Every railroad has a numbering system that makes sense, at least within the corporation. They are not only neccesary to keep track of maintenance records, but simply by referencing the car # or series, every employee would instantly recognize the car type without need for additional explainations. Many freelance modelers, myself included, never really think about this - and just assign road numbers at random. While building a few recent projects, I started to question my 'whatever number is handy' philosophy. The following is my attempt to make order from chaos without having to renumber too many existing pieces.

From now on this is the simple numbering system I intend to use. There are many more numbers than existing equipment to allow for future builds, trades, or purchases - and imitate the feel of a real operation.
Steam Locomotives:
#1-6 Narrow Gauge Switchers
#7,8 Narrow Gauge 'special' or Mixed Traffic Engines
#9-12 Narrow Gauge Passenger Locomotives
#14-19 Narrow Guage Freight Engines

#60-68 Standard Gauge Switchers
#80-95 Standard Gauge Freight Engines
Note: at this time there are no plans for SG passenger equipment, as the AV was narrow gauge, and later dual gauge during passenger operations.

Diesel Locomotives:
# 40-45 Narrow Gauge Switchers
#46-49 Standard Gauge Switchers
#50-59 Standard Gauge Road units

Rolling Stock:
#21-29 Narrow Gauge Passenger Equipment
#31-32 Narrow Gauge Baggage
#33,34 Narrow Gauge Postal Cars
#71-79 Narrow Gauge Passenger Equipped Freight Cars

#100-129 Narrow Gauge Tank Cars
#130-137 Narrow Gauge Flatcars
#140-175 Narrow Gauge Boxcars
#240-249 Narrow Gauge Caboose
#301-345 Narrow Gauge Gondolas
#401-499 Narrow Gauge Hoppers

#501-545 Standard Gauge Hoppers
#551-559 Standard Gauge Flatcars
#561-579 Standard Gauge Tank Cars
#601-645 Standard Gauge Boxcar
#650-659 Standard Gauge Caboose

Special Equipment: - well cars, snow removal, cranes, etc.
# 701-730 Narrow Gauge
#741-755 Standard Gauge

An M prefix: Added to any number is to designate that a car has been turned over to MoW service, the old number can then be re-issued. for instance RPO