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Conrail Train Symbols

Manifest TrainsUnit Coal TrainsTV and MAIL Intermodal TrainsLocals and Yard JobsUnit Ore TrainsUnit Stone TrainsUnit Grain TrainsOther Trains

Manifest Trains

After 1978 Conrail's Manifest Trains used a symbol that consisted of four letters, the first two characters were the terminal code of the train's origination, and the second two were its destination terminal. The symbol then carried a numeric code afterwards for the day of the month that it originated.

AL CA 3
Allentown Camden 3rd or 23rd day of the month
Originating Terminal Destination Terminal Date of Origination

List of Terminal Names

Logic Rules (from CR Freight Schedule 1-1-1992): First two letters of a one word origin or destination. Initial letters of first two words of more than a one word origin or destination, generally.

Alpha Location
AA Ann Arbor, MI (Willow Run)
AB Abrams, PA
AL Allentown, PA
AS East St. Louis, MO (Exermont Alton & Southern)
BA Baltimore, MD (Bay View)
BC Battle Creek, MI
BE Bethlehem, PA (Saucon Creek)
BH Portage, IN (Burns Harbor)
BN Burlington Northern (Cicero, IL)
BO Boston (Beacon Park)
BR Chiago, IL (Clearing BRC)
BU Buffalo, NY (Frontier)
CA Camden, NJ (Pavonia Yard)
CG Corning, NY (Gang Mills)
CH Chigago, IL (Gibson IHC)
CI Cincinnati, OH (Sharonville)
CJ Chicago, IL (Alliance Ashland Ave)
CL Cleveland, OH (Collinwood Rockport)
CN Canadian National
CN CN Montreal, Canada
CO Columbus, OH (Buckeye)
CP CP Rail Niagara Falls, Ontario
CS CSXT
CT Carthage
DA Newark, NJ (Doremus Ave.)
DI Charlston, WY (Dickinson)
DJ Detroit, MI (Junction Yard)
DN Detroit, MI (North)
DR Detroit, MI (River Rouge)
DW Wayne, MI (Wayne)
ED Willmington, DE (Edgemoor)
EJ Gary, IL (Pine EJ&E)
EL South Bend, IN (Elkhart)
EN Enola, PA
ES Eastern Shore (Harrington)
FR Framingham, MA
FW Fort Wayne, IN (Piqua)
GR Grand Rapids, MI
HI Danville, IL (Peoria & Eastern)
HN Youngstown, OH (Hasleton)
HY Haselton Yard (Youngstown)
IC ICG
IH Indiana Harbor Belt (Blue Island)
IN Avon, OH
IN Indianapolis, IN (Avon)
JA Jackson
JE Jeffersonville (Louisville)
KA Kankakee, IL
LA Lansing, MI
LD Linden
LM Linden/Metuchen
LT Lordstown, OH (Goodman)
MA Maine (Waterville)
MC Montreal, PQ (St. Luc CP)
ME Meadville, PA
ML Metuchen/Linden
MO Morrisville, PA
MP Missouri Pacific
MR Moraine
MS Massena, NY
MT Edison, NJ (Metuchen)
MV Marysville, OH
MY Bedford, OH (Motor Yard)
NA Nashua, NH
NE New England (Ayer, MA & Portland, ME)
NF Niagara Falls
NH New Haven (Cedar Hill)
NH New Haven, CT (Cedar Hill)
NP North Platte (Union Pacific)
OI Newark, NJ (Oak Island)
OI Oak Island (Newark, NJ)
OP Bronx, NY (Oak Point)
OP Oak Point (New York, NY)
PA Palmer
PE Pekin, IL
PG Philadephia, PA (Greenwich)
PI Pittsburgh (Conway)
PI Pittsburgh, PA (Conway)
PO Portland, ME
PR Proviso (Chicago & Northwestern)
PW Providence & Worcester (Worcester)
PX Perishable Xpress
PY Potomac Yard (Alexandria, VA)
RE Readville, MA
RO Roanoke (Norfolk Western)
SC Chester, PA (Stoney Creek)
SE Selkirk (Albany)
SF Santa Fe (Streator)
SL East St. Louis, MO (Rose Lake)
SO Soo Line
SP Springfield
SR Southern Railway (Spencer NC)
ST Warren, MI (Sterling)
SY Syracuse, NY (Dewitt)
TO Toledo, OH (Stanley)
TR East St. Louis (Madison TRRA)
TR TRRA (Madison)
TT Tarrytown, NY (GM Plant)

Unit Coal Trains

Loaded coal trains

Conrail's unit coal trains were symboled based on their destination and consignee.

