Headlamp and Headcodes
Headlamps were arranged on the front of locomotives to display the class of train, so that signalmen and station staff could identify the train from their working timetable.
Train Reporting Codes - Great Western Railway (GWR) 1936
Train Reporting Codes - London Midland Scottish (LMS)1937
Train Reporting Codes - British Railways 1958
Train Reporting Codes - British Railways 1960
From 1961, headcodes were introduced coinciding with the transition from steam to diesel and electric power, the latter two forms of traction having begun to have illuminated 4 character headcode boxes provided on their cab fronts. The first character within the headcode is a number to show the class of train.
Train Reporting Codes - British Railways 1962
Train Reporting Codes - British Railways 1971/1972
The second character is a letter to show the train destination - inter-regional
or regional.
Destination Letters London Midland Region 1961
Destination Letters London Midland Region 1976
Destination Letters Network Rail Snow Hill Lines 2005 - Present
The last two characters are numbers displaying the train identity, e.g. ‘22’ being 22nd one of the day to that destination.
The practice of displaying headcodes on the fronts of locomotives and passenger and parcels multiple units was abandoned on the 1st January 1976, although trains are still allocated them to this today - with use of the Total Operations Processing System (TOPS) and computerised signalling mapping - which are an easy reference between signallers, train crews, station staff, controllers and train planning departments.
Train Reporting Codes - British Railways 1994
Train Reporting Codes - Network Rail 2007
The following examples of headcodes are from eastern region trains hauled by
class 55 'Deltics' and locomotive Diesel Prototype 2 (DP2).
Head Time From To Date Source Note
Code
1A06 08:00 King's Cross Edinburgh c. 1967 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1A16 ? King's Cross Edinburgh(Wa) c. 1962 Poot55s 'Down' (to Edinburgh)
'Flying Scotsman'.
1A17 10:35 Newcastle King's Cross 1973 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1A21 ? Newcastle King's Cross 1963 Prot55s Express passenger train.
1A22 11:00 King's Cross Glasgow 1963 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1A29 13:30 Newcastle King's Cross 1973 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1A30 15:10 Newcastle King's Cross 1974 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1A32 ? King's Cross Edinburgh 1963 Prot55s Express passenger train.
1A32 17:00 Newcastle King's Cross 1973 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1A35 18:25 Leeds King's Cross 1974 Ttt55s Express passenger train.
1A35 ? Edinburgh(Wa) King's Cross 1966 Poot55s 'Up' (to London)
'Flying Scotsman'.
1A39 07:30 Aberdeen King's Cross 1961 Prot55s Express passenger train.
1A39 13:30 Newcastle King's Cross 1968 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1B21 15:15 Sheffield(Mid) King's Cross mid 60s Poot55s Express passenger train.
1E01 08:00 Edinburgh King's Cross 1972 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1E07 10:10 Leeds King's Cross 1961 Prot55s Express passenger train.
1E15 17:29 Leeds Central King's Cross 1962 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1H12 11:20 King's Cross Sheffield (Mid) 1965 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1L34 17:30 King's Cross Leeds & Bradford 1973 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1N09 10:10 King's Cross Leeds 1962 T55saS Express passenger train.
(Saturday).
1N09 10:10 King's Cross Leeds c. 1967 Poot55s Express passenger train.
1N27 18:00 King's Cross Newcastle 1971 TLDotDs Express passenger train.
1S35 14:00 King's Cross Edinburgh 1971 T55saS Express passenger train.
1S42 16:00 King's Cross Edinburgh 1971 TLDotDs Express passenger train.
1S70 ? King's Cross Aberdeen? 1973 Poot55s Express passenger train
'The Night Aberdonian'.
1X17 ? Carlisle Leeds? 1967 Poot55s Express passenger train
- Specially timed.
1Z20 ? Leeds Bressingham 1970 TLDotDs Express passenger train
- Special.
1Z28 ? Leeds Edinburgh 1969 Poot55s Railway Correspondence
and Travel Society
Special train.
