AAR Car Types 1996-1999


abcraghead

Mmmm, turbos
These might come in handy for keeping track of your fleet, as well as using on your switch lists:

Class "F"

FLAT CAR TYPE
"FA" -- Flat car specifically equipped with superstructure or containers for transporting set-up vehicles, not suitable for miscellaneous commodities (7/91-4/99).

"FB" -- Bulkhead Flat Cars. Equipped with fixed or permanently attached movable bulkheads or ends a minimum of three feet in height and flat floor for general commodity loading (1/73-4/99).

"FBC" -- Flat car constructed with a centre beam above the car deck from bulkhead to bulkhead (7/91-4/99).

"FC" -- Flat Cars, specifically equipped to carry trucks, trailers, containers, chassis, or removable trailer bodies for the transportation of freight in TOFC/COFC service. Note that container cars had previously been classified "LF" (1/73-4/99).

"FCA" -- Flat Car, articulated multi-unit, specially equipped to carry trailers, containers, chassis, or removable trailer bodies for the transportation of freight in TOFC/COFC service (7/84-4/99).

"FD" -- Depressed Center Flat. A flat car of special construction having the portion of the floor extending between trucks depressed to provide necessary head room for certain commodities (4/38-4/99).

"FL" -- Flat logging car or logging truck. This is either an ordinary flat car, or car consisting of two trucks fitted with cross supports over truck bolsters; the trucks connected by a skeleton or flexible frame and logs loaded lengthwise on cross supports (1/17-4/99).

"FM" -- Ordinary flat car for general service. This car has flooring laid over sills and without sides or ends (1/17-4/99).

"FW" -- Flat well-hole car for special transportation of plate-glass, etc. This car is a flat car with hole in middle to enable lading to be dropped down on account of clearance limits (1/17-4/99).

FLAT CAR NOTE:
1 -- When cars are equipped with permanent racks for stowing parts, or are specially modified or equipped to provide for loading of a particular commodity, the letter "S" should be affixed to the applicable designating letters. A note should be included in The Official Railway Equipment Register to show the particular special equipment proposed for the car (this does not apply to "FA", "FC", "FD", "FL" or "FW" designations) (1/49-4/99).

Class "G"

GONDOLA CAR TYPE

"GA" -- An Open Top Car having fixed sides and ends and drop bottom, consisting of doors hinged crosswise of car to dump between rails (3/27-4/99).

"GB" -- An Open Top Car, having fixed sides, fixed or drop ends and solid bottom, suitable for mill trade (includes former "GK", "GKA", "GM" and "GMA") (1/39-4/99).

"GD" -- An Open Top Car, having fixed or drop ends, solid bottom and sides equipped with doors for dumping (1/39-4/99).

"GH" -- An Open Top Car, having fixed sides, drop ends and drop bottom, consisting of doors hinged at centre sills to dump outside of rails (3/27-4/99).

"GS" -- An Open Top Car, having fixed sides and ends and drop bottom, consisting of doors hinged at centre sills or side sills to dump outside and/or inside of rails (10/66-4/99).

"GT" -- Open top car, having high fixed sides and fixed or hinged ends and solid bottom, suitable for unloading on dumping machines only (1/73-4/99).

"GW" -- An Gondola Well-Hole Car for transportation of special commodities. A solid bottom car with fixed sides and ends, having one or more openings or depressions provided in floor, permitting the lading to be lowered in order to obtain overhead clearance (7/32-4/99).

GONDOLA NOTES:

When gondola cars are equipped with any or all of the modifications as provided for in the following Notes 1 or 2, the suffixes as provided for shall be added to the primary classification in the order of the notes as listed.

1 -- If any of these gondola cars are equipped with a roof or are covered for protection of contents the letter "R" should be affixed to the regular symbol to designate the special class of service (3/27-4/99).

2 -- Where cars are equipped with a permanent racks for stowing parts or are specially modified or equipped to provide for loading of a particular commodity, the letter "S" should be affixed to the applicable designating letters (1/49-4/99).

