Train numbers - ARTC

["< Tell >" <telljb@OZozemail.com.au>]

For those who follow train numbering on former AN
territory, you might recall that only trains running
between capital cities were given the first letter of
each CC name, eg 2MP4 was a Melborne-Perth train. 
Coal, Ballast, Work and Northern Territory trains
stayed with the old CR/ANR 4-number system until around
August 1998 when trains to Alice Springs began using
the AL LA letters.

Now the letter X for EXTRA is being used, shades of
North America.!  This was for a NRC train from Port
Augusta to Adelaide, 4XA4, (extra adealaide).  
One reason I guess, because Port Augusta is PA and the
letters P&A are already used for Perth/Adelaide.

Also "NSW Government Railways", could not resist that.!
who are working the Leigh Creek Coalfields are being
issued ARTC train orders using the letters FP, eg 5FP1.
And it seems that FP means, .........Flinders Power.
   
----Terry Burton