off to you, Sir, thank you. You've gained another big fan here.
Thanks so much, Peter! I'm so glad you've found the channel. Sounds like you began railfanning the same way I did; with my dad. Please don't hesitate to send any subject ideas you may have. Thanks again. DH
Mr. Harmon, I’ve been watching your videos since I was about 13 (about 6 years). You have such a smooth, narrative, genuine voice. There’s something about your videos that’s just plain hypnotizing to me. I was pleasantly surprised to see that you recently uploaded a video. Thanks for the quality film. You’ll always get a thumbs up from me on whatever video of yours I happen to watch.
Excellent video, as usual! I learn something every time I watch your videos. Thank You! Keep up the good work!
One of the best videos I have watched so far from you. If there was a dedicated train channel on television, you'd be the one I'd advocate for to frontline.
Danny, I am so impressed by the information given on your videos! What I find very interesting is all the little single tracks or sidings these behemoths must navigate. I’d love to visit Florida and see all this in person. Thank you for the great scenery shots and valuable information you share. Please keep it going!
Danny; As one of the people asking about train designations, I thank you from the bottom of my A.D.D. afflicted brain!
Again thanks for posting!
John Shaw
Thank you for all the information on the trains in your area. I have wondered about this for many years.
P091 comes through my town about 10:00 or so every night so I can relate to it for sure. Great video Danny, I enjoyed it!
Coal is making a come back from what I've seen just over the course of a couple months, I've been on the CSX Allegheny Sub past Hinton WV near Talcott and the Big Bend Tunnel and there's been several gigantic coal trains two locomotives with 110 bethgon coal porters and then two more locomotives in the middle followed up by an additional 110 bethgon coal porters, there's also a covered hopper train that has middle DPUs and of course the Amtrak Cardinal passed through there as well, but this video has helped me to try and identify those trains and figure out their destinations
I can't believe they still back into Tampa Station, I remember on the ACL West Coast champion we'd come around a wye, back into the station, there they dropped the coach I was on or a sleeper going to Ft Myers. I lived in Sarasota and went to Florida Central Academy close to Sanford where I caught the train to home, Long wait at Tampa. sometimes up to 3-4 hours.
Thanks for the video! You did a great job mixing informational audio with train video clips. Your audio sounds really professional!
Thank you Danny for your very very professional presentation, you have a fantastic "Radio voice" and you never falter. I'm fairly new to this game but commend you on your work my friend, thanks from tones1957 in New Zealand.
Why the hell on earth could you dislike this video. Flawless production, great job.
Another great video Danny I found this one to be very informative keep up the great work. And CSX will sometimes combine manifest and auto racks an example of this Q200 Blue Island Illinois (IHB) to Walbridge Ohio or Q264 Walbridge Ohio to East Brookfield Massachusetts.
the toast master is zesty . Nice picture of Howard Goodman. Used to go to their church.
Mr Harmon love the teaching videos keep them coming. I've learned a lot from them.
as usual danny a great video....,,,,,,,,thanks,,,,,,,they are a pleasure to watch and listen to. they are the best videos out there...........
Great! Thanks for the information. CSX runs many trains around here (MI, IN, OH) and I was curious as to what the letters/numbers meant. IMO, some of the Conrail symbols were the easiest to understand...for example train symbol STEL ran from Sterling, MI to Elkhart, IN.
That's surprising to see Q046 has replaced Q188. You also had some nice catches in this video too. I enjoy seeing those YN2 Dash-8's.
These days, CSX intermodals carry an "I" prefix. A while back, I caught I038, which runs from Jacksonville to Pinoca Yard, Charlotte. That was the only time I can recall seeing a live CSX intermodal, though I see a ton of NS intermodal.
And up here in the Carolinas, CSX locals carry the "F" designation.
Danny, Excellent video. Very informative, as always!
Another great video Danny! Can’t wait until your next one!
i found you lol
Thanks Danny another awesome video,
Thoroughly enjoyed it, now I'm gonna go and watch it again.
Thanks
Expanding a bit more on the P-letter trains, but this time centered around Washington DC:
Amtrak has P-Zero numbers, but for two lines you have a local commuter rail, MARC, that have P-800 series. This is operated on CSX track by Bombardier under contract with Maryland Transit Administrator's MARC service (Maryland Area Rail Car). They operate on the Cumberland, Metropolitan, Old Main, Capital, and Baltimore Terminal subdivisions. P840 to P860 trains are trains going between Washington DC to Camden Yards in Baltimore; P870 through P890 is DC to Brunswick, MD or Martinsburg, MD; P880 goes to Frederick, MD on MARC owned track and could technically be Z trains were they not passenger trains.
