I compiled this list of the Norfolk Southern train numbers circa 1988. It was in that year, NS totally revamped their train symbols to all numeric. The train numbers listed are only the intermodal, roadrailer, and manifest trains.
I prepared the list for those who may be interested in modelling in that era, or for those like me...a train number/symbol hound. I always like to compare a railroad's current operations with when it was in its infancy. In this case, a 24 year difference.
While compiling this list, I've noticed some big differences in NS' traffic patterns and yard production. For instance, the ex-N&W Peavine was alive and well, as was Saluda Hill. NS was in control of the W&LE. Potomac Yard was still open and classifying a significant amount of NS traffic. Atlanta's Inman Yard was also still classifying manifest traffic. Other yards in Portsmouth, Bristol, Moberly, Asheville were bustling while Chattanooga's DeButts Yard seemed strangely quiet. Another big difference...very few intermodal trains!
There's a ton of other differences. I just though I should share this list with everyone. Enjoy!
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TRAIN SYMBOLS CIRCA 1988
INTERMODAL
205 ATLANTA, GA - SAVANNAH, GA
206 SAVANNAH, GA - ATLANTA, GA
209 ATLANTA, GA - JACKSONVILLE, FL
210 JACKSONVILLE, FL - ATLANTA, GA
211 NORFOLK, VA - CHICAGO, IL
212 CHICAGO, IL - NORFOLK, VA
219 WASHINGTON, D.C. - NEW ORLEANS, LA
220 ATLANTA, GA - GREENSBORO, NC
221 GREENSBORO, NC - ATLANTA, GA
222 NEW ORLEANS, LA - ATLANTA, GA
224 MEMPHIS, TN - LINWOOD, NC
229 CINCINNATI, OH - JACKSONVILLE, FL
230 JACKSONVILLE, FL - CHICAGO, IL
231 CHICAGO, IL - JACKSONVILLE, FL
270 ATLANTA, GA - CHICAGO, IL
271 CHICAGO, IL - ATLANTA, GA
296 NEW ORLEANS, LA - ATLANTA, GA
297 ATLANTA, GA - NEW ORLEANS, LA
298 NEW ORLEANS, LA - ATLANTA, GA
299 ATLANTA, GA - NEW ORLEANS, LA
ROADRAILER
243 DETROIT, MI - ATLANTA, GA
244 ATLANTA, GA - DETROIT, MI
253 WENTZVILLE, MO - DETROIT, MI
254 DETROIT, MI - WENTZVILLE, MO
263 CHICAGO, IL - FT. WAYNE, IN
264 FT. WAYNE, IN - CHICAGO, IL
MANIFEST (OPERATED OVER MULTIPLE DIVISIONS)
110 DECATUR, IL - BELLEVUE, OH
111 KANSAS CITY, MO - KNOXVILLE, TN
112 KNOXVILLE, TN - KANSAS CITY, MO
113 FT. WAYNE, IN - DECATUR, IL
114 DECATUR, IL - DETROIT, MI
116 ATLANTA, GA - CINCINNATI, OH
117 CINCINNATI, OH - ATLANTA, GA
118 ALBANY, GA - ALEXANDRIA, VA
121 DETROIT, MI - KANSAS CITY, MO
123 LOUISVILLE, KY - ATLANTA, GA
124 JACKSONVILLE, FL - CHATTANOOGA, TN
126 LINWOOD, NC - ROANOKE, VA
127 ROANOKE, VA - LINWOOD, NC
128 LINWOOD, NC - PORTSMOUTH, OH
129 PORTSMOUTH, OH - LINWOOD, NC
131 BELLEVUE, OH - DETROIT, MI
132 DETROIT, MI - ROOK, PA
133 BELLEVUE, OH - DETROIT, MI
134 DETROIT, MI - BELLEVUE, OH
135 MACON, GA - BIRMINGHAM, AL
