British Rail designation schemes
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 |