This might seem like a d’oh question to rail industry insiders, but I don’t know where else to ask.
I’ve been trying to make heads and tails of CSX’s train numbering logic. I used to think that trains would be numbered according to their direction - odd-numbered for Northbound or Eastbound, and even-numbered for Southbound or Westbound. For example, a Northbound ‘turnaround’ might be #151, then become #152 when it heads back South.
But I’ve recently seen some pics where it seems like a particular train always has the same number, regardless of direction. Now I’m totally confused…
In my experience, trains hold the designator they have at departure from their originating station. Thus a train running one way from A to B will be T001, while its counterpart from B to A will be T002. B001, however, is a local originating from A and returning there when done. It will hold the B001 number throughout, regardless of it’s direction of travel.
The numbers can get “bent”, too. We once had four through freights through my area - Q620, Q621, Q622, Q623. The first two involved Selkirk as an origin/destination, the other two involved Dewitt. The Dewitt trains could pretty well be considered north-south trains, but the Selkirk trains would be considered east-west. Due to the numbering practices of CSX the Q620 and the Q623 were southbound through my area… Only the Q620 and Q621 run now.
In general, CSX train numbers are odd for south/west trains and even for north/east trains. However, remember that the route that a train takes will often result in a different actual compass direction from its overall route.
EXAMPLE: Q210 is an automotive train that goes from Columbia, SC - Atlanta, GA - Chattanooga, TN - Nashville, TN - Louisville, KY. This train has an even number because it is considered to be a northbound train. However, between Greenwood, SC and Atlanta, this train is actually heading timetable south (compass southwest) along the CSX Abbeville Sub. For the rest of its routing, this train is always heading timetable north in accordance with its even train number. But if you are on the Abbeville Sub (where I live), you would be surprised to find Q210 moving southbound.
Unit coal trains (prefix T - U - V) are frequently given their train identity at the marshalling point for the empties. The train designation will remain the same for that train from the Marshalling Point to the Mine to the Destination and back to the Marshalling Point, this most frequently occurs on Unit coal trains destined to power plant where the equipment used is owned by the power plant’s owners (CSX equipment can be used in this service also).
classic examples are the q 501 and 500.the 500 starts north then turns west at deshler.The 501 comes east then goes south at deshler.another thing is that csx uses dates on the end of train designations.ex-U99424.so you could see a loaded U99424 going east and an empty u99422 coming west.That also happens with K185 going north and south on the toledo sub.
A perfect example of this can be found on the CSX River Subdivision between Selkirk NY and Northern NJ…This line runs compass North-South, but also runs 'East-West traffic on it.
North-South symbols are odd numbered SB and Even numbered Northbound such as Southbound mixed freight Q409 which runs between Selkirk, NY and Waycross, Georgia. Its Northbound counterpart is a Q410 which runs from Waycross back to Selkirk.
The line also hosts East-West traffic, especially intermodal and autorack…Southbounds are actually considered Eastbounds and Northbounds are Westbounds in this instance…
'Hotshot intermodals such as Q108, Q110, Q164 run East from the Midwest to Selkirk and then turn South at Selkirk…so even though they are running compass South, they retain their Eastbound symboling.
Westbound counterparts such as Q109, Q111, Q165, etc are odd numbered the entire way from NJ to Chicago, etc, even though they will run compass North from NJ to Selkirk. There is also a local symbol that runs in both directions on the Riverline, serving local customers between Selkirk and NJ.
This local is usually symboled a C712.
It retains this symbol in both directions of travel.