And if not known, even trains go west to east; odds go east to west.
Very educational. I did know about the Amtrak numbering system. So many people use the word or letter O instead of saying zero or 0. Thanks for sharing!
I get an education, every time I get to watch something you have posted.
Thanks, Danny
Great video. Love the quality narration, had to subscribe!
Rich
Hey, Danny! I was wondering, can you do a video (or a series of videos, whatever you prefer) on the different locomotives? I'm a newer railfan and most new railfans like me can't yet really tell the difference between some of the GE, EMD and other engines. If you could include the things that make them different from each other (maybe the layout of different parts of the locomotive, or different sounds they make (such as the GE 'whooooop!')) that would be great too! Thanks for all of your hardwork you put into these videos!
Thank you. That was a great and informative video. I'd like to see one like that for NS, BNSF, UP, KCS and any others you can.
Great job, as always Danny, but i don't know about this learning while watching my favorite channel on RUclips. Very informative, I had always wondered where CSX and you got the numbers and letters from, thanks for the great info. Now if you could do the same with NS and my favorite FEC, you just might be on to something. Keep up the great work and i'm already looking forward to the next one.
Thanks Scott! I am definitely going to do FEC, hopefully this year.
Well done • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
Great video, Danny! I like the FCEN catch quite a lot.
Thanks Danny, that does help me to understand what trains you are showing.
Great narration, making the video a really interesting documentary!
Just realized the K421 with the CN power comes all the way from here in Iowa! It was U70491 from Tara, IA to Hawthorne, IL where it enters CSX territory.
Danny,
Nicely done sir. I’ve managed to pull together what I think is a list of the major traffic here on the Mississippi Coast and it matches your characterizations. You did miss the designations for wind turbine trains however - which we see about once every six weeks running west (Railroad south) from Jacksonville toward New Orleans and then points beyond.
Very educational! I live in New Jersey and most of the CSX come on the Lehigh Valley Line. Q300, Q301, Q032 and I think Q031. We also have Q409, Q410, Q434, Q438 & Q439 as well as K140, etc.
We have nearly the same thing here in Australia with the ARTC for interstate trains but we have 2 numbers and 2 letters for it, first number is what day it is, the letters are for destinations and the last number is the company (ie: 3MA8. Tuesday, Melbourne to Adelaide, Great Southern Rail
Great video 😀👍👍
I’ve been watching for 6 or 7 years! I just wanted to let you know, that you should’ve explained X Trains, and how they’re used as extra trains, and as a second train name. Also L, for altered schedule. Great Work, thanks!!!!
Great Danny! Sent this link to a few people who had the same questions.
Thank you so much, I always wondered how trains got their names. Very informative.
8:20 that's fantastic! Never seen a Dash running the street before. So weird to see. Very cool.
Very informative. Thank you for sharing, Danny.
Very interesting and informative to a UK railwayman!
Thank you. This was a very helpful video for me as I model csx. David
Informative as usual, well done.
Really cool video and channel. You're easy to listen to. Good job.
If you are also able to obtain a copy of Trains Magazine issue from February 2015, one of the main articles is how railroads number their trains. I have found this article very helpful when attempting to figure out what the heck I am listening to.
Yeah, I see grain trains lots because I’m near Gainesville, GA. There are over 4 feed mills there that are accessible by rail.
Excellent! Thank you! If I ever get out that way from the west coast I will for sure send you a email.
Great and very informative video. I always did wonder how they ID their trains. Thanks! Will you also be doing number videos on the 4 other Class 1 RRs?
Great video. Thanks! Please do more!
Great vid Danny! It’s really interesting to see how Csx number their trains and their priority. Out west in Montana coal and grain trains run by bnsf and goes through Montana rail link trackage rights are extremely low priority. Z trains or intermodals are high priority hotshot trains. Also it’s interesting because bnsf does not use the train number on their trains, rather the lead loco. So for instances a coal train is bnsf 7504, regardless of load .
Great video, learned something new about the railroad
I learned so much from this and I am a beginner railfanner, Thank you
8:00 GREAT shot of Y225 with those wet conditions!
Very informative. Thank you for posting this.
Very informative and so nice to watch, as always…
Very nice Danny, can you do more of these?
Thanks! Yes, I'm working on a new more.
I always enjoy your videos
The early days of Conrail and Jersey Central used TV symbols or Trail Van. In the Philadelphia are WP was for local switching, such WPFJ-10 the Bustleton Branch line. WPFJ-10 service industries along US-1 Roosevelt Boulevard in the Far Northeast Philadelphia.
Excellent video!! Great Video and VO work too!
Thanks Paul.
That was super informative. So cool
Thank you for the explanation Danny.
Very informative! Thanks Danny!
