Hello,
Hopefully someone here can help me with these markings. On these two images are the letters “Z” and “SM”.
Does anyone know what they mean or signify? Google hasn’t worked on a railroad, so I am hoping someone here may know.
Thank you to all who reply!
Neal
Hope this helps.
According to the CD-ROM book “Freight Cars Illustrated Volume 9 - Freight Car Appliances” that I purchased in 2009, the “Z” looks very similar to the mark for “Zhuzhou Rolling Stock Works, Hunan Province, China.”
Although the “SM” is not listed, there is a company with the same initials called “Scaw Metals Group, Marshaltown, South Africa.” However, since it is octagonal, it may be the same Chinese company as “Z”.
I hope this information is helpful to you.
For North American practice, AAR standard S-314 covers sideframe markings.
And now we just need this standard.
Regards, Volker
I’ve been looking for a ‘free’ copy or a discussion of standard foundry markings, but have not succeeded so far. Someone with access to a university library would be in a better position.
This one has an A in a triangle. From AAR.org
If you want to do the research: Manufacturers of Rail Car and Locomotive Products - from Progressive Railroading Magazine
I think the A is from the now closed (I believe it was never reopened) Alliance Castings from Ohio.
I may be wrong, of course.
Thank you all who have replied! Greatly appreciated!
Can I presume the “70” means for a 70 ton car?
Here’s a start:
https://www.wabteccorp.com/truck-systems-overview?inline
See page 12. American Steel Foundries seems to have the octagon outline but I don’t see a Z emblem. The .pdf was updated 9/2023.
This article sheds some light on modern-day foundry resources:
https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/freight-cars/steel-castings-then-and-now/
There is the Zhuzhou Rolling Stock Works that BN7150 mentioned and their castings are apparently approved for the North American market. I imagine the SM stands for Sahagun, Mexico.
Good Luck, Ed
That was my experience with Google & Co too.
Regards, Volker
