NS numbering system?

[J 484 fan]

How does NS number their trains in regards to manifest, intermodals, general merchandise etc. Also how do you know by those numbers where a train is coming from and where it is going? Is there a website that gives this info?
I know TheBullsheet.com shows for CSX but no NS unless I overlooked it.

[Michael Knight]

Some basic, rough information to get you started:

100 & 300, and numeric alpha symbols beginning with a one or three: mainfest

200, and numeric alpha sybols beginning with a two: intermodal

400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 (including most numeric alpha symbols): coal

Numeric alpha symbols, 40X & 50X series: grain

Numeric alpha symbols, 6XX series: woodchips, steel, minerals, etc.

Locals are assigned with a letter prefix indicating the division; yard assignments are designated in a similar fashion.

As I stated above, this is just some rough information off the top of my head. Perhaps someone with more time, than I have, can explain this in further detail.

[J 484 fan]

ok then I'm a bit confused what's with say 13N forPort Wilmington, DE Chicago IL Multilevel TU-SUor
20A St Louis, MO Harrisburg, PA Intermodel MO-FR

Another site I go to I met a guy who is a conductor I wanted to do a sim for TD3 though now I discovered Freight Yard Manager and they have a map for Elkhart almost done. I'm hoping to get YM for it as I only live 15 miles from there. He gave me some train numbers and I am trying to make sense of them so I can properly designate the trains.

[ssw9662]

Also how do you know by those numbers where a train is coming from and where it is going?

There are several sites out there  that say where certain trains originate and terminate. This is a good site for NS symbols, and while it is somewhat older, has a pretty accurate list of trains.

http://www.railfanswelcome.com/TrainSymbols.htm

ok then I'm a bit confused what's with say 13N forPort Wilmington, DE Chicago IL Multilevel TU-SUor
20A St Louis, MO Harrisburg, PA Intermodel MO-FR

If you're asking about the letters, those are just for more possible symbol combinations (up to 360 combinations for instead of 100) . Mostly the letters A, E, G, J, K, M, N, Q, R, T, V, W, and Z are used for symbols from what I've seen.

Also, extra versions of 100 series trains have M prefixes, (i.e. 15T=M5T,  111=M11) while 200 series extras have I perfixes, and W is used for 300 series trains.

[J 484 fan]

ssw9662 Thanks for the link to TrainSymbols.htm has been very helpful.

An interesting  note on TrainSymbols is that the guy who does that site said something of a rumor about NS going to a 3 letter series like CR used to indicate origin and destination. Wonder if there has been an offical decision on that yet?

[Michael Knight]

In addition to each three of four digit/letter symbol, the crew district code followed by the train's date are also included as part of the symbol. On a interesting note, NS's official name for a train symbol is "unique number."

Each series has additional alpha- numeric symbols used primarily to indicate an extra train.

M for 1XX series

I for 2XX series

W for 3XX series

X f0r 4XX series

Y for 5XX series

S for 8XX series

Q for 7XX series

I can't remember the letter used for 6XX series, or any others at this moment.

It's been said, for a few years now, that NS may be converting to orgin-destination alpha type symbols. One such reason I heard for the status quo is the fact that the NS computer system couldn't handle the proposed symbols.

[E.M. Bell]

any second sections of trains starting with a "6" will use the letter "Z", ie.. second 61a is Z1A

[Michael Knight]

any second sections of trains starting with a "6" will use the letter "Z", ie.. second 61a is Z1A

Thanks  E.M., that's what I was thinking.  I wasn't for sure as I don't think I've ever heard a Z train operate in my area.