The locomotive that was numbered 666

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2004-04-03 01:20pm

Okay, this is a story I found rather interesting, concerning the superstition surrounding the number 666.

In order to understand this story, a bit of background info is required: Throughout 1994, the Atcison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) took delivery of 100 General Electric Dash 9-44CW locomotives, numbered 600 to 699. Of course, one of these locomotives bore the number "666". I found two good pics of the loco, here and here. Anyway, some people living along the tracks took notice of this and started to complain to the railroad about "the number of the Beast", a few railraod traffic controllers were aprehensive about uttering the number of the locomotive over the radio, and I think one engineer refused to drive it. In 1995, ATSF was bought out by Burlington Northern, and the resulting railroad became Burlington Northern & Santa Fe (BNSF). Since both railroads had locomotives bearing the same numbers, many former ATSF locomotives were renumbered so they wouldn't have the same road numbers as the former BN locomotives. This was seen as the perfect opportunity to deal with the problem, and the #666 was renumbered to 599 in 1998 (none of the other members of the former ATSF 600-699 series were ever renumbered).
This is not the first time this has happened. Union Pacific had a locomotive numbered 666 back in the '70s (it was retired in 1985), and they to had to renumber it for similar reasons...

Now, here is where it gets really interesting: CSX Transportation also has a locomotive numbered 666 (picture). Since CSX operates in the entire eastern half of the US as far west as Chicago, this locomotive would frequently be right in the middle of the Deep South, yet AFIK, it has not been renumbered, despite having been in service for several years

...

Post by **Dalton** » 2004-04-03 01:25pm

Don't you just love retarded superstitions?

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-04-03 01:54pm

Blaine?

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2004-04-03 01:55pm

Tee hee hee. *points at post count*

Coincidence? I think not!

Post by **Dalton** » 2004-04-03 01:58pm

Frank Hipper wrote:Blaine?

He's such a pain.

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2004-04-03 01:59pm

Dalton wrote:
Frank Hipper wrote:Blaine?

He's such a pain.

Who's Blaine?

Hobot · Post by **Hobot** » 2004-04-03 07:14pm

Mayabird wrote:Tee hee hee. *points at post count*

Coincidence? I think not!

Congratulations =P

I just noticed it in another thread and I had to find this sacred post

Singular Quartet · Post by **Singular Quartet** » 2004-04-03 07:31pm

Mayabird wrote:Tee hee hee. *points at post count*

Coincidence? I think not!

Superb. I recommend keeping a link of it, since it is rather funny...

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2004-04-03 10:17pm

Similarly, don't most hotels have their floors numbered 11,12,14, and so on? I'm fairly sure that airports don't have a gate 13. And like this, I don't think think it's because the owners are superstitious, but because their customers are. Enough people would out and out refuse a room on the 13th floor, or take a flight out of Gate 13 (or arrive at it, for that matter), that they'd lose money.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2004-04-03 10:22pm

Alferd Packer wrote:Similarly, don't most hotels have their floors numbered 11,12,14, and so on? I'm fairly sure that airports don't have a gate 13. And like this, I don't think think it's because the owners are superstitious, but because their customers are. Enough people would out and out refuse a room on the 13th floor, or take a flight out of Gate 13 (or arrive at it, for that matter), that they'd lose money.

Heck my apartment complex has no 13th floor, and many new office building don't have it either.

It's just so funny to look at that I have only 20 floors on my place, but because no 13 I have 21.

Hyperion · Post by **Hyperion** » 2004-04-04 12:55am

Cool. Nice pictures of those locomotives too.

Superstitions are stupid, nothing more than a psychological throwback used as an excuse by the stupider people in the world, namely fundies.

Hell, I'm happy to have a 666mhz P3 in my laptop.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2004-04-04 01:07am

Isn't it the same with the number '13' though? Don't a few high rise buildings 'skip' a number?

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2004-04-04 01:08am

Ma Deuce wrote:
Dalton wrote:
Frank Hipper wrote:Blaine?

He's such a pain.
Who's Blaine?

Read Stephen King's The Dark Tower series and you will find out.

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2004-04-04 01:10am

Two more locomotives bearing the "Mark of the Beast"

.

Kansas City Southern #666 (an SD40-2)

Elgin, Joliet & Eastern #666 (an SD38-2)

Either these babies have managed to stay under the Fundies' radar, or the owners of the locomotives simply don't care what the stupid twats think about it...

Post by **Kuja** » 2004-04-04 01:58am

Dalton wrote:
Frank Hipper wrote:Blaine?

He's such a pain.

and that is the truth

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-04-04 01:59am

It's absurd enough that people have stupid superstitions like that, but it's more rediculous when businesses have to conform to their bullshit beliefs. There being a perfect explanation for the occurence just makes it even more amuzing/idiotic. I say just screw them and have buildings with 13th floors and computer chips, tickets, and vehicles with "666" in their identification regardless of what a few susperstitous lunatics think. In fact, if they complain enough, then make a building where all of the floors are labeled "13" and "666".