1Z94 ? King's Cross Doncaster 1963 Prot55s Test passenger train.
2E57 14:05 Leeds Doncaster 1961 Poot55s Local passenger train,
3 coaches.
3N09 10:40 King's Cross Newcastle 1971 T55saS Parcels train.
Bibliography
Poot55s The Power of the Deltics by J. S. Whiteley & Gavin W. Morrison - OPC (1977).
Prot55s Profile of the Deltics by J. S. Whiteley & Gavin W. Morrison - OPC (1980).
T55saS The Deltics - a Symposium by Cecil J. Allen, G. F. Fiennes, Roger Ford,
Brian A. Haresnape & Brian Perren - Ian Allan (1978).
TLDotDs The Last Days of the Deltics
by Craig w. Fellows & Paul E. Gash - Ian Allan (1986).
Ttt55s Tribute to the Deltics by Tom Heavyside - David & Charles (1982).
http://www.2d53.co.uk/Headcode/headcode.htm by Dave Plimmer.
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Train Reporting Codes - Great Western Railway 1936
Class Head Description
Lamps
|.:.| Royal Train.
A |._.| Express passenger trains. Express Streamline Rail Car. Breakdown
train going to clear the line. Light engine going to assist a disabled
train. Empty coaching stock train timed to run at express speed.
B |_'_| Ordinary passenger train, 'Mixed train' or breakdown train not going
to clear the line. Branch passenger train.
C |.'_| Parcels, Newspapers, Meat, Fish, Fruit, Milk, Horse, Cattle or
'perishable' train composed entirely of vacuum fitted stock with the
vacuum pipe connected to the engine. Express freight train,
livestock, perishable or ballast train with not less than one third
of the vehicles vacuum fitted and the pipe connected to the engine.
D |.._| Express freight or ballast train conveying a stipulated number of
vacuum braked vehicles connected by the vacuum pipe to the
engine and authorised to run at a maximum speed of 35 m.p.h.
Empty coaching stock train not
specially authorised to carry 'A' headlights.
E |_'.| Express freight, fish, fruit, meat, cattle train, or ballast train, or
breakdown crane not proceeding to an accident.
F |_:_| Through fast train conveying through load.
G |_._| Light engine or engines coupled together, or engine and brake van.
H |_..| Freight, mineral, or ballast train or train of empties carrying through
load to destination.
J |.__| Freight, mineral or ballast train stopping at intermediate stations.
Train carrying out of gauge or exceptional load.
K |__.| Branch freight train. Ballast train, freight train or inspection train
requiring to stop in the section.
Bibliography
Cheltenham Flyer by W. G. Chapman - The Great Western Railway (1934)
A History of GWR Goods Wagons - New Edition Combining Parts 1 & 2 by A. G. Atkins, W. Beard, D. J. Hyde & R. Tourret - David & Charles (1986)
A Pictorial Record of Great Western Signalling by Adrian Vaughan - OPC (1973)
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Train Reporting Codes - London Midland Scottish 1937
Note
Items in [square brackets] are my interpretation of the text or diagrams (JT).
Class Head Description
Lamps
1 |._.| Express passenger train or break-down van train going to clear the
line, or
light engine going to assist disabled train, or fire brigade train.
2 |_'_| Ordinary passenger train, or break-down van train not going to clear
the line.
Branch passenger train (where authorised). Rail motor or motor
train with engine leading (When running with driving compartment
leading rail motors or motor trains will carry the headlamp on the
same bracket as used for the tail lamp). NOTE: For arrangements in
regard to electric trains see the various electric line instruction
books.
3 |.._| Parcels, newspaper, fish, meat, fruit, milk, horse, or perishable
train, composed of coaching stock.
4 |.'_| Empty coaching stock train. Fitted freight, fish or cattle train with the
continuous brake in use on NOT LESS than one-third vehicles.
