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INTERACTIVE TOOL

Locomotive Identification

Use easy-to-see features to narrow down the type of locomotive you are looking at.

Choose the clues you can see.

Road number, truck shape, radiator area and body proportions can narrow an identification further.

Two Norfolk Southern diesel locomotives
Two road locomotives show the scale and visual differences that make locomotive identification a useful railfan skill.Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Best spotting clues

Count axles

Four versus six powered axles is one of the quickest diesel clues.

Study the body

Hood length, cab location, radiator shape and grilles help separate locomotive families.

Get the road number

Reporting marks and road number can often be matched to a railroad roster.

IDENTIFICATION ASSISTANT

Describe what you can see

Cab shape, truck count, radiator area, hood proportions and number boards can narrow an identification quickly.

Help me identify a locomotive with six axles and a wide safety cab.What locomotive features should I look at first?How do I identify a locomotive when I cannot read the model number?