I recently heard the Dispatcher telling a train he was waiting for a westbound Z-9. I know he was talking about a Z-Train, but what does Z-9 mean? Are there any other types like Z-8 or something?
Thanks!
—Robert
A -9 “Z” train is the hottest of the hot. It just indicates a pecking order. For example a Z-WSPNBY-9 is a very hot train, while a Z-WSPNBY-1 is merely hot.
they also call them silver z’s, z-9 hot hot hot, everything gets out its way! Generally 9 in the symbol is for time sensitive shipments, i.e. UPS trailers, any train can have a 9 symbol although z’s are always hottest. Than delivery point in the symbol can determine how hot that z-9 is, i.e. Z WSPNBY9 is very hot Z WSPALT9 less hot. Although I have been on a Z-9 when we got parked for several hours behind a maintenance window, the conductor was fuming LOL!!!
Thank you!
Well, you’d think that they were hot, unless you had freight riding on them, in which case, not so hot. Still perhaps hot as compared to a manifest train and I guess its all relative out on the RR.