SP Freight Train Symbol History

You are at: CarrTracks > Gallery > SP Symbol History Index

Most of the following train symbols originated at Houston, TX.

HEBVM began as the EN-SA (Ennis San Antonio) and No 363 from San Antonio to Brownsville. They were combined and rerouted via Vitoria to become the ENBVY in 1974. In 1977, it handled traffic for Victoria, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley. The ENVIY, operated as needed and became the ENVIM in October 1985. The HEVIY and HEVIM also operated during this time when there was insufficient traffic to originate the train in Ennis. It became the HEBVM December 21, 1986 and operated as needed.

EN-BV Ennis 1100P  San Antonio 1100A  1 73
363 San Antonio 500P  Brownsville 1000A  1 73
ENBVY Ennis 1100P  Brownsville 200P  2 74-77

HEPBM began as train SAPBY. From 1982 thru 1985, the SAPBY handled traffic for Giddings, Caldwell, Hearne, North Texas (set out at Corsicana) Tyler, Texarkana, Pine Bluff, and East St. Louis. It became the SAPBM in October 1985 and operated as needed. It became the HEPBM in late 1986.

SAPBY San Antonio 1201A  Pine Bluff 100P  1 82-85

HGPBY originated at the SSW Hodge Yard in North Fort Worth. It primarily handled traffic for reclassification at Pine Bluff and also picked up and set out at Carrollton, Plano, Addison, Greenville, Commerce, Mt. Pleasant, and Texarkana. The schedule was deleted May 20, 1983.

HGPBY Fort Worth 830P  Pine Bluff 1159P  1 78-82

HOASM began as the TSN (Texas Streak North) and became the HOASY in 1974. From 1982 thru 1985, it handled traffic for Pine Bluff and connections via the Alton and Southern. From 1980 to April 3, 1983, it operated via Shreveport over the weekend and via Hearne on weekdays. After April 3, 1983, HOASY operated primarily via Shreveport. The HOASY became the HOASM in October 1985.

TSN Houston 500P  Pine Bluff 1000A  1 71-73
HOASY Houston 400P  E St Louis 1159P  1 74-77
HOASY Houston 700A  E St Louis 800P  1 80-82
HOASY Houston 400P  E St Louis 500A  2 83
HOASY Houston 700P  E St Louis 700A  2 85
HOASM Houston 300P  E St Louis 200A  2 87

HOBEM began as the HOBEY and in 1982 handled traffic for Beaumont. The schedule was deleted May 20, 1983, however the symbol is still used as needed. It became the HOBTM in October 1985.

HOBEY Houston 1100A  Beaumont 900P  80-82

HOCXQ began in July 1987 as a run thru to Jacksonville, FL via New Orleans and the CXS.

HODAM began as No 257 which terminated at Denison, TX and handled traffic for North Texas. It was split into the HOENY and ENDNY in 1974. The ENDNY became the ENSHY in 1980 and handled Dallas and BN interchange traffic for Sherman. In 1984 they were combined to form the HODNY and became the HODNM in October 1985. It became the HODAM in late 1986 and operated as needed.

257 Houston 830A  Ennis 1100P  1 71-73
257 Ennis 1100P  Denison 430A  1 71-73
HOENY Houston 900A  Ennis 300A  1 74-83
ENDNY Ennis 830P  Denison 200A  1 74
ENDNY Ennis 330P  Denison 1100P    77
HOENY Houston 200P  Denison 1230P  1 84

HODAQ began as HODAX in 1984. It handled Dallas TOFC, was limited to 15 cars and operated without a caboose.

HODAX Houston 730P  Dallas 515A  1 85
HODAQ Houston 730P  Dallas 515A  1 87

HODAT began as the PBW (Piggyback West) and became the HODAT in 1974. In 1982, it handled traffic for Ennis, Dallas, and BN interchange at Sherman for Tulsa and beyond.

PBW Houston 800P  Dallas 630A  1 71-73
HODAT Houston 900P  Dallas 1000A  1 74-77
HODAT Houston 600P  Dallas 900A  1 82-83

HOEPT began January 16, 1989 and handled El Paso, Tucson, and Phoenix TOFC and manifest traffic from Houston and trains NOLXT and CXHOT. It would pick up additional traffic at San Antonio from trains DASAQ and MFLAT.

HOEPT Houston 300A  El Paso 300A  1 89

HOESQ began in July 1987 operating five days per week. This was increased to six days per week in April 1989.

HOEXT began January 1986 handling Express system containers from Dallas, Houston, and New Orleans. During early 1986, it was combined with the CHEXT at El Paso.

HOEXT Houston Fri 500A  El Paso Sat 230P  87

Southern Pacific train symbol TXN at Dragoon, AZ
Southern Pacific train symbol TXN at Dragoon, AZ

HOLAM began as the TXN (Texan) operating to Indio to connect with the SF, IV-NCP, and IV-VXW. It became the HOLAY in 1974 and became the HOLAM in October 1985. HOLAM handled traffic for San Antonio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Tucson, and West Colton.

TXN Houston 1000P  Indio 200P  2 71-73
HOLAY Houston 100P  West Colton 1030P  2 74
HOLAY Houston 200A  Los Angeles 800P  3 83
HOLAY Houston 200A  Los Angeles 200A  3 85
HOLAM Houston 200A  Los Angeles 200A  3 86-3/87
HOLAM Houston 600P  Los Angeles 600P  3 7/87

SP train symbol HOLBT at Deming, NM
SP train symbol HOLBT at Deming, NM

HOLAT in 1982 handled TOFC and manifest traffic for El Paso, Tucson, City of Industry, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area in 1982. In 1987, HOLAT handled TOFC for El Paso, Tucson, and West Colton.