Class "H"

HOPPER CAR TYPE

"HFA" -- An Open Top Self-Clearing Car, having fixed sides and ends and bottom consisting of divided hoppers at centre with doors hinged lengthwise, dumping outside and/or inside of rail; also one divided hopper, each end, extending from end of car to bolster with doors hinged lengthwise of car and dumping outside of rails (1/39-4/99).

"HK" -- Open top self-clearing car, having fixed sides and ends and bottom consisting of two or more divided hoppers dumping outside and/or inside or rails (includes former "HD") (1/73-4/99).

"HM" -- An Open Top Self-Clearing Car, having fixed sides and ends, and bottom consisting of two divided hoppers with doors hinged crosswise of car and dumping between rails (3/29-4/99).

"HMA" -- An Open Top Self-Clearing Car, having fixed sides and ends and bottom consisting of two divided hoppers with doors hinged lengthwise of car and dumping between rails (includes former "HMB") (1/39-4/99).

"HT" -- An Open Top Self-Clearing Car, having fixed sides and ends and bottom consisting of three or more divided hoppers with doors hinged crosswise of car and dumping between rails (3/29-4/99).

"HTA" -- An Open Top Self-Clearing Car, having fixed sides and ends and bottom consisting of three or more divided hoppers with doors hinged lengthwise of car and dumping between rails (includes former "HTB") (1/39-4/99).

HOPPER NOTES:

1 -- If any of these hopper cars are equipped with a roof or are covered for protection of contents the letter "R" should be affixed to the regular symbol to designate its special class of service (1/17-4/99).

2 -- Where cars are equipped with permanent racks for stowing parts or are specially modified or equipped to provide for loading of a particular commodity, the letter "S" should be affixed to the applicable designating letters. A note should be included in the Official Railway Equipment Register to show the particular special equipment proposed for the car (1/49-4/99).

Class "L"

SPECIAL CAR TYPE

"LC" -- A box car with side doors and roof hatches. May be equipped with end doors (1/39-4/99).

"LF" -- A flat car equipped to handle one or more demountable containers for the transportation of commodities not under refrigeration. (not applicable to flat cars designed to handle containers in TOFC/COFC service or containers handling setup vehicles -- see "FC") (1/73-4/99).

"LG" -- An open top car equipped to handle one or more demountable containers for the transportation of commodities not under refrigeration (1/49-4/99).

"LM" -- A car equipped with one or more permanently enclosed tanks or containers, provided with one or more openings for loading and equipped for pneumatic or gravity unloading. Car is suitable for handling certain dry powdered or granular commodities and also low viscosity, non-dangerous liquid commodities (10/66-4/99).

"LO" -- A permanently enclosed car, other than a house car, regardless of exterior or interior shape, for handling dry powdered or granular commodities, with or without insulation and provided with openings for loading through top or sides with weather-tight covers or doors. Car may be provided with one or more bottom openings for unloading, with tight fitting covers, doors, valves, or tight fitting slide or gate to prevent leakage of lading. Car may be provided with facilities for discharge of lading through openings in top or sides and may have one or more compartments. Mechanical or other means may be provided within car to expedite loading or unloading (10/66-4/99).

"LP" -- An Open Top Car having solid bottom and fixed ends equipped with sloping floor or longitudinal floor risers or sidestakes for the handling of pulpwood and not suitable for general commodity loading (1/73-4/99).

"LS" -- A car of special construction having two separate interlocking units which form a car body. Units may be separated and load interposed between and locked in place to form a complete transportation unit (1/62-4/99).

"LU" -- An enclosed car with roof, having a special metal beam of heavy design at top of each side to support a series of retractable overhead side doors and the appurtenances, or other types of doors, running substantially the length of car, which beams also support the roof details. Car may be equipped with special loading devices or racks for handling various commodities (10/66-4/99).
 
Class "M"

MAINTENANCE OF WAY

"MS" -- Scale Car. Cars used to test railroad scales (4/99).