Again, very interesting and educational!
You forgot about the BK symbol. Let me explain. Q518 needed a poke signal out the north end of a siding for switching. DS said Q026 is an hour away so yeah, I'll give you one. Crew replied, "We're not worried about Q026". DS said, "That's the Burger King train. You hold it up and you'll be working at Burger King flipping burgers". Crew replied, "We'll take a couple Whoppers". DS said, "I'll probably also screw those up". :)
Great video Danny. Empty grain trains carry a "V" symbol. Mostly northbounds going to load. Sometimes it's hard to tell on the radio if they say V or G. ;)
Ha!
Once again THANKS! Danny.
Very useful info! Now I can hopefully know which CSX trains I'm seeing
Now what model of radio would you recommend for listening to crews and dispatch?
Thank you for the number designation video, on CSX. I live in the Midwest, where UP, BNSF, NS, CP, KCS and others are. Wonder how they number? We also have AMTRAK.
BNSF ad UP dont use numbers on their trains just all letters.Im not sure bout the CP or KCS.CN and NS use numbers to.
KCS is letters as well - designating departure and arrival yards mostly.
This is what I found on the web:
On CN, the assignment of train numbers is as follows:
100 = Intermodal
200 = High priority general freight, usually has auto racks
300 = General priority freight traffic
400 = Lower priority freight traffic
500 = Switch jobs etc.
600 = "Potash off CP".
700 = Coal, Sulphur
800 = Grain, sometimes other junk with it
900 = Work trains.
On CPR, the assignment of train numbers is as follows:
100-199 Priority intermodal and automotive traffic
200-299 Intermodal and merchandise traffic
300-399 Unit grain trains
400-499 Regional freight trains
500-599 Local freight trains
600-699 Bulk unit trains (other than grain and coal)
700-799 Overflow traffic and detours
800-899 Unit coal trains
900-999 Foreign railroad haulage and non-revenue trains
There is more:
To expand on CN's number system:
CN uses an TAAABCDD system, where the T is the train type prefix (see list below,) AAA is the train number, B is the region it originated in (see second list below,) C indidcates the section (0 = advance section, 1 = regular, 2 = second) and DD is the date the train originated.
Train type prefixes:
A = 400-series short haul freight
B = 700- and 300-series potash
C = 700-series coal
E = 200-series priority freight/automotive
F = foreign detours and running rights
G = 800-series grain
H = CPR origin, shared running
K = 500-series transfers
L = 500-series locals
M = 300-series long haul freight
P = VIA passenger trains (001 - 099, 600-series)
Q = 100-series priority intermodal
R = 900-series roadswitchers (IC lines only)
S = 700-series sulphur
U = 700-series miscellaneous
W = work trains
X = extras
Regions:
1 = Atlantic
2 = St. Lawrence
3 = Great Lakes
4 = Prairie
5 = Pacific
6 = Michigan Division
7 = Central Division
8 = Wisconsin Division
9 = Central Division
Example: Train Q1489112 is priority intermodal train 148 (Chicago-Halifax,) originated in the Central Division, regular section, on the 12th of the month.
I’ve heard of trains being called things like “LACBAR” and “BARLAC” by BNSF. Also, I’ve heard them just using numbers of what I think is the leading unit. Finally, sometimes they just call the train by a simple phrase. In LA, we have a daily train that carries rocks. The dispatcher calls it the “rock train”
Your voice is awesome! subbed and awesome content
Great video thank you for the explanations!
Thank you Danny for the number designation on these trains. Now I wonder no more .. LOL !
Omg so informal. Great wealth of knowledge
Dan,you do a GREAT job Ed.
Beautiful video.
Thanks Danny. Great job.
Thank you for a very informative video.
We pull a W288 loaded gypsum unit train from Georgia Power Plant Carterville Ga to USG Bridgeport Al and W289 empty back.
A short line in Bridgeport takes it to Jasper, TN to be loaded. I pulled a few and delivered some to Bridgeport from Chattanooga.
Awesome video Danny
Now we Know what Happened to the Shell Answer Man. Danny (DS) is Explaining Railroads.😬👍
What a fascinating video Thank you
Very informative, thank you.
Would you do a video on how to determine a locomotive type??? Sd70 , GP38 etc...
Really helpful video! Thanks!
Excellent video!
Well done, as usual!
This guy needs to work as a corporate teacher. His voice keeps you hanging on his every word. I wouldn't mind going to his education seminars.
I will be in the Lakeland / Mulberry area doing some urban exploration of an old Phosphate plant in Nichol, Florida. It seems like the general area is a prime location for train spotting. Are there any favorite intersections or places you prefer to get really good train photos?
awesome video and very cool.