Nostalgia & History > Southern Pacific Commuter Train Power

1. 3006 with Train 110 in San Jose on September 9, 1977

2. 3009 in San Jose on September 9, 1977

3. 3010 in San Francisco on November 23, 1975

4. 3187 in San Francisco on November 23, 1975

5. 3197 with Train 145 at Menlo Park, CA on April 13, 1978

Enjoy,
Marty Bernard



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/16 12:15 by MartyBernard.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/16 12:14 by MartyBernard.

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It is interesting to note that at one time, the FRA allowed the SP to use number boards for their train ID numbers rather than the intended purpose (locomotive identification).

"commute" train??....

CSX_ENG Wrote:
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> It is interesting to note that at one time, the
> FRA allowed the SP to use number boards for their
> train ID numbers rather than the intended purpose
> (locomotive identification).

SP stopped displaying train numbers or extras as of June 27, 1967. After that, only commutes displayed train numbers

CSX_ENG Wrote:
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> It is interesting to note that at one time, the
> FRA allowed the SP to use number boards for their
> train ID numbers rather than the intended purpose
> (locomotive identification).

Please be aware that the SP and the UP used train number indicator boards all the way back to the 1920s/1930s, and LONG BEFORE there was "FRA". 

When did it start, anyway? After 1910,
right? But not long after? Did UP and SP
start at the same time?

HotWater Wrote:



> Please be aware that the SP and the UP used train
> number indicator boards all the way back to the
> 1920s/1930s, and LONG BEFORE there was "FRA". 

I'm aware now! Thanks to everyone for their replies---learned something new today!

timz Wrote:
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> When did it start, anyway? After 1910,
> right? But not long after? Did UP and SP
> start at the same time?

As far as I am aware, the only (at least major) railroads to use train number indicators were the Harriman railroads (UP, SP, derivatives). There were also important differences between the Harriman rulebooks and the Standard Code (the reason that FMB gave me a couple of weeks break in/practice on the Saugus job in Bakersfield - to get used to those differences and not make mistakes in real time dispatching). The CTC rules were similar, coming into being long after the Harriman era.

TAW

RD10747 Wrote:
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> "commute" train??....

Well, though SP called them "Commute" (large C) trains, they were in fact commuter trains. Likewise, when Amtrak began running the trains under contract, its Caltrain commuter train division was called the Peninsula Commute Service, usually referred to by its acronym, PCS. I have no idea what the current Herzog outfit calls it; probably something stupid. This is a mind-numbing response, isn't it?

EO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/16 08:43 by hogheaded.

I was under the impression that in the Train Order era, trains had to display their train number in the number boards so trains meeting them could identify them. Extra trains would display white markers and an X preceeding the engine number.Was this not the case on all roads?

jimB Wrote:
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> I was under the impression that in the Train Order
> era, trains had to display their train number in
> the number boards so trains meeting them could
> identify them. Extra trains would display white
> markers and an X preceeding the engine number.Was
> this not the case on all roads?

No. Just the Harriman roads (that I am aware of).

We used to give trains the engine numbers of regular trains they would meet, sometimes in an order affecting the regular train:
No 231 Eng 1234 wait at
A until 530pm

Or in the form of a register check:

Regular trains due at A before 501pm have arrived and left

No 211 has eng 1234

TAW

 

And the California Western between Fort Bragg and Willits in California.

There may be other "non-Harriman" roads that used train numbers also but I doubt there were many.

​Update: Some Mexican railways used train numbers in the number boards as well.
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/16 21:28 by Railbaron.

Guess this is one such
https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/16037359300/in/album-72157645167601967/

and
https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/16038874737/in/album-72157645167601967/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/16 15:42 by timz.