Customer codes

During WW II, the nation went out of its way to avoid possibly helping enemy spies to get information. One of the measures taken was to assign codes to various sensitive industries, and rail cars consigned to them were chalked by the code number rather than the name itself. The only example I am familiar with was Eastman Kodak in Rochester NY, which was designated "X-9". The symbol far outlived the war itself - as late as about 1980 both the NYC (well, by then Conrail) and the B&O still used "X-9" as an abbreviation for Kodak cars.

Is there any list of all the assorted codes used in various locations? No big project involved here, just idle curiosity.

CSXT's system uses the milepost and the particular customer's number. For example since Home Depot's distribution Center is in Norwood Mass & CSX has designated Norwood as MP QVF 5, their customer code is QVF 5 0304, and another customer in Norwood would be QVF 5 0305, etc.

Basically the YZCO (Customer number) is always going to be a Milepost (6 characters including spaces when neccessary) followed by a 4 digit number.

Hope this helps.

Thanks CSX Cndr. The big roads seem to change their siding designations every few years as the latest and greatest "plan" is put in. About the time you learn one, they change it.

Actually I was referring to other codes back during the war. For example, what was "X-2" or "X-8"? Or what other codes were there? Were they coded by geography, or by the type of factory? This was apparently something the government set in motion so SOMEWHERE they must still keep records. Any old timers recall similar codes for defense type plants?