Every few seconds, day or night, and in all kinds of weather, a freight train starts its run somewhere within the United States to carry to the people the necessities, comforts and luxuries of life. These freight trains, heavy-laden with the goods that supply and support and nourish America, have made names for themselves in more than one sense.
Many of them, in all sections of the country, have acquired names and nicknames. Often these names reflect something of the color and romance of American railroading. Sometimes they relate to the railroad's history, the area served by the railroad or the nature of the railroad's services.

There are CANNONBALLS, BULLETS, ROCKETS, METEORS, THUNDERBOLTS, and REDBALLS and names that savor of speed and the roar of the rails. There are colorful animal nicknames such as BADGER, BULL DOG, BLACK CAT, WHIPPET, and GREYHOUND. A train carrying fresh vegetables and fruits on an overnight run might bear the prosaic but descriptive name of VEGETABLE SPECIAL. Then, too, cities, states, and other geographical areas have been given official recognition in the naming of freight trains.

Through these names, whatever they may be, freight trains, like passenger trains, acquire real personalities and throughout the length of their runs they are known to many by their popular designations.

The letters or initials in parentheses following initials of individual railroad companies
represent the "Reporting Marks" for freight cars assigned by the
Operating-Transportation Division of the Association of American Railroads:

A&WP (A&WP): Atlanta & West Point

B&M (BM): Boston & Maine

B&O (B&O): Baltimore & Ohio

C&EI (C&EI): Chicago & Eastern Illinois

C&NW (CNW): Chicago & North Western

CB&Q (CB&Q): Chicago, Burlington & Quincy

C.I.&L. Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville (MONON)

CN (CN): Canadian National

CofNJ (CNJ): Central Railroad Company of New Jersey

CofPa (CRP): Central Railroad Pennsylvania

CRI&P (RI): Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific

CRR (CRR): Clinchfield

CStPM&O (CMO): Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Air Line

CV (CV): Central Vermont

D&M (D&M): Detroit & Mackinac

D&RGW (D&RGW): Denver & Rio Grande

Western TP&W (TP&W): Toledo, Peoria & Western

FEC (FEC): Florida East Coast

G&F (G&F): Georgia & Florida

GA (GA): Georgia Pacific

GN (GN): Great Northern

GTW (GTW): Grand Trunk Western

IC (IC): Illinois Central

L&NE (LNE): Lehigh & New England

L&N (L&N): Louisville & Nashville

LV (LV): Lehigh Valley

MKT (M-K-T): Missouri-Kansas-Texas

N&W (N&W): Norfolk & Western

NYNH&H (NH): New York, New Haven & Company of Hartford

PRR (PRR): Pennsylvania

R (R): Rutland

RDG (RDG): Reading

SAL (Seaboard; Ga., Fla. & Ala.): Seaboard

SOUTHERN (Southern): Southern

SP (SP): Southern Pacific

StLSW (SSW): St. Louis Southwestern

WMd (WM): Western Maryland

WP (Western Pacific R. R.; WP): Western

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