136 BIRMINGHAM, AL - MACON, GA
138 MACON, GA - LINWOOD, NC
139 KNOXVILLE, TN - ATLANTA, GA
140 ATLANTA, GA - KNOXVILLE, TN
141 ATLANTA, GA - JACKSONVILLE, FL
142 JACKSONVILLE, FL - ATLANTA, GA
143 CHICAGO, IL - ATLNATA, GA
144 ATLANTA, GA - CHICAGO, IL
145 ST. THOMAS, ON - KANSAS CITY, MO
146 KANSAS CITY, MO - ST. THOMAS, ON
147 ROANOKE, VA - PORTSMOUTH, VA
148 PORTSMOUTH, OH - ROANOKE, VA
150 MACON, GA - CINCINNATI, OH
151 CINCINNATI, OH - ATLANTA, GA
152 SHEFFIELD, AL - LINWOOD, NC
154 BIRMINGHAM, AL - ALEXANDRIA, VA
155 LINWOOD, NC - MACON, GA
156 SAVANNAH, GA - ALEXANDRIA, VA
157 LINWOOD, NC - SAVANNAH, GA
160 MACON, GA - LOUISVILLE, KY
161 LOUISVILLE, KY - MACON, GA
162 KNOXVILLE, TN - LINWOOD, NC
163 LINWOOD, NC - MEMPHIS, TN
164 KNOXVILLE, TN - LINWOOD, NC
165 LINWOOD, NC - SHEFFIELD, AL
166 PORTSMOUTH, OH - WINSTON-SALEM, NC
167 PORTSMOUTH, OH - DECATUR, IL
168 DECATUR, IL - PORTSMOUTH, OH
169 LINWOOD, NC - BIRMINGHAM, AL
170 MACON, GA - LINWOOD, NC
171 CHARLESTON, SC - KNOXVILLE, TN
172 KNOXVILLE, TN - CHARLESTON, SC
173 ALEXANDRIA, VA - MEMPHIS, TN
175 CINCINNATI, OH - KNOXVILLE, TN
176 KNOXVILLE, TN - CINCINNATI, OH
177 ALEXANDRIA, VA - ROANOKE, VA
178 ROANOKE, VA - ALEXANDRIA, VA
181 DETROIT, MI - WENTZVILLE, MO
182 DECATUR, IL - DETROIT, MI
183 BELLEVUE, OH - DECATUR, IL
184 BELLEVUE, OH - ROANOKE, VA
185 NORFOLK, VA - PORTSMOUTH, OH
186 CHICAGO, IL - PORTSMOUTH, OH
187 CINCINNATI, OH - ATLANTA, GA
188 ATLANTA, GA - CINCINNATI, OH
189 ROANOKE, VA - PORTSMOUTH, OH
190 PORTSMOUTH, OH - ROANOKE, VA
191 AUGUSTA, GA - SHEFFIELD, AL
192 SHEFFIELD, AL - MACON, GA
193 ROANOKE, VA - BELLEVUE, OH
195 ROANOKE, VA - PORTSMOUTH, OH
196 ATLANTA, GA - FT. WAYNE, IN
197 FT. WAYNE, IN - ATLANTA, GA
198 VALDOSTA, GA - BIRMINGHAM, AL
199 BIRMINGHAM, AL - VALDOSTA, GA
MANIFEST (OPERATED OVER A SINGLE DIVISION)
301 BELLEVUE, OH - FT. WAYNE, IN
302 FT. WAYNE, IN - BELLEVUE, OH
303 BUFFALO, NY - BELLEVUE, OH
304 BELLEVUE, OH - BUFFALO, NY
305 BELLEVUE, OH - CHICAGO, IL
307 BELLEVUE, OH - CHICAGO, IL
308 CHICAGO, IL - BELLEVUE, OH
309 BUFFALO, NY - BELLEVUE, OH
310 BELLEVUE, OH - BUFFALO, NY
311 MACON, GA - BRUNSWICK, GA
312 BRUNSWICK, GA - MACON, GA
313 DECATUR, IL - MOBERLY, MO
314 NEW ORLEANS, LA - BIRMINGHAM, AL
315 BIRMINGHAM, AL - NEW ORLEANS, LA
316 KANSAS CITY, MO - MOBERLY, MO
317 CHICAGO, IL - ST. LOUIS, MO
318 ST. LOUIS, MO - CHICAGO, IL
319 DECATUR, IL - ST. LOUIS, MO
321 ROANOKE, VA - BRISTOL, VA
322 BRISTOL, VA - ROANOKE, VA
323 EAST ST. LOUIS, IL - LOUISVILLE, KY
324 CHATTANOOGA, TN - EAST ST. LOUIS, IL
331 ROOK, PA - BELLEVUE, OH
332 BELLEVUE, OH - ROOK, PA
333 CHATTANOOGA, TN - BIRMINGHAM, AL
334 BIRMINGHAM, AL - CHATTANOOGA, TN
335 SAVANNAH, GA - MACON, GA
336 MACON, GA - SAVANNAH, GA
337 LINWOOD, NC - AUGUSTA, GA
339 ATLANTA, GA - MACON, GA