Symbol Destination Consignee
UAC Solvay, NY HYDRACO
UAD Allicia, PA Consol
UAE Ashtabula, OH Ontario Hydro
UAF Ashtabula, OH Ontario Hydro
UAM Alsen, NY Indept Cement
UAN Ravena, NY Blue Circle Cement
UAT Ashtabula, OH Amvest
UAZ Ashtabula, OH Various Consignees
UBA Ashtabula, OH Ontario Hydro
UBB Bethlehem, PA Bethlehem Steel
UBE Chicago, IL Kochcarbon
UBH Burns Harbor, IN Bethelehm Steel
UBL Buffalo-Seneca, NY Beth Energy
UBO Rotterdam Jct., NY Northeast Utilities
UBT Baltimore, MD Consol
UCA Ashtabula, OH Cleveland Illumination
UCH Carney's Point, NJ CCLP
UCI Willoughby, OH Cleveland Illumination
UCO Ashtabula, OH Ontario Hydro
UCP Cromby, PA PECO Energy
UCR Roseton, NY Central Hudson Power
UCS Chase, MD Baltimore Gas & Electric
UCU Conneaut, OH Various Consignees
UDD Dayton, OH Dayton Power
UDE Edgemoor, DE Delmarva Power
UDK Carney's Point, NJ Atlantic City Electric
UDM Monroe, MI Detroit Edison
UDN Dunkirk, NY Niagara-Mohawk Electric
UDP Palermo, NJ Atlantic City Electric
UDR River Rouge, MI Detroit Edison
UDT Toledo, OH Kochcarbon
UDW Lamberts Point, MD Consol
UDZ Ashtabula, OH Detroit Edison
UEA Ashtabula, OH Peabody
UEH Ashtabula, OH Ontario Hydro
UEK Rochester, NY Kodak
UEP Eddystone, PA PECO Energy
UFD Shamokin Dam, PA PP&L
UFM Martin's Creek, PA PP&L
UFS Strawberry Ridge, PA PP&L
UFY York Haven, PA PP&L
UGP Newell, PA US Steel
UGS Geneva, UT Geneva Steel
UHC Harriet, NY Niagara-Mohawk Electric
UIR Indian River, DE Delmarva Power
UJH Newell, PA Various Consignees
UJL Leetsdale, PA Various Consignees
UKD Dover, DE 1st State Power
UKF New Florence, PA KEYCON
UKK Shelocta, PA KEYCON
ULB LaBelle, PA Various Consignees
ULK Baltimore, MD Consol
UMD Middletown, OH Armco Steel
UMP Woodzell, MD PEPCO
UMR Reading, PA Metropolitan Edison
UMT Rotterdam Jct., NY Northeast Utilities
UNB Baileytown, IN NIPSCO
UNC Corning, NY NYSEG
UND Dresden, NY NYSEG
UNE Johnson City, NY NYSEG
UNF Niagara Falls, NY Universal Development Group
UNI Michigan City, IN NIPSCO
UNJ Binghamton, NY NYSEG
UNL Ludlowville, NY NYSEG
UNS Somerset, NY NYSEG
UNW Wheatfield, IN NIPSCO
UOH Ashtabula, OH Ontario Hydro
UOR Tomkin's Cove, NY Orange Rockland
UPB South Fork, PA PBS Coals
UPC Toledo-GTW, MI Consumers
UPE Toledo-GTW, MI Consumers
UPH Herbert, MD PEPCO
UPS Portland, PA Metropolitan Edison
UPT Port Amherst, WV Beth Energy
URD Shannon Run, OH Consol
URN Rochester, NY Rochester Gas
USC Shenango, PA Ontario Hydro
USD Shamokin Dam, PA PP&L
USG York, PA PH Glatfelter
USR Carthage, NY Champion
UTM Trenton, MI Detroit Edison
UUG Pine, IN US Steel
UUY York Haven, PA PP&L
UWE Chicago-UP, IL Wisconsin Electric
UWL Canastrale, PA Various Consignees
UWT Watertown, NY Black River
UWZ Ashtabula, OH Wisconsin Electric
UXC Baltimore, MD Consol
UXT Rivesville,WV CSXT Destinations