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2004-04-04 03:27am

[Bruce Dickinson] Six Six Six the number of the beast, Six Six Six the one for you and me.... [/Bruce Dickinson]

Oh - 17 is considered an unlucky number too, but only in Italy. Because of that, the Renault R17 was called the R117 in Italy and few Italian hotels have a 17th floor even if they have 18+ floors.

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2004-04-04 03:33am

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:It's absurd enough that people have stupid superstitions like that, but it's more rediculous when businesses have to conform to their bullshit beliefs. There being a perfect explanation for the occurence just makes it even more amuzing/idiotic. I say just screw them and have buildings with 13th floors and computer chips, tickets, and vehicles with "666" in their identification regardless of what a few susperstitous lunatics think. In fact, if they complain enough, then make a building where all of the floors are labeled "13" and "666".

The problem is that people simply won't use those products. You could make it the best deal in town and some people still won't do it. You could be the only hotel in town and some people would rather sleep in their cars. In the end, it's the job of the business to conform to its customer's demands. If the superstition is widely held, you just have to go with it.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-04-04 03:36am

I consider myself pretty damn suspicious (I have a pair of lucky socks, I have things I have to have in my pocket every day, I named and talk to my computer, I carry an umbrella to all track meets so it won't rain, etc) but this is just silly.

jenat-lai · Post by **jenat-lai** » 2004-04-04 07:38am

Howedar wrote:I consider myself pretty damn suspicious (I have a pair of lucky socks, I have things I have to have in my pocket every day, I named and talk to my computer, I carry an umbrella to all track meets so it won't rain, etc) but this is just silly.

I think my computer's name is "Shit!"

actually we did give it a name (my girl and me) and it's name is Twosev. in the same vein as threepeeoh and arrtwo. It's full name is 27Alpha.

but usually the only things I say to it are "Fucking shit!" and variations of the above.

I don't go for number superstitions. 13 I don't get. 666 at least is given negitave connotations in the Biblical book of Revelation.

howbout making every railcar with 4 numbers? aka 0666 instead of straight. Especially in that southern rail one, there's a big engine 666 and an engine of the same type named like 1706... what's with that? suddenly changing to 4 digit codes? Give ol' 666 a new zero.

Ravenwing · Post by **Ravenwing** » 2004-04-04 11:54am

jenat-lai wrote:
Howedar wrote:I consider myself pretty damn suspicious (I have a pair of lucky socks, I have things I have to have in my pocket every day, I named and talk to my computer, I carry an umbrella to all track meets so it won't rain, etc) but this is just silly.
I think my computer's name is "Shit!"

actually we did give it a name (my girl and me) and it's name is Twosev. in the same vein as threepeeoh and arrtwo. It's full name is 27Alpha.

but usually the only things I say to it are "Fucking shit!" and variations of the above.

I don't go for number superstitions. 13 I don't get. 666 at least is given negitave connotations in the Biblical book of Revelation.

howbout making every railcar with 4 numbers? aka 0666 instead of straight. Especially in that southern rail one, there's a big engine 666 and an engine of the same type named like 1706... what's with that? suddenly changing to 4 digit codes? Give ol' 666 a new zero.

i suppose then mines oh fuck, when being formal or you fucking bastard when not.
but really number superstitions are stupid, beside the 13 rule only applies for christians alone but even athiests dont like the 13, or at least a lot of the ones i know

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2004-04-04 01:28pm

Alferd Packer wrote:Similarly, don't most hotels have their floors numbered 11,12,14, and so on? I'm fairly sure that airports don't have a gate 13. And like this, I don't think think it's because the owners are superstitious, but because their customers are. Enough people would out and out refuse a room on the 13th floor, or take a flight out of Gate 13 (or arrive at it, for that matter), that they'd lose money.

It's mostly true here in Ottawa except for a few office towers that have an actual 13th floor. I think these are newer buildings too.

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2004-04-04 04:08pm

Mayabird wrote:Tee hee hee. *points at post count*

Coincidence? I think not!

You can put the date and time of your 666th post in your sig, if you like.

Comosicus · Post by **Comosicus** » 2004-04-04 04:34pm

Ravenwing wrote:
jenat-lai wrote:
i suppose then mines oh fuck, when being formal or you fucking bastard when not.
but really number superstitions are stupid, beside the 13 rule only applies for christians alone but even athiests dont like the 13, or at least a lot of the ones i know

I don't see whaat 13 as an unlucky number has to do with christians. In the Middle Ages, in Romanian Principates, 13 was the number of the High Councill members (12 nobils and the voievode) in ressemblance of Jesus and the 12 Apostles..

As far as I know 6 is a sacred number for some religions/mysthical organisations, and so is 12 (as 12=2x6). 12 is also 3x4 (two other sacred numbers). 13 is a prime number and can not be divided by any other number except 1 and itself. Thus it is the opposite of the "perfection" of 12.

There could be other explanations too, but the subject doesn't interest me enough to pay it more attention.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2004-04-04 05:19pm

Comosicus wrote:I don't see whaat 13 as an unlucky number has to do with christians. In the Middle Ages, in Romanian Principates, 13 was the number of the High Councill members (12 nobils and the voievode) in ressemblance of Jesus and the 12 Apostles..

Thirteen is the number of participants in a witches' coven, hence there are the inevitable "Satanic" associations.