5 |_'.| Express freight o cattle train with the continuous brake on less than
one-third the vehicles, but in use on four vehicles connected to the
engine indicated by [a Maltese Cross] in the Working Timetables.
Express freight or cattle train not fitted with the continuous brake,
or with the continuous brake in use on LESS than four vehicles.
6 |_:_| Through freight train, or ballast train conveying workmen and
running not less than 15 miles without stopping.
7 |_._| Light engine, or light engines coupled together. Engine with one or
two brakes.
8 |.__| Through mineral or empty wagon train.
9 |__.| Freight train stopping at intermediate stations, or ballast train
running short distance. Branch freight train (where authorised).
Ballast train, freight train, or officers' special requiring to stop in
section or at intermediate siding in
section.
10 [see->] Shunting engines working exclusively in station yards and
sidings: Must, while in those sidings, carry one red head light and
one red tail light.
The lamps must be carried in position day and night.
NOTE: Local exceptional arrangements are shown in the respective Sectional Appendices.
When a train running on the LMS Railway is worked by two engines attached in front of the train, the second engine must not carry head lamps.
Tail Lamps and Side Lights on Trains
(a) On main lines where there are only two lines and on single lines - One red tail light and two red side lights.
(b) On main lines where there are three or four running lines:-
(i) On the fast line - One red tail light and two red side lights
(ii) On the slow, goods, or loop lines - One red side light on the side of the
van furthest away from the fast line, one white side light on the side of the
van nearest the fast line, and on red tail light (see Note).
(c) On goods or loop lines adjoining four main lines - One red tail light only. Side lamps must be removed when the train has passed into the loop.
Note: Certain brake vans are provided with side lamps which cannot be turned, or which, when turned to show a white light to the rear, show a red light to the front. In these cases the instructions in paragraph (b) (ii) will not apply, and the side lamp instead of being turned must be removed. A signalman will not be required to send the 'Tail or side light out, or improper side light exhibited' signal when a train passes his box with side light removed as directed.
Where side lamps are shown to be carried the side lamps must, except in the case of local trips, be carried on the rear brake van during daylight as well as during darkness.
The instruction in clause (a) of Rule 120 respecting the carrying, cleaning, trimming, and lighting of tail lamps also apply to light engines.
Bibliography
P.162, An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons, Volume Two by R. J. Essery - OPC (1983)
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Train Reporting Codes British Railways 1958
Class Head Description
Lamps
A |._.| Express passenger train, express diesel car, news paper train;
breakdown van train; snow-plough going to clear the line; light
engine going to assist disabled train; or fire brigade proceeding to a
fire.
B |_'_| Ordinary Passenger train or breakdown van train not going to clear
the line; branch passenger train or mixed train; rail motor train,
loaded or empty; ordinary passenger or parcels diesel car.
C |.._| Parcels, fish, fruit, horse, livestock, meat, milk, pigeon, or
perishable train composed entirely of vehicles conforming to
coaching stock requirements; express freight, livestock, perishable,
or ballast train with continuous brake pipe throughout the train and
vacuum brake operable on a least half the vehicles; empty coaching
stock train not specially authorized to carry class a headlamps.
D |.'_| Express freight, livestock, perishable, or ballast train partly fitted
with not less than one-third of the vacuum-braked vehicles
connected by vacuum pipe to the engine.
E |_..| Express freight, livestock, perishable, or ballast train partly fitted
with not less than four vacuum-braked vehicles connected by
vacuum pipe to the engine; express freight with a limited load of
vehicles not fitted with continuous brake.
F |_'.| Express freight, livestock or ballast train not fitted with continuous
brake.
G |_._| Light engine or light engines coupled together or engine with not
more than two brake vans attached.
H |_:_| Through freight or ballast train not running under class C, D, E, or F
conditions.
J |.__| Mineral or empty wagon train.
K |__.| Freight, mineral or ballast train stopping at intermediate stations;
branch freight train.
Notes
1. The above arrangements do not apply on the Southern Region.
2. When a train is worked by two engines attached in front of the train, the second engine must not carry headlamps or discs.