Empty Coal Trains

Empty coal train sets were symboled based on what coal terminal they were returning empty to along with the characteristics of the set of hoppers in the train.

Example Symbol: XDG-35A

X D G -35 A
Empty Hoppers Dickinson, WV Coal Gondolas Set 35 75 cars long
Empty Hoppers Destination:
A Avonmore
D Dickinson
C Cresson
F South Fork
K Keating
M Mingo Jct.
P Conway
S Shire Oaks
T Thomson
W Waynesburg
Car Type:
G Coal Gondolas
Q Quad Hoppers
H Triple Hoppers
M Mixed Hoppers
L Leased Hoppers
Train set ID # Train size:
A 75 Cars
B 90 Cars
C 105 Cars
D 130 Cars
E Exception

TV and MAIL trains (COFC/TOFC)

Symbol Origin Destination
TV-0 Chicago, IL Harrisburg, PA
TV-1 Morrisville, PA Chicago, IL
TV-1H Harrisburg, PA Chicago, IL
TV-2    
TV-2H Chicago, IL Harrisburg, PA
TV-2HK Chicago, IL Harrisburg, PA
TV-2M Chicago, IL Morrisville, PA
TV-3 Kearny, NJ St. Louis, MO
TV-4 Indianapolis, IN Kearny, NJ
TV-5 Boston, MA East St. Louis
TV-5I Indianapolis,IN  
TV-5 Dewitt, NY Indianapolis, IN
TV-6 Dewitt Boston, MA
TV-7 Boston, MA Chicago, IL
TV-7S Kearny, NJ Selkirk, NY
TV-8    
TV-8W Syracuse, NY Boston, MA
TV-9 Boston, MA Chicago, IL
TV-9 Worcester, MA Chicago, IL
TV-9C Cleveland, OH Chicago, IL
TV-10 Chicago,IL Croxton, NJ
TV-10B Chicago, IL Boston, MA
TV-11 Kearny Chicago, IL
TV-12 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ
TV-12K Selkirk, NY Kearny, NJ
TV-13 Boston, MA Chicago, IL
TV-14 Englewood Boston, MA
TV-18 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ
TV-20 Harrisburg, PA Philadelphia, PA
TV-21 Philadelphia, PA Harrisburg, PA
TV-22    
TV-24 Chicago, IL Dockside, NJ
TV-24P Selkirk, NY Port Newark, NJ
TV-25D Toledo, OH Detroit, MI
TV-26 Harrisburg, PA Balitimore, MD
TV-55 Harrisburg, PA UP/Forth Worth, TX
TV-61 Balitmore, MD UP/Chicago, IL
TV-61H Allentown, PA Harrisburg, PA
TV-77 Kearny, NJ Chicago, IL
TV-79 Bergen Chicago, IL
TV-79 Worcester, MA Cincinnati, OH
TV-80 Chicago, IL Selkirk, NY
TV-80 Chicago, IL North Bergen, NJ
TV-80W Selkirk, NY Worcester, MA
TV-90 BNSF/Willow Springs, IL North Bergen, NJ
TV-95 GRS/Waterville, ME Worcester, MA
TV-96 Worcester, MA GRS/Waterville, ME
TV-99 North Bergen, NJ BNSF/Chigago - Willow Springs
TV-201 Kearny Chicago, IL
TV-100 Chicago, IL North Bergen, NJ
TV-102 Chicago, IL North Bergen, NJ
TV-153 Detroit, MI Toledo, OH
TV-173 Kearny, NJ Jacksonville, FL
TV-176 Jacksonville, FL Worcester, MA
TV-174 Jacksonville, FL Kearny, NJ
TV-175 Balitmore, MD Jacksonville, FL
TV-176 Jacksonville, FL Balitmore, MD
TV-195 South Kearny, NJ Atlanta, GA
TV-196 Atlanta, GA South Kearny, NJ
TV-200 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ
TV-201 Kearny, NJ UP/Chicago, IL
TV-202 UP/Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ
TV-203 Kearny, NJ UP/Chicago, IL
TV-204 Chicago, IL Port Newark, NJ
TV-204 Chicago, IL Elizabethport, NJ
TV-206 Chicago, IL Croxton, NJ
TV-207 Port Newark, NJ UP/Chicago, IL
TV-209 Dockside, NJ Chicago, IL
TV-211 Kearny, NJ NS/Atlanta, GA
TV-213 Kearny, NJ NS/Atlanta, GA
TV-214 NS/Atlanta, GA Kearny, NJ
TV-220 Chicago, IL Columbus, OH
TV-221 Columbus, OH Chicago, IL
TV-233 Kearny,PA Hagerstown
TV-234 Hagerstown, PA Kearny, PA
TV-257 Buffalo, NY Chicago, IL
TV-258 Chicago, IL Buffalo, NY
TV-261 Croxton, NJ  
TV-263 Croxton, NJ BNSF/Chicago, IL
TV-265 Croxton ,NJ UP/Chicago, IL
TV-300 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ
TV-301 Kearny,NJ UP/Chicago - Global Two
TV-302 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ
TV-304 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ
TV-307 Dockside, NJ Dewitt, NY
TV-500 Chicago, IL Buffalo, NY
TV-501 Buffalo, NY Chicago, IL
TV-550 Chicago, IL NYSW/Syracuse, NY
TV-551 NYSW/Syracuse, NY Chicago, IL
TV-553 NYSW/Syracuse, NY Chicago, IL
TV-555 NYSW/Syracuse, NY Chicago, IL
TV-556 Chicago, IL Croxton, NJ
TV-590 Chicago, IL Croxton, NJ
TV-600 Los Angeles, CA  
TV-604 BNSF?Chicago, IL Columbus, OH
Mail-8 Englewood North Bergen
Mail 8M Chicago, IL Morrisville, PA
RR-260 Harrisburg, PA Chicago, IL
TVBN North Bergen, NJ BNSD/Lost Angeles, CA
TVLT Chicago, IL Kearny,NJ
TVLA North Bergen, NY BNSF/Los Angeles, CA

