Understanding locomotive/rolling stock ownership nomenclature

[Benjamin Richards]

I wonder if someone could explain to me the difference between "former" and "ex-" as used when describing locomotive/rolling stock ownership.

For an example from our own newsletters, see July/August 1994:

The highlight for June was the visit of the former SR&RL, and ex-Edaville Model T Railcar Number 2...

I have also seen such things as :

ex-PC 18402, exx-LV 95112 (description of a CR caboose)
ex-ABC 10, exx-PDQ 43, exxx-HAL 315, former XYZ 7 (example made up, but I've definitely seen this many levels)

Thanks.

[Ed Lecuyer]

LIKE! Yes, I've always wondered about that.

[Wayne Laepple]

I've always preferred the ex-, ex-, ex- or X-, XX-, XXX- nomenclature to the use of "former" especially when their are multiple previous owners. But that's just me.

[Mike Fox]

The ex is simple, last owner. Exx is the owner before that and so on. Someone can follow the lineage of a locomotive that way. Nee is new or originating railroad I believe. I just wish that there was a standard way of using the terminology..

[Philip Marshall]

"Nee" (actually née) is originally from French meaning "born as", used to indicate a woman's maiden name. (Trains are female, after all.)

[Mike Fox]

Awesome Philip. I have learned something new today.

[James Patten]

"We are no longer the knights who say 'nee'!"
(sorry about that)

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

In French we use ex but  never exx or exxx although it looks practical. As regards the adjective " née" it's only used for a woman in the way Philip said.