What to do when there are more than 1 of the same number.

[stem]

Now that our DARwiki is growing and we are finding more than one unit with the same number whether it be passenger cars, steam engines or stations, we should use a consistent method of dealing with this.

My thoughts on the matter are that we should only have one page for the number. On that one page, like we did for all the stations already for example, we would have a section for each unit that had the same number. On the section head it would indicate what years that unit was in service. Even if the units co-existed for years, we would still list them chronologically in sections with the years in the section title.

Windsor station has 3 stations and a large overlap because the two station stood beside each other for years:
http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... or_Station

Wolfville has also 3 stations, each with their own section, history and photos:
http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... le_Station

I personally think this is a simpler way to deal with muiltiples but the discussion is open and I'll go with the either the most authoritative answer or group desire.

So let's hear from all and decide this week if we can.

Thanks!!

[Dan Conlin]

This is a good question. I'm glad you brought it up. I am doing locomotive pages chronologically and I have a bunch of double numbered locomotives coming up: 39, 40, 44. For Locomotives 29, I went with DAR0029-1st and DAR0029-2nd to be consistent with the style that Jim O'Donnell and Omer Lavallee used on their lists. However putting both locomotives on one page would be fine with me. It would save a bit of work and help people compare and contrast the same numbered locomotives.

However it looks a little strange however, at least to me, to have Locomotive No. 3, Van No.3, Passenger Car No. 3 and Crane No. 3 all on the same page, but I am not sure how to get around that.

I like to hear what other people think as well.

Dan Conlin

[stem]

Yes.. this No. 3 certainly was well used.

OK.. Loco 3 is a 4 digit number. So that's easy to get out of the way. DAR0003. That makes just one entry for the loco. And I'm glad you think that putting all the same number loco's on the same page will work well for you in all cases of duplicated engine numbers so let's just do that.

Now the rest of the 3's are a conundrum.

DAR00003 Passenger car (Juno)
DAR000003 Track Crane
(Not yet entered) Van No. 3.

First of all, the way we have been doing this is that each of the above units would get a 6 digit number, which means we have 3 number 3's. If I was looking for confirmation of a unit number I probably would more appreciate knowing that a number of different units shared the same number than probably my original misconception being that the unit was exclusively numbered, over the more attractive look of one unit, one page.

I think now that I've mulled it about in public here that I think I favour puttting all the 3 of the 3''s we have now on the same page. The great thing about the wiki is we can put that single page into 3 different categories so it will show up up the list in each of the categories.

Comments from the group?

[Dan Conlin]

I have done several double locomotive records and the format works pretty well I think. Good idea Steve. I'd still be inclined to keep locomotives as a separate record from other rolling stock.
We also have some nice confusing locomotives which start out with a CPR number like 537, get a DAR number like 40 shared with another locomotive, and then go back to their CPR number 537 but stay on the DAR. However the internal links seem to offer nice cross referencing to clear this up.

Dan

[stem]

I've been watching you work it and it does indeed look good the way you've been doing it. I played with one page you did and added double lines between the sections and that made it look even better.

Thanks for all the work you're putting in!

[Dan Conlin]

Thanks. Pumping these in has been a nice end to my evenings.
The twin line between versions looks good, I will add it to the other double number as time permits.
Happy new year.

Dan