Auto Rack (Multi Level) Trains

Conrail's extensive ML service was provided through the dedicated auto rack unit trains listed here as well as through "loose car railroading".

Symbol Origination Destination
ML-401 Doremus Ave., NJ Columbus, OH
ML-403 Metuchen, NJ Columbus, OH
ML-405 Doremus Ave., NJ Selkirk, NY
ML-411 Wilmington, DE Buffalo, NY
ML-417 Baltimore, MD BNSF/Streator, IL
ML-420 Buffalo, NY Wilmington, DE
ML-421 Niagara Falls, NY Chicago, IL
ML-432 Buffalo-Frontier, NY Selkirk, NY
ML-433 Framingham, MA Sterling, MI
ML-438 West Springfield, MA Ayer, MA
ML-439 Ayer, MA West Springfield, MA
ML-440 Sterling, MI Doremus Ave., NJ
ML-441 Detroit, MI Chicago, IL
ML-450 Cincinnati-CSXT, OH Cleveland, OH
ML-451 Columbus, OH Chicago, IL
ML-452 Marion, OH Columbus, OH and return
ML-453 Elkhart, IN Columbus, OH
ML-460 Indianapolis, IN Cleveland, OH
ML-480 Toledo, OH Doremus Ave., NJ
ML-482 Cleveland, OH Framingham, MA
ML-488 Columbus, OH Selkirk, NY
ML-490 Chicago-BNSF, IL Cleveland, OH

Local and Yard Jobs

CR's Local and Yard Jobs used a symbol that consisted of four letters, the first characters being a W or a Y for Wayfreight or Yard Job. The second character was the Division Code (P = Phillidephia, H = Harrisburg, A = Albany, I = Pittsburgh, D = Dearborn, S = Indianapolis) the Third and Fourth were the terminal code of the train's origination. The symbol then carried a numeric code afterwards for the assignment code.

