Since prototype railroads have a reporting marks, it seems in order to be prototypical our railroads should have them too. Those of us modeling actual prototype railroads can use the prototypes marks. But those of us with fictional, freelanced lines need to make up our own. Since my freelanced railroad is the Cherokee Foothills Railroad, I chose the letters “CF” is the reporting mark. What are some of yours?
The Port Able Railway’s reporting marks are PA.
Louisiana and Arkansas (L&A) = LA
Midland Gulf Railway (MGRy) = MG
Since I rotate the time I’m modelling, it changes a little.
Early equipment for my St.Paul Duluth and Canadian Railway (the “St.Paul Route”) use “St.P.D.&C.Ry.” reporting marks. In later years railroads were limited to just four characters, so more modern equipment uses “SPDC”.
Because the railroad operates in Canada (western Ontario) some cars are lettered for Canadian subsidiary Port Arthur, Duluth and Western, using “P.A.D.& W. Ry.” and later “PADW” reporting marks. Both use the standard rectangular St.Paul Route herald as posted on the left margin.
The concept of the railroad is that the real St.Paul & Duluth railroad didn’t become part of Northern Pacific in 1900, but stayed independent and built a line up the north shore of Lake Superior, eventually merging with the Port Arthur Duluth & Western, which was a real railroad built from Port Arthur / Fort William Ontario (who merged to become “Thunder Bay” in 1970) south into northeastern Minnesota. The real PAD&W went bankrupt during the Depression and closed.
“The Mary Lindsay Railroad (MLRR)” = MLRR
(My model railroad is named after my grandmother who was a major influence on my interest in trains)
However; since there is no equipment exclusive to the MLRR, MLRR is never reported when dispatching on the layout. The layout is made up of other railroad companies that use their prototype counterparts’ reporting marks.
The irony is MLRR reporting marks are only mentioned/called on other peoples’ layouts in which track rights are granted and this only applies to unique, custom models built by the MLRR.
I thought about purchasing some undecorated kits and painting unique MLRR graphics but I have yet to come up with an original logo for the MLRR.
Here on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL it is ACR for ATLANTIC CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Time period is 1954, locale Mid Atlantic USA.
Interchange and some trackage rights arrangements with the B&O, C&O and WM.
Sheldon
Emerald, Leemer & Southern…
ELS
Although the only members of the home road roster on the Toledo Erie Central, the TEC are an SW900 and a caboose, that, in fact is the reporting mark for this equipment. When I get a suitable herald or logo for the line, I likely will expand this to some more home road equipment, including some home road cars.
Also, the TEC reporting mark is also the first initials of mine and my two sons.
Chesapeake and Atlantic
CNA
Right now with 3 steeple cab electrics, 4 cabeese, a double ended doodlebug (they run back to back) and two loaned steamers, I had to think a bit about the reporting marks. The steamers all keep their home road. Either SOO or MILW, the Rest get the reporting marks of PNWR thru 1950. After 1950 they are shortened to PNR.
PNWR= Portage and Northwoods Electric Railroad
PNR = Portage Northern Railroad.
Paradox Uravan and Placerville - PUP
Small fanatasy HOn3 line between these main hard points during the WWII Uranium Boom period on the Colorado Plateau. Linked to RGS at Placerville. Ore went on over RGS to Durango concentrator facility.
Richard
Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western RR… SLOW
Registered with the NMRA.
73
My freelanced Bunker Hill & Eastern is BHE
My old White River Southern was the WRS.
My new Central Massachusetts Railway is the CMRY.
Oddly, I thought there was a recent thread (well, a few months old) on a similar topic, along the lines of “your RR history” or something - instead, all I found was this old thread from 2005, along similar lines and with numerous reporting marks mentioned.
I included my reporting marks PDT (Philadelphia Delaware Terminal) and the holding company which supposed owns it and a few other shortlines, but I can’t find it - oh well, I’ll just resurrect the old Central Seaboard Rail, Inc, (stock listing abbreviation CSBRI) as the holding company name.
I actually have three reporting marks:
The S scale rendition of the Citrus Belt is simply CB
The HO scale rendition is the Citrus Belt Extension or CBE, but the CBE has controlling interest in the Orange belt (Santa Fe retains the remaining interest) , thus reporting marks of CBE-OB can be seen as well, motive power and cabooses are leased from Southern Pacific and Santa Fe and cycle on an annual basis, thus I actually have very few items of rolling stock with my home road reporting marks.
Dave
The Port destiny terminal’s are PDT
For my Columbus & Hocking Valley its CHV or C&HV.
For my Huron River is HR or HRRY.
For my Summerset RY its SUMRY or SSR
My layout models the fictitious survival through at least 1957 of the Santa Ana & Newport (SA&N). This line originally ran from the McFadden Wharf in “New Port” to a connection with the Santa Fe in Santa Ana, California. This line was swallowed up by the Southern Pacific around 1900 and all but abandoned by the 1930’s.
On the Golden State Railroad which is based in northern California and southern Oregon. We use the Initials GS. .