Boston & Maine Freight Cars - Abbreviations

Index

• Photo section header
• History of this web page

Photo section header

NOTE: I will omit "later" marking columns (ACI, COTS, U-1, Reflect, AEI) for car series retired before 1965

Section	Text in header	Description	Possible values
-	Color?	Is photograph in color?	blank = no (it is B&W or sepia or whatever) Y = Yes, photo is color
Visible	Side	Is side of car visible?	blank = no X = Yes p = side partially visible
	End	Is end of car visible?	blank = no A = "A end" (typically no brake wheel) is visible B = "B end" (typically with brake wheel) is visible p = end partially visible (may be combined with "A" or "B")
	Roof	Is roof of car visible?	blank = no Y = Yes p = roof partially visible
	Other	Is some other part of the car visible (typically interior, maybe underframe)	blank = no X = Yes (typically "notes" column should indicate what is visible)
Markings	RN Style	Road Name "style" (note this is for the reporting marks area - the road name may also be placed elsewhere - that is included in the "Herald" column)	I am ignoring spacing between letters/words/symbols (if any) S1& = Spelled, one line, using "&" - e.g. "BOSTON & MAINE" S1and = Spelled, one line, using "and" - e.g. "BOSTON AND MAINE" S3& = Spelled, three lines, using "&" - e.g. BOSTON & MAINE S3and = Spelled, three lines, using "and" - e.g. BOSTON AND MAINE B&M = that text (without periods) B.M. = that text (with periods) BM = that text (without periods) M.T.C. = that text (with periods) MTC = that text (without periods)
	RN Font	Road Name Font	blank = not visible/discernable R = "Roman" (serif font) G = "Gothic" (san-serif font) O = "Other" (Typically spray painted by hand)
	Car# Font	Car Number font	blank = not visible/discernable R = "Roman" (serif font) G = "Gothic" (san-serif font) O = "Other" (Typically spray painted by hand)
	RM Bars	Horizontal lines around reporting marks	blank = not visible/discernable A = Above road name B = Below car number M = Middle (between road name and car number) O = Other (see notes column) N = None Above may be combined (typically, when they were used, they would be "AB")
	ACI	Is ACI (Automatic Car Identification) label present? (starts approx 1967, stopped being required approx 1978) Location (if I bother) will be in "Notes" section	blank = not visible/discernable Y = Yes N = No
	COTS	Is/are "Clean, Oil, Test, and Stencil" block(s) present? (starts approx 1972, stopped being required approx 2016)	blank = not visible/discernable N = No 1 = 1 block (1972-1974?) 2V = 2 blocks in vertical layout (1974 - "early 1980s") 2H = 2 blocks in horizontal layout (1974 - "early 1980s") 3 = 3 panel (early 1980s? - 2016) 4 = 4 panel (1981? - 1982? only, rare)
	U-1	Is "U-1" wheel inspection (yellow/white "dot" stencil) present? (starts approx 1978, stopped being added approx 1979-80?)	blank = not visible/discernable N = No Y = "yellow dot" (all wheels are "good") W = "white dot" (car has at least one "bad" wheel) I = dot present, color indeterminate
	Reflect	Are reflective stripes (or other shapes) present? (starts approx: Canada: 1974; USA: 2005 still required as of 2020)	blank = not visible/discernable N = No Q = squares applied on "diagonal" (Canada requirement) H = horizontal stripes V = vertical stripes + count e.g. "5V" = "5 vertical stripes"; "3H2V" = "3 horizontal and 2 vertical stripes" Note: order of stripe types not implied
	AEI	Is AEI (Automatic equipment identification) RFID box applied / visible? (starts about 1990-1991?, still required as of 2020)	blank = not visible/discernable Y = Yes

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