"MT" -- Training Unit equipped with training aids or modified to demonstrate components of the unit (1/95-4/99).

"MWB" -- Ballast Cars. All descriptions of cars used for the purpose of carrying ballast for the laying of new right of way and repairs. The car used generally for this type of work is of the gondola type, with side or centre dump (1/53-4/99).

"MWD" -- Dump Cars. On the type of contractors' car used for building up fills; the body of the car dumps being raised by means of counterweight, air or hand power (1/53-4/99).

"MWE" -- Ballast Spreader and Trimmer. A car with blades or wings for spreading or trimming ballast (1/53-4/99).

"MWF" -- Flat Car. Used for transporting rails, ties or ballast and for storage of wrecking trucks, or gathering scraps along right of way. These cars are at times equipped with low sides, about 10 or 12 inches high (1/53-4/99).

"MWG" -- Section Gang or Track Inspection Car. Flat car, with or without seats or tool boxes, and equipped with single or double cylinder gasoline engine serving as motive power (1/53-4/99).

"MWH" -- Hand Car. This car is flat and mounted on four wheels and propelled by means of pushing, known as "Push Car" (1/53-4/99).

"MWJ" -- Ballast Unloader. A car equipped with machinery for pulling a plow through cars loaded with ballast (1/53-4/99).

"MWK" -- Snow-Removing Car. A car equipped with any special device for removing snow from between or alongside of rails (1/53-4/99).

"MWL" -- Hand Car. This is a small flat car, with or without seats, mounted on four wheels and propelled by means of cranks or hand levers (1/53-4/99).

"MWM" -- Store-Supply Car. A car equipped for handling material to be distributed for railway use (1/53-4/99).

"MWP" -- Pile Driver. A car equipped with machinery for pile driving (1/53-4/99).

"MWS" -- Steam Shovel. Car equipped with donkey engine housed in. Having a boom of wood or steel and the end of which is a shovel or scoop. It may be propelled by its own power or by means of a locomotive and run as a car in freight trains, being equipped with safety appliances. The cubic capacity of shovels, in yards, can be indicated by figures after the classification letters (1/53-4/99).

"MWSP" -- Shoving platform consists of a car equipped with hand safety rails and a shelter where a trainman can guide a train in a reverse move or shoving operation (4/99).

"MWT" -- Tool and Block Car. A car used for the carrying all descriptions of tool equipment and blocking. This car has side and end housings and roof, also end platforms. There are doors in sides and ends and usually windows. It is fitted inside with proper racks and boxes for storage of tools (1/53-4/99).

"MWTK" -- Similar in design to "T", but used specifically in Maintenance-of-Way service (4/99).

"MWU" -- Wrecking Derrick. This derrick has boom and hoist fitted to frame of flat car and lifting done by means of hand power; propelled by locomotives (1/53-4/99).

"MWV" -- Wrecking Derrick. This derrick has boom and hoist fitted to flat car and having drum at one end to furnish means of hoisting; steam furnished to donkey engine, running drum, by means of flexible steam line from attached locomotive; propelled by locomotive (1/53-4/99).

"MWW" -- Wrecking Derrick. A derrick used for wrecking purposes having donkey engine to raise and lower booms and hoists; engine housed in and on separate platform with boom, is pivoted in centre of car frame in order that it can be worked on either side or ends; usually fitted with anchor beams to be used for heavy lifting. Fitted with safety appliances and propelled by means of locomotive. Lifting capacity in tons shown by means of figures (1/53-4/99).

"MWX" -- Boarding Outfit Car. This includes cars used for boarding, sleeping or cooking purposes in construction and similar work (1/53-4/99).

Weed Exterminator. A car equipped with machinery for propelling itself, or otherwise, and burning or spraying weeds along the track as it proceeds (1/53-4/99).

Ditching Car. A car equipped with machinery for propelling itself, or otherwise, and excavating ditches along the sides of the track as it proceeds (1/53-4/99).

