Passenger Trains > Why is SEPTA's reporting mark SPAX?

I've never quite understood why SEPTA's reporting marks end with X (SPAX). Jokes about how it's run aside, it seems to be a railroad by any definition; it owns ROW, operates its own trains, etc. What the deal?

At first SEPTA was not a railroad. It did not become an operating railroad for nearly
twenty years from its founding. Until 1983, its rail services were operated under contract
by railroads: the Reading Company and Pennsylvania Railroad, and their successors.

Note that SEPTA has also been assigned the reporting mark SEPA.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/13 15:26 by GenePoon.

Ah. I thought the AAR was picky enough about that that they would have had them change them when they started operating as a RR, but I guess not.

I've never seen SEPA on any of the equipment, and wasn't aware they had that as well.

Thanks.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/13 15:28 by mab.

I've wondered the same with Southern California's "Metrolink", which is controlled by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) but the operational reporting marks are SCAX, can someone spell SCAX & why they use that and not SCRRA or MTLK?

Amtrak562 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've wondered the same with Southern California's
> "Metrolink", which is controlled by the Southern
> California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) but the
> operational reporting marks are SCAX, can someone
> spell SCAX & why they use that and not SCRRA or
> MTLK?


Same reason as above, Metrolink is not an operating railroad (hence the X in the reporting mark), and is operated under contract with Amtrak currently...

ats90mph Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amtrak562 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I've wondered the same with Southern
> California's
> > "Metrolink", which is controlled by the
> Southern
> > California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) but
> the
> > operational reporting marks are SCAX, can
> someone
> > spell SCAX & why they use that and not SCRRA or
> > MTLK?
>
>
> Same reason as above, Metrolink is not an
> operating railroad (hence the X in the reporting
> mark), and is operated under contract with Amtrak
> currently...

So why does Coaster (operated under contract with Transit America) use the reporting marks NCTC, not NCTX?

OTG Wrote:
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> So why does Coaster (operated under contract with
> Transit America) use the reporting marks NCTC, not
> NCTX?


Isn't it SDNX?

And, just for the sake of confusion, Chicago's Metra, which owns and operates several lines, operates one under lease and contracts for services with BNSF and UP, is currently using METX as its reporting mark on all rolling stock. At one point maybe 10-15 years ago they were using reporting mark NIRC (Northeast Illinois Rail Corp.).

One possible explanation for some of this is perhaps each agency has separate paper corporations to hold title to the equipment and operate the trains. Could it also have anything to do with their operations not being part of the interchange freight network?

Don't know either of these to be true, just an educated guess. Anyone with a better explanation, please chime in.

NZ

North Carolina DOT is RNCX.

I thought (dangerous, I know...) anything ending with "X" was equipment not owned by a common carrier railroad. Anyone else confirm or deny?

Jim Montague
IRVINE, CA
Train and Nature photo Art

http://www.nmrailrunner.com/home

3751_loony Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought (dangerous, I know...) anything ending
> with "X" was equipment not owned by a common
> carrier railroad. Anyone else confirm or deny?


Then why is SDNR (San Diego Northern/Coaster) a commmon carrier railroad?

On Metra's owned & operated ex-IC(G) electric line, I don't think I've seen actual reporting marks on either the Highliners or the Crapliners. The former have plates identifying the owner as the CSSMTD and Metra as lessee. The latter have plates that state Metra - Owner. I suppose if they aren't interchanged they don't need reporting marks.

3751_loony Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought (dangerous, I know...) anything ending
> with "X" was equipment not owned by a common
> carrier railroad. Anyone else confirm or deny?


That is true...