W A RE 30
Way Freight Albany Readville, MA 30
Wayfrieght (W) or Yard (Y) Division Code Originating Terminal (See manifest destinations) Assignment

Unit Ore Trains

Loaded ore trains on Conrail were symboled based on their destination and consignee. Empty trains were simply symboled by their destination terminal.

Symbol Destination Consignee
ZAK Middletown, OH AK Steel
ZAK Empty to Chicago, IL
ZLW Warren, OH WCI
XLW Empty to Ashtabula, OH
ZSP Sparrows Point, MD Bethlehem Steel
XGW-B Empty to Philadelphia-Greenwich, PA
ZSR Clairton, PA US Steel
XGW-T Empty to Philadelphia-Greenwich, PA
ZSS Pine, IN US Steel
XGW-P Empty to Philadelphia-Greenwich, PA
ZWM Mingo Jct., OH Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel
XAY Empty to Ashtabula, OH
ZWS Steubenville, OH Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel
XAY Empty to Ashtabula, OH
ZWW Wierton, PA Wierton Steel
XWI or XGW-W Empty to either Cleveland, OH or Philadelphia-Greenwich, PA

Unit Stone Trains

Loaded stone trains on Conrail were symboled based on their destination and consignee. Empty stone trains were symboled based on their destination loading point.

Symbol Destination Consignee
UAP Pavonia, NJ Tarmac
XAN empty UAP to Annville, PA
UEL Elkhart, IN White Rock
XEL empty UEL to Martin, OH
UTW-W Twinsburg, OH Martin Marietta
XWO empty UTW-W to Woodville, OH
UTW-M Twinsburg, OH White Rock
XMA empty UTW-M to Martin, OH
UWP White Pidgeon, MI No Consignee Specified
XWP empty to Martin or Woodville, OH

Unit Grain Trains

Loaded grain trains on Conrail were symboled based on their destination. Empty grain trains were symboled based on their destination assembly, loading or distribution point.

Loaded Unit Grain Trains

Symbol Destination
GRA Albany, NY
GRB Baltimore, MD
GRC Columbus, OH
GRD Dover, DE
GRF Effingham, IL (IC)
GRG Kankakee, IL (IC)
GRH Chicago, IL (SWID)
GRI Indianapolis, IN
GRJ Burns Harbor, IN
GRK Martins Creek, PA
GRL Louisville, KY
GRN North Bend, OH
GRO Buffalo, NY
GRQ Enola, PA
GRS Cincinnati, OH (NS)
GRU Hudson, NY
GRY York, PA
GRZ Various Fertilizer

Empty Unit Grain Trains

Symbol Destination
JAB Albion, MI
JAL Alger, OH
JAN Anderson, IN
JBC Battle Creek, MI
JBH Burns Harbor, IN
JBU Buffalo, NY
JCA Casey, IL
JCB Chicago, IL (BN)
JCC Chicago, IL (CNW)
JCG Chicago, IL (SWID)
JCH Champaign, IL
JCI Cincinnati, OH
JCL Clymers, IN
JCN Columbus, OH (NS)
JCO Columbus, OH
JCS Chicago, IL (CP)
JCT Conshocton, OH
JCV Chicago, IL (IC)
JCX Conway, PA Cars distributed at destination
JDE Decatur, IN
JDG Detroit, MI (GTW)
JDO Delta, OH (GTW)
JDX Detroit, MI Cars distributed at destination
JED Edinburg, IN
JEM Emporia, IN
JEX Enola, PA Cars distributed at destination
JFR Free, IN
JFT Fort Wayne, IN
JFX Fort Wayne, IN Cars distributed at destination
JHA Hamlet, IN
JIN Indianapolis, IN
JIX Indianapolis, IN Cars distributed at destination
JKE Kenton, OH
JKK Kankakee, IL
JKO Kokomo, IN
JLC Lilly Chapel, OH
JLI Lima, OH
JLO Louisville, KY
JMA Marion, OH
JMN Mansfield, OH
JRK Red Key, IN
JSC South Charleston, OH
JSH Sheldon, IL
JSI Sidney, OH
JSN Schneider, IN
JSW Swanington, IN
JTA Tab, IN
JTB Toledo, OH (CSXT)
JTD Toledo, OH (GTW)
JTH Terre Haute, IN
JTN Toledo, OH (NS)
JTO Toledo, OH
JTX Toledo, OH Cars distributed at destination
JWA Waterloo, IN
JWI Winamac, IN
JWP White Pigeon, MI
JWT Wheatfield, IN