Rail Saw. A car equipped with machinery for sawing track rails and similar material (1/53-4/99).

Rail Bender. A car equipped with machinery for bending track rails and similar material (1/53-4/99). (P>Grass Cutter. A car equipped with machinery for propelling itself, or otherwise, and cutting grass along the track as it proceeds (1/53-4/99).

Track Layer. A car equipped with machinery for propelling itself, or otherwise, and laying the track ahead of it as it proceeds (1/53-4/99).

Class "N"

CABOOSE

"NA" -- Sensing, audio, emergency braking unit (CDU) that accepts, analyzes and displays information relevant to the rear of train. The NA provides audible alerts and displays to assist the engineer operating the train and is equipped with emergency braking feature in the event normal brake capability is lost. The arming feature prevents unauthorized use of the emergency braking device (4/99).

"NB" -- Receiver Display Unit (RDU). A device mounted on the control stand in the locomotive to receive, analyze and display information as transmitted by the SBU. The RDU provides audible alerts and displays to assist the engineer in train operation (4/99).

"NC" -- Communications Logic Unit (CLU). A device located in the short hood of the locomotive which accepts and analyzes radio messages transmitted from the rear of the train by the SBU. After the messages are analyzed the CLU forwards the information for display in the cab of the locomotive (4/99).

"ND" -- Input and Display Unit Unit (IDU). A device mounted on the control stand in the cab of the locomotive to display information which has been sent by the SBU and analyzed by the CLU. The IDU provides audible alerts and displays to assist the locomotive engineer in the handling of the train (4/99).

"NE" -- All cabooses (1/73-4/99).

"NF" -- A device mounted on the trailing coupler on the rear car of the train coupled to the brake pipe. The SBT senses brake pipe pressure, and may sense motion and direction. This information is relayed by radio to the head end of the train to a RDU, CDU or a CLU/IDU combination. In addition, the SBT acts as a marker to locate the rear of the train and is equipped with an emergency braking feature to be used in the event of a loss of the normal braking capability from the head end of the train (4/99).

"NL" -- Light only, may have brake pipe pressure device (NLU) mounted on side of trailing coupler on rear car. The NLU may or not be coupled to the brake pipe. When coupled senses brake pipe pressure, and displays this information on a mechanical gauge on the side of unit. Primary function is to act as a marker to indicate the rear of train (4/99).

"NU" -- Sense and Braking Unit (SBU). A device mounted on the trailing coupler on the rear car of the train and coupled to the brake pipe. The SBU senses brake pipe pressure, and may sense motion and direction. This information is relayed by radio to the head end of the train to a RDU, CDU or a CLU/IDU combination. In addition, the SBU acts as a marker to indicate the rear of the train. The SBU is NOT equipped with an emergency braking feature (4/99).
 
Class "R"

REFRIGERATOR CAR TYPE

"RB" -- A bunkerless refrigerator car similar in design to an "RS" car with or without ventilating devices and with or without devices for attaching portable heaters. Constructed with insulation in side ends, floor and roof to meet maximum UA factor requirement of 250 BTU/F/Hour for 50 foot cars and 300 BTU/F/Hour for 60 foot cars. Effective for cars ordered new after March 1, 1984. (7/84-4/99)

Cars built or rebuilt prior to March 1, 1984, must have been constructed with a minimum of 3 in. of insulation in the sides and ends and 3-1/2 in. in floor and roof based on the insulation requirements given in AAR Standard S-2010 or a thickness reduced in proportion to the thermal conductivity of the material. (7/84-4/99)

"RBL" -- A car similar in construction to an "RB" type car, but equipped in addition with adjustable loading or stowing devices. (10/57-4/99). Cars equipped with interior side rails only, built new, rebuilt or reclassified on and after January 1, 1966, in order to qualify for the "RBL" designation, shall have a minimum of four (4) usable side rails on each wall of car, each extending from doorway to approximately four (4) feet from end of car, plus facilities in doorway to accommodate doorway members. The facilities in the doorway are not required in cars equipped with plug type doors. (1/62-4/99).

