Secret language - Mystery for newbies

[Machinist]

Ah.... then U-Train is that one which carries only one kind of commodity?

and Z-Train, T-Train (does it exist? or am I confused?), X-Train or Boat-Train? etc.

[Ozma]

Z-Train: BNSF jargon for intermodal train hauling both containers and trailers.

T-Train: service designation of the New York City Subway.

X-Train: proposed edutainment passenger service, currently unrealized.

Boat train: passenger train designed specifically to make connection to passenger ships or ferry services.

(Source: The Other Wiki)

[Chessie8638]

Z-Train: BNSF jargon for intermodal train hauling both containers and trailers.

Also Union Pacific.

EDIT: Learn the BNSF / UP train symbols!

Union Pacific:

Example: 1-Z LA BR 6-08

1: Section.
Z: Descriptive Designation.
LA: Origin.
BR: Destination.
6: Day-Special Conditions.
08: Date.

http://fogchart.com/Down/Other/PDF/UPSymbols.pdf


BNSF:

Example: Q-CHC SEH 9-08

Q: Descriptive Designation.
CHC: Origin .
SEH: Destination.
9: Section Number.
08: Date.

http://www.utu426.org/pdf/BNSF%20Train%20Symbols.pdf

[Cardinal51]

Intermodal = Freight traffic that refers to containerization of freight for easy transloading to different modes of
transportation.

DMU = Diesel Multiple Unit. Multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines.

Superelevation = The difference in height between the two edges or the tilt of the track

Cant = superelevation

[Chessie8638]

So, just what do those letters in older locomotive destinations mean?

F: As in the F Unit (FT, F5, F3, etc).
Fourteen Hundred (horsepower) for the first FT. The real hp rating was 1, 350, but EMD rounded up. Some claim it stands for "freight. "

E: As in the E Unit (EA, E8, etc).
Eighteen Hundred (horsepower) for the first EA passenger unit.

GP:
General Purpose (EMD).

SD :
Special Duty (EMD)

BL:
Branch Line (EMD)

RS :
Road Switcher (EMD & ALCo)

S:
Switcher (EMD & Baldwin).

C:
Consolidated Line (Fairbanks-Morse)

MP:
Multi-Purpose (EMD).

One modern locomotive.

ES44AC: General Electric product.

Evolution Series /4,400 horsepower / AC traction.

[Toonces]

EOT Device = End Of Train Device

That sounds a lot like a "FRED" - flashing rear end device.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashing_rear-end_device

This of course leads to the HTD - head of train device (known colloquially as a "Wilma"), which is in the locomotive, and talks to the FRED.

[BNSFdude]

inb4 OP is n00b.

[CSX2057]

I also learned alot about amtrak route names like Silver Star and others from wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Amtrak_routes

Heard that alot from distant signal on youtube.

[fsafranek]

DMU = Diesel Multiple Unit. Multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines.

And of course EMU = electric multiple unit. An EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. Not to be confused with the Australian bird. Electric trains are big in Europe and the Northeast areas of the USA (y'all already know what that one is, right?)

[Meyerson]

very helpful topic ;)

[goddrauG]

Here's some abbreviations from the northeast.
B&M: Boston and Maine
MEC: Maine Central
BAR: Bangor and Aroostook (or Browning Assault Rifle)
NEGS: New England Southern Railroad
T&B: Thurmont and Branford (My fictional railroad)
WHR: West Hallsbury Railroad (my next route)

Lets keep the abbreviation train going!

[AlexMartinez]

This is good to know

[OpenRailer90]

DTG=Dovetail Games

Just wanna provide some commuter railroad abbreviations.
NJT=New Jersey Transit
LIRR=Long Island Railroad
MNRR=Metro-North Railroad
METX=Metra
SCAX=Metrolink
SNDX=Coaster