Bibliography
Railway Signalling Systems by John R. Day and B. K. Cooper – Frederick Muller Ltd (1958)
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Train Reporting Codes - British Railways 1960
Class Head Description
Lamps
A |._.| Express passenger train, newspaper train or breakdown van train or
snowplough going to clear the line or light engine going to assist
disabled train. Officers' special train NOT requiring to stop in section.
B |_'_| Ordinary Passenger train, mixed train or breakdown van train NOT
going to clear the line. Branch passenger train (To be used only
where authorised by the regional Operating Officer).
C |.._| Parcels, fish, fruit, horse, livestock, meat, milk, pigeon or
perishable train composed entirely of vehicles conforming to
coaching stock requirements. Express freight, livestock, perishable
or ballast train piped fitted throughout with the automatic brake
operative on not less than half of the vehicles. Empty coaching stock
train (not specifically authorised to carry 'A' headcode).
D |.'_| Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train partly fitted
with the automatic brake operative on not less than one-third of the
vehicles.
E |_..| Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train partly fitted,
with not less than four braked vehicles next to the engine and
connected by the automatic brake pipe. Express freight, livestock,
perishable or ballast train with a limited load of vehicles, NOT fitted
with the automatic brake.
F |_'.| Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train NOT fitted with
the automatic brake.
G |_._| Light engine or light engines coupled. Engine with not more than two
brake vans.
H |_:_| Through freight or ballast train NOT running under class 'C', 'D', 'E',
or 'F' headcode.
J |.__| Mineral or empty wagon train.
K |__.| Freight, mineral or ballast train stopping at intermediate stations.
Branch freight train (To be used only where authorised by the
regional Operating Officer). Freight, ballast or Officers' Special train
requiring to stop in section.
Notes
1. The above arrangements do not apply on the Southern Region.
2. When a train is worked by two engines attached in front of the train, the second engine must not carry headlamps or discs.
Bibliography
British Railway Goods Wagons in Colour for the Modeller and Historian by Robert Hendry - Midland Publishing Limited (1999)
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Train Reporting Codes - British Railways 1962
Type Head Description
Lamps
1 |._.| Express passenger train, newspaper train or breakdown van train or
snowplough going to clear the line or light engine going to assist
disabled train. Officers' special train NOT requiring to stop in section.
2 |_'_| Ordinary Passenger train, mixed train or breakdown van train NOT
going to clear the line. Branch passenger train (To be used only
where authorised by the regional Operating Officer).
3 |.._| Parcels, fish, fruit, horse, livestock, meat, milk, pigeon or
perishables train composed entirely of vehicles conforming to
coaching stock requirements.
Empty coaching stock train (not specifically authorised to carry '1'
headcode).
4 |.._| Express freight train pipe fitted throughout with the automatic brake
operative on NOT less than 90% of the vehicles. Maximum speed
55 mph. A maximum speed of 60 mph will apply in respect of
certain trains specifically indicated in the Working Timetable.
5 |.'_| Express freight train partly fitted, with the automatic brake operative
on NOT less than half of the vehicles. Maximum speed 50 mph.
6 |_..| Express freight train partly fitted, with the automatic brake
operative on NOT less than 20% of the vehicles. Maximum speed
45 mph.
7 |_'.| Express freight train NOT fitted with the automatic brake. Maximum
speed 40 mph. Where fitted vehicles are required to be placed next
to the engine and coupled up, this will be shewn in the appropriate
Regional train loading instructions.
8 |_:_| Through freight train NOT fitted with the automatic brake. Maximum
speed 35 mph. Where fitted vehicles are required to be placed next
to the engine andcoupled up, this will be shewn in the appropriate
regional train loading instructions.
9 |__.| Branch train or stopping freight train and Officers' Special train or
ballast train requiring to stop in section. Maximum speed 35 mph.
Where fitted vehicles are required to be placed next to the engine
and coupled up, this will be shown in the appropriate regional train
loading instructions.