"RC" -- Refrigerator Car similar to an "RB" car using a cryogen to produce temperatures to transport frozen commodities. (4/90-4/99)

"RP" -- Mechanical Refrigerator car equipped with insulation, with or without means of ventilation and provided with apparatus or other device for furnishing protection against heat and/or cold. Apparatus operated by power other than through the car axle (4/38-4/99).

"RPB" -- Mechanical Refrigerator. Similar to "RP" type car but designed primarily for use in bulk potato or similar type loading as cars are equipped with interior slope sheets and conveyors and/or equipment for mechanical loading and unloading (1/80-4/99).

"RPC" -- Mechanical Refrigerator car similar in design to an "RP" but equipped with permanently affixed containers (4/90-4/99).

"RPL" -- Mechanical Refrigerator. Similar to "RP" but equipped in addition with adjustable loading or stowing device (1/62-4/99).



Class "T"

TANK CAR TYPE

"T" -- Tank car. Tank car means any car which is used only for the transportation of liquids, liquefied gases, compressed gases, or solids that are liquified prior to unloading. Car may be without underframe if container serving as superstructure is designed to serve as underframe. If car has underframe, it must be designed only for the carriage of one or more enclosed containers (with or without compartments) that form the superstructure and are integral parts of the car. All such containers must be securely attached to the underframe when offered for transportation but may have demountable features. Before any car can be considered a tank car hereunder, the design of all such containers thereon must have been approved 1) by the A.A.R. Committee on Tank Cars as having met all applicable A.A.R. specifications and requirements and 2) by said Committee or, in appropriate cases, the Department of Transportation, as having met all applicable specifications and requirements of Subpart I of the Regulations of Transportion for Explosives and other Dangerous Goods (1/73-4/99).


Class "X"

BOX CAR TYPE

"XM" -- Box. A house car for general service and especially for lading requiring protection from the weather and equipped

"XT" -- A house car with or without doors, with or without insulation, either metal lined or enclosing one or more tanks (1/41-4/99).

BOX CAR NOTE:

1 -- When any of the foregoing Class "X" cars are insulated, the letter "I" should be added to the designation (1/68-4/99).

2 -- Boxcars dedicated to the transportation of commodities in Paragraph A, Rule 97, AAR Interchange Rules, must be designated "XP".
 
These are all taken out of my computer notebook, and originally from the AAR guides. The full listings are extensive, covering cars from all times for as long as the AAR has been around. There are a few listings of these online somewhere... this list I culled to use for my time frame.
 
Thanks for the info. I've figured out some of them, just by being exposed to lists but this explanation is pretty thorough and leaves no doubt for me. I like the idea of using the AAR designations for switchlists, too.



 
I'm new to model railroading, so excuse me if this is a stupid question, but I've been looking all over the internet for AAR Locomotive Codes. Do they exist? All replies are greatly appreciated!
 
Hi Carlos:

I am unaware of any AAR lettercode for locomotives. The closest thing would be the designations used for wheel arrangement, e.g. B-B, C-C, A1A-A1A, etc....

Generally the "codes" used to designate a locmotive are applied by either the builder of the engine, or the railroad. Sometimes both exist. Example: EMD called it's six axle (C-C) roadswitcher of the late 1950's the SD9. Souther Pacific gave the SD9 it's own "class" code -- RF-618, standing for Road Freight, Six axle, Eighteen hundred horsepower.

Similarly, railroads frequently gave class distinctions to steam engines. A 4-8-4 might be called a Northern on one road and a Niagara on another, and might also be given a lettercode class distinction, such as an FEF-3, GS-4, E-1, A-3, or so on. (BTW those I just mentioned are all classes of 4-8-4's from UP, SP, SP&S, and NP.)

So in short, there is no such thing to my knowledge as an AAR locomotive lettercode system.
 



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