Headcodes

**Headcodes** are a way that trains are classified by arranging the lamps (or discs) in certain ways on the locomotive's lamp irons. Diesels use a different way of classifying trains, known mainly as a "**train reporting number**" on the front.

## History and usage

Headcodes were first introduced in the 1850s with oil lamps arranged to classify different trains from the lamp arrangement. These became widespread across the United Kingdom and became the standard feature of steam-era railway companies. The most famous headcodes were 'Express Passenger', 'Light Engine', 'Suburban or Branchline' and 'Express Freight'. Headcode lamp irons were fitted to all steam locomotives (and early diesels) and became a standard design feature on all British steam locomotives, even today.

## Train classes

Before 2017, this was the way trains were classed:

* Class 1 (formerly A): Express passenger, newspaper, or breakdown train; express diesel car; snow plough on duty; light engine proceeding to assist disabled train.
* Class 2 (formerly B): Ordinary passenger, branch passenger or "mixed" train; rail motor (loaded or empty); ordinary passenger or parcels diesel car; breakdown train not on duty.
* Class 3 (formerly C): Parcels, fish, fruit, livestock, milk or other perishable train composed entirely of vehicles conforming to coaching stock requirements; empty coaching stock (not specially authorised to carry Class A code).
* Class 4 (formerly C): Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train pipe-fitted throughout with the automatic vacuum brake operative on 90 per cent of the vehicles.
* Class 5 (formerly D): Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train with not less than 50 per cent vacuum braked vehicles piped to the engine.
* Class 6 (formerly E): Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train with 20 per cent vacuum braked vehicles piped to the engine.
* Class 7 (formerly F): Express freight, livestock, or ballast train not fitted with continuous brake.
* Class 8 (formerly H): Through freight or ballast trains not running under C, D, E or F conditions.
* Class 9 (formerly J): Mineral or empty wagon train.
* Class K: Pick-up branch freight, mineral or ballast train.
* Class 0 (formerly G): Light engine(s) with not more than two brake vans.

As of 2017, the train classes were revised as follows:

* Class 1: Express passenger train; nominated postal or parcels train; breakdown or overhead line equipment train going to clear the line (headcode 1Z99); traction unit going to assist a failed train (1Z99); snow plough going to clear the line (1Z99).
* Class 2: Ordinary passenger train; Officers' special train (2Z01).
* Class 3: Freight train if specially authorised; a parcels train; autumn-railhead treatment train; empty coaching stock train if specially authorised.
* Class 4: Freight train which can run up to 75 mph (120 km/h).
* Class 5: Empty coaching stock train.
* Class 6: Freight train which can run up to 60 mph (95 km/h).
* Class 7: Freight train which can run up to 45 mph (70 km/h).
* Class 8: Freight train which can run up to 35 mph (55 km/h).
* Class 9: Class 373 train; other passenger train if specially authorised.
* Class 0: Light locomotive or locomotives.

## Destination letters

When diesel replaced steam during the 1960s, destination letters were introduced and used in their headcode panels.

### Region destinations

* E: Eastern.
* L: Anglia.
* M: London Midland.
* O: Southern.
* S: Scotland.
* V: Western.

A train heading to another region always carried the letter of that region in its headcode. Prior to 1967, the letter 'N' was used to signify trains heading to the North Eastern Region.

### Internal region destinations

#### Western

* A: London.
* B: South Wales (e.g. Cardiff and Swansea).
* C: Bristol and West of Bristol (e.g. Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance).

#### London Midland

* A: London.
* B: North Wales.
* C: Birmingham.
* D: Manchester.

#### Examples from the Scottish Region

* A: Aberdeen.
* B: Edinburgh.
* C: Fife, including Fife circle via Dumfermline, and Longannet Power station.
* D: Inverness.
* E: Express services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh (even numbers eastbound, odd numbers westbound).
* F: Glasgow (trains from the north).

## Trivia

Bulldog, the MSR's first operational diesel locomotive, has a unique train reporting number (0H91). This came from the hull number of the British WWII destroyer he's named after, HMS Bulldog (H91).

Clyde's headlamp makes him look like he has the "suburban or branchline" headcode.

The headcode lamps are Bachmann ones held to the models with tacky wax to make them removable.

Westminster and Patrick are the only locomotives on the railway that uses the standard SR headcode discs, which are from a Bachmann E4.

## Types of headcodes

Light EngineSuburban or BranchlinePick-up goodsExpress passenger