Hate to sound demanding but does anyone have a current list of BNSF train symbol definitions? I know of several internet sources, unfortunately they are all out of date.
I am particularly interested in section numbers for grain, intermodal, vehicle trains and the priority codes attached to the origin date.
Thanks for your help.
A Amtrak trains
B Bare-table intermodal train
C Loaded-unit coal train
D Light engines
E Empty-unit coal train
F Foreign-railroad detour train over BNSF
G Loaded-unit grain train
H High-priority manifest train
I Deadhead crew moves
J Not used at this time
K Helpers
L Local train (regularly scheduled)
M Normal-priority manifest train
N Hours-of-service relief crew
O Officer specials
P Premium-service intermodal train
Q Guaranteed-service intermodal train
R Road switcher (regularly scheduled)
S Intermodal stack train
T Transfer service (interchange delivery/receipt
U Unit train other than coal or grain
V Vehicle train (auto parts/automobiles)
W Work train
X Empty-unit grain train
Y Yard job (regularly scheduled)
Z Highest-priority-service intermodal train
I appreciate your reply.
The train type prefix I have understood pretty well. I am looking for current city codes, section number definitions, and the priority codes…which I’ve never actually seen a list for.
If you watch the Ft. Madison webcam between 10AM & 1PM Ft. Madison time you will catch a Amtrak EBer going by. [:o)]
absoluteblock, I can help you out.
At Altamont Press they have a full list of the BNSF symbols. Go to http://altamontpress.com because they do sell regional railfan guides. I live in California, so that regional railfan timetable has all the symbols for UP and BNSF
They also have line by line the stations, control points and frequencies to listen to. They may have a guide for your area as well.
While the line by line stations are current, the train symbol data is not. I picked up their most recent timetable and was disappointed to see the symbol definitions being outdated. BNSF uses section numbers that either don’t agree with the listings, or are not even listed at all.
Maybe if I provide some specific examples it would help. In each symbol, which is real by the way, what does each section number represent?
GDDCSBD8
GGDNPTR9
XBNTHIS8
XTACPLH9
PCHIRIC6
PCHISBD6
PCHILAC4
PLAUKCM3
QCLORIC5
QLACNYC6
QNYCLAC6
SNYCWAT4
STCPBPA5
VMCIKCK3
VMCICLO8
VMCISBD7
VHYDKCM3
ZLACWSP1
ZLACWSP2
ZLACWSP3
ZLACWSP4
ZLACWSP8
ZLACWSP9
ZMEMLAC4
I don’t expect a line-by-line response here, trust me. Those are just examples. I am simply looking to distinguish between the following:
GRAIN: Between 8 and 9, are these both shuttle section codes?
VEHICLE: Between 7 and 8, or sometimes 3?
INTERMODAL: Between essentially every number - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
I’ve seen several internet sources, Altamont Timetables, etc. and I don’t necessarily trust the definitions listed. In fact, some of those numbers are not at all defined in the sources I’ve found. If someone with ties to BNSF could help out, I would be very appreciative.
Thanks for your help!
Is this one current:
To be honest, no. Each business unit of BNSF has its own set of section codes. While some may carry over, the codes listed on that site are a poor representation of all trains.