CN reporting marks
CN Reporting Marks
This page describes reporting marks found on equipment belonging to or frequently operated by Canadian National Railways.
rail equipment used most often in Canada:
- CN — the bulk of CN equipment. This is generally Canadian-built equipment used inside Canada.
- CNA — CN equipment built in the U.S. Examples of this are old RailBox cars now owned by CN, other boxcars of various different colours and pedigrees purchased from U.S. roads, aluminum coal cars (CNA 193xxx series), and some newer bathtub grain hoppers (CNA 386xxx series).
- BCNE — coal gondolas jointly owned by CN and BC Rail to haul coal from Tumbler Ridge to Roberts Bank, BC. The cars are in the series 900000-900639 (single rotary coupler) and 900962-900969 (double rotary coupler).
rail equipment used most often in the US:
- CV — equipment that used to belong to the Central Vermont (CV), absorbed by CN.
- DWP — equipment owned by the Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific (DWP), a CN subsidiary.
- GTW — equipment owned by the Grand Trunk Western (GTW), a CN subsidiary.
- DTI — former equipment (mostly boxcars) of the Detroit Toledo and Ironton, purchased by GTW in 1984. Much of this equipment has been renumbered into the GTW numbering scheme.
- DTS — former equipment of the Detroit and Toledo Shoreline, purchased by GTW in 1981. Much of this has been renumbered into the GTW numbering scheme.
rail equipment in international service:
These marks are for equipment in international service. This designation is driven by customs laws in Canada and the U.S. Apparently a car cannot be used regularly for cross-border traffic unless it has customs fees paid on it in the country where it was not manufactured. This is expensive and railways try to limit international traffic only to cars on which the fees have already been paid.
- CNIS — equipment built in Canada for CN and used in international service. This is often seen on boxcars and flatcars.
- NAR — former Northern Alberta Railway box cars
- CVC — international service equipment that used to be owned by the CV. It is often clearly marked: CANADIAN BUILT FOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ONLY.
- DWC — international service equipment that is owned by the DWP. It is often clearly marked: CANADIAN BUILT FOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ONLY.
- GTA — international service equipment that is owned by the GTW. This mark was only applied to a few auto racks during the period 1971-1982.
containers:
- CNRU — modern CN containers
- CNEU — older containers, many now used for static storage or in captive service (e.g. Labatt's)
- CNPU — unknown
- TTWU — containers from Terra Transport
highway trailers:
- CNRZ — modern CN flatbeds for containers
- CNPZ — modern enclosed trailers, piggy back (TOFC)
- CNEZ — CN express service, now not used
- CVRZ — trailers from Central Vermont?
- CNAZ — trailers for international service?
- DTIZ — trailers belonging to the Detroit Toledo and Ironton, purchased by GTW in 1984.
- SGWZ — unknown (no longer current)
- TTPZ — trailers from Terra Transport
- TTWZ — flatbed for containers, from Terra Transport
FREDs:
- CNQ — FREDs used on most CN trains
- DWPQ — used by DWP
- GTWQ — used by GTW
- GTQ — used by GTW?
- CVQ — formerly used by CV?
Government grain cars:
These marks don't belong to CN but are used on government-owned cylindrical grain cars that are operated almost exclusively by CN.
- CNWX — owned by the Canadian Wheat Board
- SKNX — owned by Saskatchewan
- ALNX — owned by Alberta
Canac International:
Equipment with these marks belongs to Canac International Inc, a leasing arm of CN. Equipment is clearly marked Canadian National.
- CNLX — cylindrical hoppers
- CANX — seen on former CN 52 foot flat cars and some open gondolas
Ontario Hydro.
Ontario Hydro owns bathtub coal gondolas that are assigned to service on CN.
Obsolete marks:
- NR — Newfoundland Railway
- CNF — CN (used for Newfoundland equipment)
- NYDX — New York Despatch Refrigerator Line (absorbed by GTW in 1941-42)
- NDRX — National Despatch Refrigerator Lines (absorbed by GTW in 1941-42)
- SGWZ — unknown — highway trailers? (no longer current)
