Headcodes

[43021HST]

You now in the sixties when the headcodes where in those boxes on top of the train how do you read them what do all those letters and numbers mean. I have liked trains for all my life and I am ashamed to say I can not read the Headcodes. Here is an example it was on a 37 in my album IE64 what does that mean

 

[jopsuk]

From my understanding:
the four digit code is part of a longer eight digit code giving information about what the train is and where it's going. Possibly also where it came from?.
That I is a 1
The first digit is the class of train- 1 is an express passenger or mail, through various passenger, ECS and freight classes.
The next digit is a letter giving an approximation of the desination- where "E" meant though depends upon where the train is. Some letters have universal meaning, such as "Z" for special trains and "Q" for test/survey trains.
The next two numbers are an ID number, starting at 01 for the first train of the class and desination of the day.

They were mounted on the front to allow signal boxes to see them and route them accordingly- the codes could be looked up on TOPS. Still can, except, they're not displayed on the actual train anymore.

I am prepared to be shot down now.

 

[WestCoastTravel]

This has previosuly been discussed on this forum before see here:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11993

Regards.

 

[Mojo]

I think jopsuk has got it basically right, although I am not sure to what extent the letters are stuck to these days - I know of many "special" trains (eg: Footex services and additional services in times of disruption that are not given a 'Z'). Obviously there are only a limited number of letters and numbers meaning multiple trains having the same (short) headcodes.

The way you'd read it out would be to say each numbers individually, plus the letter using the phonetic alphabet (eg: 1E64 would be read as One Echo Six Four).

 

[87015]

The way you'd read it out would be to say each numbers individually, plus the letter using the phonetic alphabet (eg: 1E64 would be read as One Echo Six Four).

Unless you are staff phoning the signalman or similar, only people trying to sound important would read it phonetically. And they always just sounds stupid.

 

[Mojo]

Unless you are staff phoning the signalman or similar, only people trying to sound important would read it phonetically. And they always just sounds stupid.

Everyone at New Street reads it out phonetically over the radio

 

[clagmonster]

In the example given, E would mean that the train was an inter-regional train heading for the Eastern region.
Similarly,
L: Train to Anglia
M: Train to London Midland Region
O: train to Southern Region
S: train to Scottish region
V: train to Western region
Other letters denote destinations of trains wholly within one region.
As has been said, nowadays some trains stray from this patter, for example Cleethorpes-Manchester Airport trains are 1Bxx, and Moorgate/Kings Cross-Welwyn trains are 2Vxx.

 

[metrocammel]

Everyone at New Street reads it out phonetically over the radio

Well, yes, that is correct procedure when talking over radios! That is effectively why there is a phonetic alphabet- if you said 'E' as 'E', it may get garbled and sound like 'A', whereas 'Echo' is less likely to be mistaken.

You would look like a self-important prat if you went up to the gen box at New St, and asked 'what's on one whiskey twenty two' or whatever.

 

[The North Briton]

It's important to remember that headcodes are not unique. Normally, different trains with the same headcode operate in different parts of the country, but there are two 1S25's booked to operate over the Northern part of the ECML at different times of day!

 

[Mojo]

Well, yes, that is correct procedure when talking over radios! That is effectively why there is a phonetic alphabet- if you said 'E' as 'E', it may get garbled and sound like 'A', whereas 'Echo' is less likely to be mistaken.

Even on the radios where the communication is not important (eg: asking for an update on the train), and where you're asking someone sat at a computer it still tends to be done, I've never heard any different.

 

[metrocammel]

Even on the radios where the communication is not important (eg: asking for an update on the train), and where you're asking someone sat at a computer it still tends to be done, I've never heard any different.

I think it probably depends on the culture in that particular station. I was on Peterborough recently, where I heard the staff referring to trains non-phonetically.

I always find if cranks refer to headcodes phonetically, especially if talking in a group with other cranks, it often makes them sound self-important. The majority of 'bashers' usually omit the first number, and refer to the train as 'G21' or 'T22' etc. That, I imagine harks back to the days when if a train wasn't a '1', it would probably be a unit!

 

[Mojo]

Ah yes, you're probably right about enthusiasts sounding silly (I meant the station staff) and it could be down to how each station works.

 

[mackenzie_blu]

On Thameslink everyone Ive spoken to says it phonetically. Then again its just we do it and when talking to Signaller/control we all know what we're on about.

 

[87015]

Ah yes, you're probably right about enthusiasts sounding silly (I meant the station staff) and it could be down to how each station works.

Yep, my comment wasn't aimed at any staff just the various enthusiasts who try to sound important/clever but just tend to be clowns...!

 

[33056]

Trouble is that some enthusiasts who also happen to be staff sometimes end up saying everything phonetically as they are so used to doing it that way

 

[metrocammel]

Trouble is that some enthusiasts who also happen to be staff sometimes end up saying everything phonetically as they are so used to doing it that way

Don't worry Janet, we know you're not a ned for saying things phonetically . It's just you get some little know-it-all kids who try to sound big and important by saying 'one echo whatever' :P Some people really need to get out more!