340 MACON, GA - ATLANTA, GA
341 ALEXANDRIA, VA - LINWOOD, NC
342 LINWOOD, NC - ALEXANDRIA, VA
344 CHATTANOOGA, TN - CINCINNATI, OH
345 RICHMOND, VA - LYNCHBURG, VA
346 LYNCHBURG, VA - RICHMOND, VA
347 WINSTON-SALEM, NC - ROANOKE, VA
348 ROANOKE, VA - NORFOLK, VA
349 CHOCOWINITY, NC - LINWOOD, NC
350 LINWOOD, NC - CHOCOWINITY, NC
351 HAGERSTOWN, MD - ROANOKE, VA
352 ROANOKE, VA - HAGERSTOWN, MD
353 ATLANTA, GA - BIRMINGHAM, AL
355 ALEXANDRIA, VA - LINWOOD, NC
356 ROANOKE, VA - WINSTON-SALEM, NC
357 WINSTON-SALEM, NC - ROANOKE, VA
358 LINWOOD, NC - MONROE, VA
359 MONROE, VA - LINWOOD, NC
362 MEMPHIS, TN - SHEFFIELD, AL
364 MEMPHIS, TN - SHEFFIELD, AL
365 SHEFFIELD, AL - MEMPHIS, TN
366 ASHEVILLE, NC - LINWOOD, NC
367 LINWOOD, NC - ASHEVILLE, NC
368 NEW ORLEANS, LA - ATLANTA, GA
369 BIRMINGHAM, AL - NEW ORLEANS, LA
372 COLUMBIA, SC - CHARLESTON, SC
373 ATLANTA, GA - SHEFFIELD, AL
377 SPARTANBURG, SC - ASHVILLE, NC
378 ASHEVILLE, NC - SPARTANBURG, SC
380 BIRMINGHAM, AL - CHATTANOOGA, TN
381 CHATTANOOGA, TN - BIRMINGHAM, AL
383 DECATUR, IL - KANSAS CITY, MO
385 PORTSMOUTH, OH - BELLEVUE, OH
386 KNOXVILLE, TN - BRISTOL, VA
387 BRISTOL, VA - KNOXVILLE, TN
388 KNOXVILLE, TN - BRISTOL, VA
389 BRISTOL, VA - KNOXVILLE, TN
390 MEMPHIS, TN - SHEFFIELD, AL
391 SHEFFIELD, AL - MEMPHIS, TN
392 MEMPHIS, TN - SHEFFIELD, AL
393 BIRMINGHAM, AL - NEW ORLEANS, LA
394 NEW ORLEANS, LA - BIRMINGHAM, AL
395 SHEFFIELD, AL - MEMPHIS, TN
396 MEMPHIS, TN - SHEFFIELD, AL
397 SHEFFIELD, AL - MEMPHIS, TN
398 JACKSONVILLE, FL - VALDOSTA, GA
399 VALDOSTA, GA - JACKSONVILLE, FL
401 DECATUR, IL - FEDERAL, IL
402 FEDERAL, IL - DECATUR, IL
403 MOBERLY, MO - DES MOINES, IA
404 DES MOINES, IA - MOBERLY, MO
405 AKRON, OH - CAREY, OH
406 CAREY, OH - AKRON, OH
407 FRANKORT, IN - DECATUR, IL
408 DECATUR, IL - FRANKFORT, IN
411 DETROIT, MI - CHICAGO, IL
412 CHICAGO, IL - DETROIT, MI
413 MOBERLY, MO - KANSAS CITY, MO
415 DECATUR, IL - FRANKFORT, IN
416 MOBERLY, MO - DECATUR, IL
417 CHICAGO, IL - DECATUR, IL
418 DECATUR, IL - CHICAGO, IL
420 KANSAS CITY, MO - ST. LOUIS, MO
421 ST. LOUIS, MO - MOBERLY, MO
422 KANSAS CITY, MO - DECATUR, IL
423 ATLANTA, GA - MACON, GA
424 KANSAS CITY, MO - DECATUR, IL
430 CINCINNATI, OH - FT. WAYNE, IN
432 BELLEVUE, OH - ROOK, PA
433 CHATTANOOGA, TN - BIRMINGHAM, AL
434 BIRMINGHAM, AL - CHATTANOOGA, TN
435 SAVANNAH, GA - MACON, GA
436 MACON, GA - SAVANNAH, GA
437 DECATUR, IL - EAST ST. LOUIS, IL
438 EAST ST. LOUIS, IL - DECATUR, IL
440 MACON, GA - ATLANTA, GA
441 ROANOKE, VA - BLUEFIELD, WV
442 ATLANTA, GA - LINWOOD, NC
444 CINCINNATI, OH - FT. WAYNE, IN
446 BIRMINGHAM, AL - ATLANTA, GA
447 LINWOOD, NC - ASHEVILLE, NC
448 ASHEVILLE, NC - LINWOOD, NC
449 RALEIGH, NC - LINWOOD, NC
450 LINWOOD, NC - RALEIGH, NC
453 BIRMINGHAM, AL - NEW ORLEANS, LA