Other Unit Trains

Conrail was an innovative railroad that worked hard to build its business. That included some unique and interesting unit train services.

Symbol Destination Description
CHH-2 Hennepin, IL Steel Coil Loads
CSE02 Elizabeth, NJ Sand Loads
ECS01 Lakehurst, NJ Sand Empties
GCM-2 Portage, IN Steel Coil Loads
GLM-1 Portage, IN Steel Coil Loads
HCH-1 Chicago, IL Steel Coil Empties
HND-2 Cleveland, OH Steel Coil Empties
HPA-1 Erie, PA Pulpwood Loads
HPA-2 Lock Haven, PA Pulpwood Empties
MGC-1 Granite City, IL Steel Coil Empties
MGL-2 Detroit, MI Steel Coil Empties
MML01 Toledo, OH (CSXT) Lime Loads
MML02 Woodville, OH Lime Empties
MWS-2 Weirton, WV Steel Coil Empties
NDH-1 Hennepin, IL Steel Coil Loads
PAG01 Lima, OH Liquid Detergent Loads
PAG02 Ivorydale, OH Liquid Detergent Empties
SBC-1 Dayton, OH (CSXT) Sohio Benzene Loads
SBL-2 Lima, OH Sohio Benzene Empties
SWC Weirton, WV Coke Loads
UAO-2 Albany, NY Oil Empties
UAO-3 Oswego, NY Oil Loads
UBC Spapt, MD Coke Loads
UNO-2 Oswego, NY Oil Loads
UNO-3 Fort Erie, ON (CN) Oil Empties
USS Pine, IN Coke Loads
WSB-2 Cleveland, OH Sand Loads
WSM-1 Portage, IN Steel Coil Loads
WSY-1 Toledo, OH (AA) Sand Empties

Passenger Trains on Conrail

Coming soon.

Other Trains

Symbols and numberings of these irregular trains may vary; typically the three letter code is followed by a three number code. When a three number code is used, the first number often represents the originating division of the train.

Series Division
1XX Philadelphia Division
2XX Harrisburg Division
3XX Albany Division
4XX Pittsburgh Division
5XX Dearborn Division
6XX Indianapolis Division
Symbol Use
BAL-XXX Ballast Trains
BCX-XXX Ballast Trains
BNS-XXX Ballast Trains
CIR-XXX Circus Trains
DET-XXX Foreign Railroad Detouring over Conrail
DIM-XXX Dimensional Trains (Hi & Wide)
ENG-XXX Intra-Division Light Engines
ENS-XXX Inter-Division Light Engines
HLP-XXX Helpers
HOS-XXX Hospital (dead equipment) move
MIL-XXX Military
MWX-XXX Maintenance of Way Extra
OCS-XXX Office Car Special
RAI-XXX Welded Rail
SHP-XXX Shop Equipment
SPL-XXX Special Move
SPL-7XX Manifest Freight Special Move
SPL-8XX Unit Train Special Move
SPL-9XX Automotive/Multi-Level Special Move
TES-XXX Track Geometry Train
WOR-XXX Maintence of Way Work Train
WRE-XXX Wreck Cleanup

Sources and Acknowledgements

Much of this data was pulled from Conrail's own freight schedules, some of which are available on the excellent Multimodal Ways website. Other large segments are taken, with permission, from J. Alex Lang's Conrail Freight Schedules website.

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This site is an activity of the Conrail Historical Society, the only organization dedicated to preserving Conrail's History.

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