0 |_._| Light engine or light engines coupled. Engine with not more than two
brake vans. Maximum speed according to class of engine and type
of brake van.
Notes
1. The above arrangements do not apply on the Southern Region, except where specially authorised.
2. Empty wagons and ballast trains should run at the highest classification appropriate to the braked portion available and the type of wagon conveyed.
Bibliography
British Railway Goods Wagons in Colour for the Modeller and Historian
by Robert Hendry - Midland Publishing Limited (1999)
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Train Reporting Codes - British Railways 1971/1972
Class |
Head Lamps |
Description |
1 |
|._.| |
Express passenger train, postal train, newspaper train, or breakdown van train or snow plough going to clear the line, or light locomotive going to assist disabled train. Officers' special train NOT requiring to stop in section. |
2 |
|_'_| |
Ordinary Passenger train, mixed train or breakdown van train or snow plough NOT going to clear the line. |
3 |
|.._| |
Express parcels train composed entirely of vehicles permitted to run at 90 mph or over. |
4 |
|_:_| |
Freightliner train. Parcels train, Company or express freight traincomposed of vehicles permitted to run at 75 mph or over. |
5 |
|.__| |
Empty coaching stock train (not specially authorised to carry Class '1' headcode). |
6a. |
|.'_| |
Fully fitted Company or block train, parcels train or milk train. |
6b. |
|.'_| |
Ordinary fully-fitted express freight train, with brake force not less than that shown in Section E of the Loads Book. |
7 |
|_..| |
Express freight train, not fully-fitted but with brake force not less than that shown in Section E of the Loads Book. |
8 |
|_'.| |
Freight train, not fully-fitted but with brake force not less than that shown in Section E of the Loads Book. |
9 |
|__.| |
Unfitted freight train (where specially authorised). Freight train, Officers' Special train or Engineers' train requiring to stop in section. |
0 |
|_._| |
Light locomotive, light locomotives coupled, or locomotive with
brake tender(s). Locomotive with not more than two brake vans. |
Notes
1. Trains in Class 6(a) will be timed according to the maximum speed of the vehicles scheduled to be conveyed.
2. Trains in Class 6(b), 7, 8 and 9 will be timed to reflect a maximum speed of 45 mph, or such other lower maximum speed it may be necessary to impose on individual trains.
3. Fully fitted train - A train with all the vehicles fitted with the automatic brake or brake-pipe coupled up an din use. A brakevan will not normally be provided on a parcels or fully-fitted freight train, and when not provided the last two vehicles must be fully-fitted with the automatic brake in working order. If circumstances require a brakevan to be provided on a fully-fitted freight train it must be marshalled at the rear and the Guard must ride in it. The brakevan may be piped only.
Bibliography
British Railway Goods Wagons in Colour for the Modeller and Historian
by Robert Hendry - Midland Publishing Limited (1999)
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Train Reporting Codes – British Railways 1994
Class |
Description |
1 |
Express passenger train, nominated post office or parcels train or breakdown or overhead line equipment train going to clear the line or returning there from (1Z99). |
2 |
Ordinary passenger train, breakdown or overhead line equipment train not going to clear the line (2Z99) or Officer's Special train (2Z01). |
3 |
Parcels train. |
4 |
Goods train permitted to run at more than 60 mph. |
5 |
Empty coaching stock train. |
6 |
Goods train permitted to run at 50, 55 or 60 mph. |
7 |
Goods train permitted to run at 40 or 45 mph. |
8 |
Goods train permitted or timed to run at 35 mph or less. |
9 (a) |
Goods train, not fully fitted, but with brake force not less than shown in the 'working manual' for rail staff, part 6, table E2. |
9 (b) |
Unfitted goods train. |
0 |
Light locomotive(s). |
|
