Subject: Car Identification (7/10/1990)
[1/3/86] Amtrak ID Numbers - Required, effective January 1, 1986. Your number can be obtained from Laddie Shrbeny's office, or you may call Gordon Crosthwait or Larry Haines, who have copies of the list exhibited at Portland. Make certain the number is placed above the floor pan elevation, so that it can be read when at a high level platform. Diagram in the next PV.
[11/5/86] Reporting Marks - Amtrak has changed the reporting mark specification slightly. It now requires that the number assigned to you by Amtrak be placed 54 inches above the top of the rail, so that it is readable at high level platforms. A few cars had the numbers too low. I have not yet worked out the initials and repair billing with the AAR.
[11/5/86] Computer Demonstration - Mr. Laird demonstrated a number of the kinds of reports, and the data, that can be pulled up from his records, now that each car has an Amtrak number. It is possible to obtain the cumulative mileage for each car, a list of the most recent defects, the type of brakes, the type of trucks, and most of the other data which has been turned in to Amtrak. In this regard, we will soon be receiving new reporting forms, which you will need to fill out and return as part of your annual inspection.
[8/31/87] Amtrak Number - Several people have asked how they can obtain their 800,000 number from Amtrak. You should write to Ms. Annette Allen, Systems Special Movements Bureau, Room 6142-S at Amtrak, 400 N. Capitol, N.W., Washington, DC 20001 and give her: the name of the car, the year it was built, the builder, the type of car, and the owner's name, address, and business phone number. Originally, the numbers were grouped so that various letters of the alphabet would fall into certain groups. Later, it became obvious that not enough room for certain letters was left between the groups. Consequently, Amtrak has now filled in the numbers between the groups, in no particular order, and the numbers to be assigned hereafter will simply be in the order in which received.
[6/20/88] Amtrak 800,000 Numbers - Amtrak has now gone over the list of 800,000 numbers, and has removed many of the duplication and errors which crept in previously. Two of our members, Bill Farmer and John Arbuckle, are working on an enlarged computer list which will include the numbers, car names, owners, types, and a brief history of each car. We hope to make this list available to you in a few months.
One of the purposes of the 800,000 numbers was to be a permanent identification of each private car. Thus, the number is permanently assigned to the car, and does not change with changes in ownership or configuration. Do not hesitate to let both Special Movements and the Mechanical Department know of changes in ownership and mechanical and electrical characteristics. To obtain your number, write Annette Allen, Special Movements.
[9/26/88] New Owner's Kit - David Rohr (Native Son) presented the next seminar, which concerned procedures for, and requirements to, move your car on an Amtrak train. Laddie Shrbeny presented those in attendance with a new mover's kit, which included the forms necessary for filing a movement request, a sample filled out form, a timetable, and copies of the relevant tariffs. This kit, along with information concerning how to obtain your 800,000 number are all available from Special Movements.
[1/26/89] 800,000 Number - Be sure to keep Amtrak (Shrbeny and Laird) advised as to mechanical repairs and upgrades to your car. They also request that you advise them as to changes in ownership and also changes of address. Periodically, Amtrak will be mailing out new forms and announcements, and you will make the task much easier, and be more likely to receive the information, if you keep your records up to date.
[7/10/90] 800,000 Numbers - The Special Movements Bureau assigns 800,000 numbers to Amtrak compatible cars. Recently, they have been deluged with requests for the assignment of numbers. Indeed, one owner requested 26 numbers in one day. Upon further questioning, it was determined that this owner had no intent to run any of his cars on Amtrak, he simply wanted identification numbers. Needless to say, he was not accommodated. There has also been talk of cancelling the 800,000 numbers if they are not used every year or two on Amtrak. We are working on the problem because it often takes several years to get a car running, and for various reasons, it may be several years between trips.
Special Movements has been kicking around several ideas concerning the issuance, and re-issuance of these numbers, including charging a registration fee, or restricting the numbers to cars which have passed the initial PC-1 inspection. It simply takes too much clerk time to obtain the numbers, and set up the various files, particularly for cars which will not be utilizing Amtrak service. The impetus for seeking such numbers comes from Conrail and CSX who have refused to move private cars which do not have an Amtrak issued 800,000 number. These carriers have suffered under the illusion that cars which have been issued numbers have been inspected by Amtrak. They have received a letter from Amtrak (Miller) advising them that this is not the case.
The 800,000 number is permanently assigned to the car. The number goes with the car, even upon a change of ownership. The number is only vacated when the car is scrapped. The same number is reported to the AAR under our UMLER agreement with them. Temporary numbers are sometimes assigned for one time movements. We will work with Special Movements to try to alleviate the time consuming problem of registering the cars. We are also talking to the mechanical department about permanently embossing the number on the center sill as a means of permanent identification.
Paul L. DeVerter II
Comments