Reporting marks

[gabby]

I have an Athearn (RTR) in HO scale that is a BN 50ft box car. The reporting marks have me puzzled. FWD followed by the car number. What does that mean

 

[Rico]

FWD was Fort Worth and Denver, a railroad that was mergered into the BN as part of the colorado and southern in 1982 I believe. Equipment acquired in the merger retained the rporting marks. (FWD now stands for BNSF)
I could be off on this so standing by...

 

[kenw]

Rico is right. When RRs merge, the old reporting marks become owned by the new RR. So FWD-marked rolling stock is now owned by BNSF, as are ATSF, CBQ, BN, GN, etc.

 

[UP2CSX]

In addition to the above correct information, it's not unusual for the cars tobe woned by an equipment trust and the agreement was signed between the trust and the FW&D. After a merger, it's much easier to leave a shell company that is still the leasee rather than re-write all the agreements for the new railroad. As soon as the equipment trust has matured, the car's reporting marks would then be changed to the new railroad or the cars would be returned to the lessor.

 

[gabby]

Thanks gang. That clears that up.

 

[diburning]

Also, because it costs money to renumber each car so that it doesn't overlap with the cars they already have and to change the reporting marks.

For example, UP has cars with the reporting marks ARMN.

On a related note, some companies like Guilford Rail System (now Pan Am Railways) doesn't have it's own reporting marks. It uses the reporting marks of the companies it bought and merged. (Springfield Terminal, Boston and Maine, Maine Central, and Delaware and Hudson before they sold it off)