All trains except for class 9 must be continuously braked. |
Bibliography
BR Signalling Handbook by Stanley Hall - Ian Allan (1994)
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Train Reporting Codes - Network Rail 2007
Class |
Description |
1 |
Express passenger train, nominated postal or parcels train, breakdown or
overhead line equipment train going to clear the line or returning from there (Code 1Z99), traction unit going to assist a failed train (1Z99), or a snowplough going to clear the line (1Z99). |
2 |
Ordinary passenger train, breakdown or overhead line equipment train not going to clear the line (2Z99), or an Officers’ special train (2Z01). |
3 |
Freight train which can run at more than 75 mph, parcels train, or empty coaching stock train if specially authorised. |
4 |
Freight train limited to 75mph. |
5 |
Empty coaching stock train. |
6 |
Freight train limited to 60mph. |
7 |
Freight train limited to 45mph. |
8 |
Freight train limited to, or timed to run at, 35mph or less. |
9 |
Eurostar train and certain long distance Cross Country services are allocated 9xxx headcodes to help signallers identify a long-distance inter-regional express passenger service from a regional Class 1 express service. |
0 |
Light locomotives. |
Bibliography
Own Knowledge from working on railways since December 2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_reporting_number by Wikimedia Foundation, Inc
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Destination Letters
London Midland Region – 1961
Regional
Letter |
Destination |
A |
Euston. |
B |
Euston/Rugby. |
C |
St Pancras/Marylebone/Manchester North. |
D |
Chester/Nottingham. |
F |
Leicester. |
G |
Birmingham. |
H |
Skoke-on-Trent/Manchester South. |
J |
Manchester North. |
K |
Crewe/Liverpool lime street/Liverpool Central. |
L |
Preston (Excluding Fylde)/Barrow/Carlisle. |
P |
Blackpool and Fylde/Derby. |
Inter-regional
Letter |
Destination |
E |
Euston. |
M |
London Midland region. |
N |
North Eastern region. |
O |
Southern region. |
S |
Scottish region. |
V |
Western region. |
Other Types
Letter |
Destination |
L |
Special train with region. |
T |
Passenger local to London Midland Region/(Freight)Trip. |
X |
Inter-regional passenger and freight. |
Z |
Passenger and Freight Local to London Midland Region. |
Bibliography
http://www.2d53.co.uk/Headcode/headcode.htm by Dave Plimmer
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Destination Letters
London Midland Region – 1976
Regional
Letter |
Destination |
A |
London. |
B |
London. |
C |
London. |
D |
Stoke-on-Trent/Nottingham. |
F |
Nottingham/ Liverpool. |
G |
Birmingham. |
H |
Birmingham /Manchester. |
J |
Stoke-on-Trent /Manchester. |
K |
Stoke-on-Trent. |
P |
Nottingham/Preston. |
Inter-regional
Letter |
Destination |
E |
Euston. |
M |
London Midland region. |
N |
North Eastern region. |
O |
Southern region. |
S |
Scottish region. |
V |
Western region. |
Other Types
Letter |
Destination |
L |
Special train within region. |
T |
(Passenger) Special train within region/(Freight)Trip working. |
X |
Royal train and Out-of-Gauge loads. |
Z |
Special train going out of region. |
Bibliography
http://www.2d53.co.uk/Headcode/headcode.htm by Dave Plimmer
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Destination Letters
Network Rail Snow Hill Lines 2005 – Present
Letter |
Destination |
B |
Birmingham Snow Hill/Moor Street. |
C |
Dorridge. |
G |
Birmingham Snow Hill. |
H |
Leamington Spa/London. |
J |
Stourbridge. |
K |
Kidderminster. |
Q |
Track recording trains and water jetters (Introduced in 2007) – must not be diverted without prior knowledge of the controller. |
S |
Shirley/Stratford Upon Avon. |
T |
(Passenger) Special train within region. |
U |
Banbury. |
V |
Hereford/Great Malvern/Worcester. |
Z |
Special. |
Bibliography
Own Knowledge from working on railways since December 2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_reporting_number by Wikimedia Foundation, Inc
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|