Abstract: To speed the transmission of video images via transmission lines which can be of relatively low grade (e.g., voice-grade telephone transmission lines), each video image is encoded as a plurality of pixels, and the bits for each pixel are transmitted in order of significance (i.e., the most significant bits for all pixels are sent first, then the next most significant bits for all pixels are sent, and so on). At the receiver the image is displayed as it is received, and transmission is terminated as soon as the observer of the display has sufficient information about the image. Although many other applications are possible, the illustrative embodiment is a remote railroad freight car identification system.