Question about running numbers on engines

All engines north of the border have their own cab numbers, Engine numbers were an important part of train operations (train orders)  Maybe they still are with track permits etc.

Each locomotive on a given RR has a unique number; it's the primary day-to-day

ID number. As Mr. Traque stated, in the early days of dieseldom, a "set" of

F3's, for example, would have suffixed numbers, on some roads. This is because, suddenly,

RR's had trouble defining "locomotive". I mean, you couldn't break up your 4-6-6-4 and

run part of it today, then all of it tomorrow, again. Some early diesels were semi-permanently attached with drawbars. (Seems like shooting yourself in the foot.)

Lionel's models/toys were mass-produced, as you said, and the kids didn't care, plus

the adults who used Lionel's stuff for model RR'ing could change it. "Breaking up"

the set is what diesel loco railroading was all about.

The GM&O used letter suffixes on their EMD F's (800B, for example - an "A" unit!)

right up until the ICG merger in 1972. They never did that with their more-common

ALCO FA's. Odd.

Part of the reason to number an ABBA set with one number was to avoid the unions requiring a crew on each unit.  Same thing with having them drawbar equipped.

Stuart

I would leave the numbers just the way they are. These units certainly have history on their side.

Chicago Great Western had suffix's going up to G!  It was almost routine for them to run 5-6 F-units on a train.

Rusty