BNSF Train ID Suffix Question

I have been very curious about suffixes on BNSF's train IDs (e.g. the "A" at the end of H-BRCGAL1-09A"). Anybody know what all of these suffixes mean and/or what all of their uses are? Just curious. Hopefully, I'm not asking for too much.

Thanks in advance,
Thomas B.

The prefix tells what type of train it is. Some examples are B for bare table empty intermodal cars, C of coal, E for Empty coal G for grain, S for a stack train , U for unit train, Z for high priority intermodal. I have forgotten the whole list, but those are some examples.

Train Symbol Format: A BBBCCC1 01


A Train Type
B Originating Station
C Destination Station
1 Section Number (General)
1 - 1st section
2 - 2nd section
3 - Unscheduled train
4 - HAZMAT train
5 - Unscheduled train
7 - Electric Brake or Distributed Power
8 - Critical Arrival 2nd Section
9 - Critical Arrival 1st Section

Section (Grain)
1 – Unit Grain
2 – Section Section
3 – Extra Section : Haulage, Privates, Foreign Equipment or Contract
4 – Fertililzer
5 – Feed (Sweet Bran & Pellet)
6 – Corn Syrup
7 – Ethanol
8 – Empty Shuttle to Storage/Second Section Shuttle or Scoot
9 – Priority Grain/Shuttle & Scoots

Section (Double Stack)
2 - 2nd Section
3 - Cosco or Extra Section
4 - NYK or Hanjin
5 - Maersk
6 - K Line or Sealand
7 - OOCL
8 - Hyundai

Section (Intermodal)
2 - 2nd Section Lower Truckload volume trains [Q2]
1 – 1st Section Lower Truckload volume trains [Q1]
6 - Smaller volume of LTL/Expedited loads, hig volume of Truckload loads [Q6]
6 – 2nd Section - Trains carrying high number of LTL and Expedited loads, Cold day UPS & UPS Air Loads with longer goals [Z6]
7 -1st Section - Trains carrying high number of LTL and Expedited loads, Cold day UPS & UPS Air Loads with longer goals [Z7]
7 – 3rd Section - - Hot UPS/FedEx & Air Loads, select high volume LTL trains [Z7]
8 - 2nd Section - Hot UPS/FedEx & Air Loads, select high volume LTL trains [Z8]
9 - 1st Section - Hot UPS/FedEx & Air Loads, select high volume LTL trains [Z9]

Section (Vehicle)
3 - Extra
7 - AutoMax
8 – Critical Arrival
9 - Critical Arrival

Section (Manifest)
2 - 2nd Section
3 - Extra
5 - Extra
9 - Critical Arrival

Section (Unit MOW)
5B = Ballast train
5D = Derrick?
5G = track gang?
5R = Rail
5T = ties
5Z = track geometry train

01 Calendar date of origination (coal trains - yearly sequence)











Train Type:


A Amtrak Train
B Bare Table Intermodal Train
C Loaded Unit Coal Train
D Light Engines
E Empty Unit Coal Train
F Foreign Railroad Detour Train
G Loaded Unit Grain Train
H High Priority Merchandise Train
I Deadhead Crew Moves
J High/wide Dimensional Special
K Helpers
L Local Train (regularly scheduled)
M Normal Priority Merchandise Train
N Hours Of Service Relief Crew
O Officer Special
P Premium Service Intermodal Train
Q Guaranteed Service Intermodal Train
R Road Switcher (regularly scheduled)
S Intermodal Stack Train
T Transfer Service (Interchange Delivery / Receipt)
U Unit Train other than Coal or Grain
V Vehicle Train (Auto Parts / Automobiles)
W Work Train
X Empty Unit Grain Train
Y Yard Job (regularly scheduled)
Z UPS - LTL Guaranteed Service Intermodal Train

No one has actually answered the OP's question regarding a suffix after the date code. In addition to the A code ( H-BRCGAL1-09A) I've heard an "L" code for some Z trains. Any ideas?

L is a train that uses long pools for crews, I believe. Usually the hot Z trains. I also seen V & S suffixes, and even a U suffix. Can't help with those.