What is a symbol freight?
What other types of scheduled freight trains are there, and how are they designated?
A symbol frieght is a regular train on that travels any give line between the same points, carrying the same cargo & ruffly the same time (example, NS 12N runs seven days a week between Detroit and New Jersey w/ auto parts and auto racks). Other types as frights include; As-needed; Often times is coal and other ores. These trains run only when the shipper request that it does (ie, NS 64A only runs when Mittial produces enough steel to fill an entire train). Extras; Sometimes there is too much cargo for one train, so another section will be run behind the normal train (ie, CSX Q353 is the symbol freight, CSX X353 is the second section extra). Hope that helps! -John Ireland
This is interesting. I’ve never heard of this term before. I have heard the different termanology (sp) from various railroads, for “same cargo trains” such as hopper train, unit train…ect I also do realize that different railroads have certain symbols for different trains. Most major class ones use the Alpha-numeric system while CSX uses their own little unique system, such as Q123 vs. NPRCB.
In most cases the symbol reflects the direction “East or West , North or South” the train operates.
Before the NS/Conrail merger the NS trains running East had even symbols,and those running west had odd.Example: train 184 ran east,train 185 ran west.The 185 symbol is still used running west,but since the merger most train symbols here on the Pocahontas Division have changed to all kinds of odd and even.We have alot of odds running east and evens running west.It mainly effected our empty coal hoppers and loaded coal train symbols.The freights all kept the same symbols.
Hope this adds a little more information [:)] .
When conrail was around they used where the train was going like ex… SEEL9-B would be heading westbound and then ELSE9-B would be heading eastbound. Conrail had many different sybols for freight.
thanks jdirelan, i was also looking for this info.