British Rail designation schemes

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British Railways , later British Rail (BR), used different naming schemes for their locomotives and railcars.

Even after the privatization of the state railroad, the new railroad companies apply the most recently applicable scheme.

Designation scheme 1948

With the formation of British Railways in 1948, it was necessary to develop a uniform designation scheme for the vehicles that were taken over and those to be purchased.

Acquired locomotives

The classification of the predecessor companies was adopted unchanged. In addition, they were numbered based on the system of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). Replicas and new constructions of the British Railways as well as the locomotives of smaller railway companies were classified according to the designs of the predecessor companies.

Number space designation old number
1-9999 Great Western Railway steam locomotives Serial numbers remained unchanged
10000-19999 Diesel and gas turbine locomotives Locomotives received new numbers, except for LMS 10000/10001
10xxx Main line diesel locomotives
11xxx Diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotives procurement by BR
12xxx former LMS shunting locomotives
13xxx diesel-electric shunting locomotives, procurement BR *
150xx former LNER shunting locomotives
151xx former GWR shunting locomotives
152xx former SR shunting locomotives
18xxx Gas turbine locomotives
20000-29999 Electric locomotives SR CC1–3 became 20001–3 and
LNER 6000 became 26000,
the other locomotives received new numbers
30000-39999 former SR steam locomotives (except locomotives on Isle of Wight *) The numbers of the locomotives were increased by 30000 in most cases, except for: C1 became 33xxx, 21C101 became 34xxx, 21C1 became 35xxx, the locomotives of the 3xxx_Series received new numbers
40000-59999 former LMS steam locomotives Numbers have been increased by 40,000, except for the 2xxxx series, which has been re-designated to the 58xxx series
60000-69999 former LNER steam locomotives Numbers were increased by 60,000, 10,000 became 60700
70000-79999 Tender locomotives procured from BR
80000-89999 Tank locomotives procured from BR
90000-99999 War locomotives from BR and the War Department Renumbering
* Locomotives on the Isle of Wight were given numbers in a scheme starting with W1. Locomotives coming from the mainland were renumbered. When they returned, the locomotives were given their old numbers again.

Newly purchased diesel and electric locomotives and multiple units

The numbering of electric railcars was carried out separately in each region, beginning with 001. Diesel railcars were initially not designated uniformly. Separate numbering systems were later introduced within individual regions.

To differentiate between the electrically powered vehicles, a system was used that was already used in a similar way at LNER. AC locomotives were given the abbreviation "AL" and AC multiple units were preceded by the abbreviation "AM".

The Eastern and North Eastern regions use a similar system to designate diesel shunting locomotives. Three-axle diesel-electric locomotives were given the abbreviation "DEJ", three-axle diesel-hydraulic or diesel-mechanical locomotives "DJ" and two-axle diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic locomotives "DY"

In 1955 a uniform designation system was introduced for all British Rail diesel locomotives. It was based on the Dx / y format

The first number (x) indicated the power of the locomotives in 100 hp and the second number (y) stood for a specific series. A D1 / 1 designates, for example, a locomotive with 100 to 199 hp (about 75 - 148 kW)

In 1962 the series designators were changed again.

The Southern Region adopted and continued the numbering and designation system of the Southern Railway.

Designation and numbering system from 1957

The displacement of steam locomotives and the progressive procurement of diesel and electric locomotives made it necessary to introduce a new designation scheme for these vehicles. However, the new system was only introduced for diesel locomotives. Diesel shunting locomotives purchased earlier have been redrawn.

Steam and gas turbine locomotives as well as diesel and electric locomotives procured before 1948 retained their old names. Some locomotives were given the abbreviation "D" or "E" in front of the company number.

Diesel locomotives

The numbering system was based on the new type designation, which was adapted to the locomotive performance and which was introduced for the diesel locomotives.

