– Kevin Margan, Madison, Wis.
A Normally any reporting mark not ending is “X” indeed stands for a railroad company (“X” signifying privately owned cars), and UP, like several Class Is, still uses initials of railroads it absorbed years ago because it retained the right to them in mergers. Examples on UP include CNW (Chicago & North Western), CMO (Omaha Road, an old C&NW subsidiary), and MP (Missouri Pacific); examples on Canadian National include ICG (Illinois Central Gulf) and CV (Central Vermont), even though neither exists now. ARMN, though, has an unusual history. Officially it is a Union Pacfiic reporting mark, having come into the UP realm in 1982 when UP merged with Missouri Pacific. While it is difficult to substantiate in any official records, it has been suggested that “AR” stands for American Refrigerator Transit Co., the “M” for Missouri Pacific, and the “N” for Norfolk & Western, after assets of American Refrigerator Transit were split between MoPac and N&W, as the 1964 successor to the Wabash Railroad. Both MoPac and Wabash were St. Louis-headquartered railroads, also ART’s base. UP has recently resurrected the ARMN reporting marks by applying them to mechanically refrigerated boxcars, which are equipped with GPS-monitoring and high-tech coolers.
– Sayre C. Kos and J. David Ingles
– Henry P. Sullivan, Long Valley, N.J.
A Collectively, the red, white, and green lights are called “classification lights,” or “class lights.” Usually, class lights are used at night, whereas classification flags are used in daylight. Each color represents a different set of circumstances. Red indicates the rear of the train. At first glance, you might wonder why the locomotive – traditionally at the front of the train – would be the rear of the train. Technically, the red lamps are markers rather than class lights and indicate the end of the train during a light engine move, when operating as a pusher on the rear of the train, or for snow plow operations. White indicates the train is operating as an extra. Green indicates a second section of that train is to follow. When a scheduled train is operated in more than one section, all but the last section will bear green lights. Class lights are necessary in territory where timetable schedule give trains authority to operate, such as train-order territory. because such territory is virtually nonexistent in modern North American railroading, class lights are seldom lit today, and no new locomotives are being built for the domestic market with class lights.
– Sayre C. Cos and Ed King
– Joseph M. Felker, Plainfield, Ill.
A The initials on the sides and ends of coal cars are called reporting marks, which serve as a unique identifier of the owner of the car. Reporting marks that end in “X” are assigned to railcar owners that are not common-carrier railroads. Therefore, the car owner is a private entity (a private car owner or leasing company). Thus, the cars you’ve seen are all privately held. For the record, NORX is assigned to Northern Indiana Public Service Co., CEFX to CIT Group/Capital Finance Inc., FEPX to First Energy Corp., and DETX to Detroit Edison Co. For a complete list, go to www.trainsmag.com.
– Sayre C. Kos
– Roger Williams, Boulder, Colo.
A A 92-day inspection is a quarterly assessment of locomotives that is required by the Federal Railroad Administration. A mechanic will examine a locomotive from knuckle to knuckle, check its air gauges, speedometer, prime mover, brake systems, springs, lights, traction motors, etc., making sure that each meets the Code of Federal Regulations. A successful inspection is noted on the locomotive’s “Blue Card,” which is similar to the registration you keep in your vehicle. The primary aim of these inspections is to identify and correct safety issues, although many railroads take advantage of the time to perform regular, program or preventative maintenance, going so far as to wash locomotives before sending them back into service.
– Sayre C. Kos
