Understanding CSXT's Conrail Locomotive Renumbering
[CSXT, August 1999] . . .
More than 800 Conrail locomotives assigned to CSXT are being renumbered to make them consistent with CSXT's overall numbering scheme, explains Larry Shughart of the locomotive management group. GE locomotives are assigned odd numbers as the leading digit, and EMDs are assigned even numbers as first digits. Another general rule is that locomotive numbers increase in size with the horsepower of the unit. For example, Conrail GP38-2s, 2000 hp, are being assigned numbers between 2717 and 2814, while Conrail CW40-8s, 4000 hp, are numbered from 7300 to 7396. There are two exceptions to the rules. The new GE and EMD alternating current locomotives have numbers from 1 to 999, and maintenance of way engines are numbered 9500 and above. "In most cases, knowing the basic guidelines can give you a pretty good idea of locomotive type, even if you're new to CSXT," Shughart said.