HOLAT Houston 200A  Los Angeles 500P  2 82
HOLAT Houston 100A  Los Angeles 500A  2 83
HOLAT Houston 100A  Los Angeles 1030P  2 85
HOLAT Houston 100A  Los Angeles 1025P  2 87

SP train symbol HOLFM at Welsh, LA SP train symbol HOLFM on the Mermentau River Bridge
SP train symbol HOLFM at Welsh, LA and on the Mermentau River Bridge

HONOM began as the HNO (Houston New Orleans) and became the HOAVF in 1974. In 1982, it handled traffic for Lake Charles, Lafayette, and Avondale Yard and could have a block for Beaumont on the head end. It became the HONOM in October 1985.

HNO Houston 600P  Avondale Yard 800A  1 73
HOAVF Houston 700P  Avondale Yard 1000A  1 74
HOAVY Houston 600A  Avondale Yard 1159P    77
HOAVY Houston 1000P  Avondale Yard 230A  2 80-82
HOAVY Houston 1100A  Avondale Yard 1201P    83

SP train symbol HOWCQ at Lordsburg, NM
SP train symbol HOWCQ at Lordsburg, NM

HOOAM began as the HOWCY. From 1982 thru 1985, it handled mixed traffic and picked up and set out at San Antonio and El Paso. It became the HOWCM in October 1985 and in 1986 became the HOOAM.

HOWCY Houston 200P  West Colton 1201P  3 82-85

HOOAT began as the AVBAT. In 1982, it operated via the Coast and handled TOFC for San Antonio, El Paso, Tucson, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area. The AVBAT operted via the Valley in 1985. The AVBAT became the NOOAT in October 1985 became the HOOAT during the Summer on 1986. In 1987, it handled San Antonio TOFC and manifest traffic and Bay Area TOFC and manifest traffic. It picked up additional Bay Area traffic from the MFOAT at San Antonio and from the KCEPQ at El Paso.

AVBAT Avondale 600P  Oakland 800A  4 82
AVBAT Avondale 1030P  Oakland 700A  4 83
AVBAT Avondale 1030P  Oakland 100A  5 85
HOOAT Houston 700P  Oakland 430A  4 87

HOPBY in 1982 handled traffic for Pine Bluff and beyond. It generally operated via Lufkin, but could operate via Corsicana. The schedule was deleted May 20, 1983 but the symbol was used into 1984.

HOPBY Houston 300A  Pine Bluff 300A  1 82

HOSAM began as the HOSAY handling traffic for West Texas and Arizona and could fill with traffic for West Colton on the head end. The schedule was deleted May 20, 1983 but the symbol continued to be used until changed to the HOSAM in October 1985. It operated as needed.

HOSAY Houston 500P  San Antonio 300A  1 79-82

HOSBM began as the SP-FLA (SP Florida) and became the HOLNY in 1974. It handled traffic for exL&N at Avondale Yard and could have a Lafayette block on the rear end. The HOSBY became the HOSBM in October 1985, and operated as the HONOM2 from January 1986 to January 1988.

SP-FLA Houston 100P  Avondale Yard 400A  1 71-73
HOLNY Houston 1201P  Avondale Yard 500A  1 74
HOLNY Houston 300P  Avondale Yard 500A  1 77
HOLNY Houston 900P  Avondale Yard 300A  2 82
HOSBY Houston 900P  Avondale Yard 300A  2 83-85
HONOM2 Houston 900P  Gentilly Yard 255A  2 87

HOSOM began as the HSO (Houston Southern Run Through) and became the HOSOY in 1974. It handled traffic for Southern Rwy train 194 for Birmingham and Atlanta and could have a block for Lake Charles on the head end. The HOSOY became the HOSOM in October 1985 and operated as the HONOM3 from January 1986 to January 1988.

HSO Houston 400A  Avondale Yard 300P    71
HSO Houston 1000P  Avondale Yard 100P  1 73
HOSOY Houston 1100P  Avondale Yard 300P  1 74
HOSOY Houston 700A  Avondale Yard 1000P    77
HOSOY Houston 1100P  Avondale Yard 500A  2 82-85
HONOM3 Houston 1100P  Avondale Yard 325A  2 87

HOTXQ began in late 1987 as a unit tank train to Teneha then via AT&SF to Texas Eastman at Longview. It operated daily except Saturday.

HOVIM began as the HOVIY handling traffic for South Central Texas. It became the HOVIM in October 1985.

HOVIY Houston 500P  Victoria 300A  1 84

HXHOT began in March 1988 leaving Long Beach on Tuesday if there is sufficient Hanjin traffic. Otherwise Hanjin traffic will be handled by the LXHOF, LXCRF, and LACHF.

ICMXQ handled Mitsui containers from the ICG when connection with ESKCQ is missed.

ICMXQ E St Louis 1201P  Kansas City 1130P  87

ICNXQ handled NYK containers for the ICG. when connection with ESKCQ is missed.

ICNXQ E St Louis 600P  Kansas City 530A  1 87

 A 

 B 

 C 

 D 

 E 

F-G

J-K

 L 

 M 

N-O

 P 

 R 

 S 

T-V

W-Y

Left arrow SP Introduction