458 ATLANTA, GA - LINWOOD, NC
459 LINWOOD, NC - ATLANTA, GA
462 SHEFFIELD, AL - KNOXVILLE, TN
464 SHEFFIELD, AL - MEMPHIS, TN
466 KNOXVILLE, TN - ASHEVILLE, NC
467 ASHEVILLE, NC - KNOXVILLE, TN
471 PORTSMOUTH, OH - BELLEVUE, OH
473 PORTSMOUTH, OH - BELLEVUE, OH
477 HOPEWELL, VA - ROANOKE, VA
478 ROANOKE, VA - HOPEWELL, VA
479 PORTSMOUTH, OH - CINCINNATI, OH
480 CINCINNATI, OH - PORTSMOUTH, OH
481 PORTSMOUTH, OH - CINCINNATI, OH
482 CINCINNATI, OH - PORTSMOUTH, OH
483 BIRMINGHAM, AL - MOBILE, AL
484 MOBILE, AL - BIRMINGHAM, AL
485 MACON, GA - ALBANY, GA
488 ROANOKE, VA - HAGERSTOWN, MD
489 HAGERSTOWN, MD - ROANOKE, VA
What a big difference! There were many, many more manifests then!
-Chip :)
Tis true about the manifest trains there Chip. NS hadn't grasped the intermodal revolution just yet. That didn't happen until maybe 1993. That's when Inman Yard stopped classifying manifest traffic to focus on intermodal. Plus, a lot of those manifest trains were actually automobile related trains. NS classified an autorack or parts train as a manifest back then...I think.
Been a while but 252 and 264 were Triple Crowns from East Point. Train 263 and 251 were the south bounds. Train 230 was the only Pig train north but seems they were running a 270 which was and empty Auto rack north from Inman. Train 160 was the Humming Bird. Train 140 was called the Cannon Ball at first. A play on the Bullet. The Bullet was the old mix freight that worked Forrestville (Rome). The next scheduled train was 230 and then 150 know as the Rabbit and was chased by 116 or the Beagle. The next was train 144 out of Jacksonville. They ran a train called 188 along that time. It went from siding to siding. Got ran around at least once or twice every night. Seems there was a 170 along this time. It went in the yard at DeButts. There were several coal train back then. One the ARCO that went to Harlee Branch. The number was 250 north and 251 south. At that time pig and coal used 200 and 700 numbers. Was always and extra mixed coal on Saturday and Sunday. They were at that time running a coal train Monday through Friday to Krannert. Had about 60 cars and ran about 6pm out of DeButts. Many times they would tie it down at Spell in two wye to wait on the rest of a pool job. On Friday after setting the train out at Krannert you would take your engines and caboose back to Forrestville and pick up Atlanta's and rock for Chattahoochee.
Just found this thread on a search result and the last post was April 2012. Very nice bit of research here. The New Castle District was seeing lots of new traffic from the merger of Norfolk Southern and Chicago-Muncie line rehab. 230 lasted over a decade or more. Thanks for posting this.
The days before adding the letters to make a train symbol!!