Number range Type power
D1-D1999 Type 4 2000 to 2999 hp
D2000-D2999 Shunting locomotives under 300 hp
D3000-D4999 Shunting locomotives 300 to 799 hp
D5000-D6499 Type 2 1001 to 1499 hp
D6500-D7999 Type 3 1500 to 1999 hp
D8000-D8999 Type 1 800 to 1000 hp
D9000-D9999 Type 5 over 3000 hp

When renumbering, no consideration was given to earlier numbers. With the decommissioning of the last steam locomotives in August 1968, the prefix "D" was removed

Electric locomotives

AC locomotives with an output of 2000 to 2999 hp were given numbers from E2000 to E2999. Locomotives with a higher performance were classified in the number range from E3001. The locomotives with an output of 5000 hp were given the number range from E3201 upwards.

Direct current locomotives received the number range from E5000 and two-engine locomotives (direct current diesel) received numbers from E6000.

Number system from 1973

British Rail introduced the TOPS computer system in the late 1960s . This made a complete renumbering of all vehicles necessary.

The new system was based on a maximum six-digit number. The first two or three digits indicated the class and the last three digits the serial number. While the locomotives only received a two-digit class identifier, this is three-digit for the railcars.

Subclasses were given a different identifier in the first digit of the serial number. A slash was used as a separator. Subclass 47/3, for example, begins at number 47301.

The last two numbers of the old identification were largely taken over when the designation was changed.

The redrawing of the railcars caused greater difficulties due to the variety of vehicles and numbering schemes. So it was necessary that the numbering of the railcars had to be changed again.

Number range vehicle Differentiator old name
0xx Locomotives and ships
(0) 01- (0) 69 Diesel locomotives
(0) 01- (0) 07 Shunting locomotives under 300 hp D2000-D2999
(0) 08- (0) 14 Shunting locomotives 300 hp - 799 hp D3000-D4999 / D9500-D9999
(0) 15- (0) 20 Type 1 800 hp - 1000 hp D8000-D8999
(0) 21- (0) 32 Type 2 1001 hp - 1499 hp D5000-D6499 / D7500-D7999
(0) 33- (0) 39 Type 3 1500 hp - 1999 hp D6500-D7499
(0) 40- (0) 54 Type 4 2000 hp - 2999 hp D1-D1999
(0) 55- (0) 69 Type 5 over 3000 hp D9000-D9499
(0) 70- (0) 79 DC and dual system locomotives
(0) 80- (0) 96 AC and multi-system electric locomotives
(0) 97 Service locomotives
(0) 98 Steam locomotives
(0) 99 Ships
1xx Railcar with diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic drive
100-114 Units for low density of people
115-127 Units for high density of people and long-distance trains
128-131 Luggage railcar
140-144 2nd generation of rail buses
150-199 2nd generation units ('Sprinter', 'Networker', 'Turbostar', 'Coradia')
2xx Railcar with diesel-electric drive
200-207 1st generation units
210-249 2nd generation units
250-299 Express trains
3xx AC and multi-system electric multiple units
300-312 1st generation units
313-369 2nd generation units
370-399 Express trains and trains of private companies since 199
4xx Southern Region DC electric multiple units
40x Railcar from Southern Railway
41x British Railways railcar 1950s
42x British Railways railcar 1960s
43x Bournemouth railcar
44x British Railways railcar 1970s
45x British Railways railcar 1980s
46x Railcar 1990s (Networker)
48x Railcar with standard tube dimensions
49x non-driven units (later 4x8)
5xx other direct current railcars
9xx Service vehicles
920-935 Southern Region service vehicles
936-939 Electric service car
950-960 Other service cars

The following system was used to differentiate between individual railcar units in the Southern Region:

number Type
4x0 Express trains with bar (later redrawn as 4x2)
4x1 Express trains
4x2 Express trains with a bar
4x3 Four car units for external suburban traffic
4x4 Two-car units for external suburban traffic
4x5 Four car units for internal suburban traffic
4x6 Two- and three-car units for internal suburban traffic
4x7 Special vehicles (e.g. Gatwick Express)
4x8 non-driven units
4x9 Single wagon