C1, C3...what are these about?

[heart-of-wessex]

Hi all,

A question about Rolling Stock so I hope its right here.

Someone asked me what does C1 mean (noticed on the end of a Mark 1) and I said maybe it means its a Mk1, but he saw C1 can be seen on other non-MK1 stock, even seen C3 on MK3s and 4s (IIRC) and he had a point. I said there was nothing on Wiki about it so I'd thought I'd ask here. To round the question up:

What does C1, C3 ect mean on the ends of carriages?



Cheers,

James.

 

[theblackwatch]

They are loading gauges. See http://www.joyce.whitchurch.btinternet.co.uk/gauges/text.htm for an explanation.

 

[P156KWJ]

think it's something to do with a particular restriction. Maybe minimum curve?

^oh you beat me to it

 

[Royston Vasey]

Some (maybe all, not sure) Mk 3s on NXEC HSTs have the C3 lettering, and underneath, C4 and a date. What work was done to these and what difference did it make?

 

[P156KWJ]

the C4 isn't a restriction, that't the indication of its last 'C4' overhaul. For example, I see on EMT mk3s a lot something like this:

C4 - 06-07 - NL which means it had a C4 overhaul in June 2007 at Neville Hill
C5 - 09-08 - DY which means it had a C5 overhaul in Sept 2008 at Etches Park

 

[TheSlash]

C identifies the vehicle loading gauge.
C4 and a date is the last overhaul and different to the loading gauge

 

[mbonwick]

So what's the difference between a C4, C5, C6 etc etc?

 

[TheSlash]

Different bits overhauled.
C4 is running gear while C6 is cosmetic

 

[laseandre]

Yup, the Class 334s are getting C4 overhauled just now, with new motors, brakes and bogies.

 

[mbonwick]

If there is a C5, what is it?

 

[AlexS]

I believe C5 is 23m tilting train (Pendolinos are C5).

 

[driver9000]

On a vehicle end the C1, C3, C4 markings identify the loading gauge of the vehicle. Class 142, 144, 150 are C1 (15.1m & 21m) and 153, 155, 156, 158 are C3 (23m). C4 identifies coaching stock built to tilting gauge (mk4). Although the overhauls are also identified as C- they bear no relation to the loading gauges, and the shopping dates on the vehicle ends arent always updated, there are a few 142s with shopping dates of 1993!!

The underframes of Pacers & Sprinters is W5

 

[Royston Vasey]

On a vehicle end the C1, C3, C4 markings identify the loading gauge of the vehicle. Class 142, 144, 150 are C1 (15.1m & 21m) and 153, 155, 156, 158 are C3 (23m). C4 identifies coaching stock built to tilting gauge (mk4). Although the overhauls are also identified as C- they bear no relation to the loading gauges, and the shopping dates on the vehicle ends arent always updated, there are a few 142s with shopping dates of 1993!!

Thanks for that, the Mk 4s having C4 on them is what confused me regarding the mark 3s being marked up with both C3 and C4