Classes of train

[Halsebee]

Sorry if this question seems a bit simple for most of you, but could someone explain how trains/loco classes are allocated? I read about "Class 357" or "Class 321" etc. What determines what number they are allocated?

 

[Juniper Driver]

Good question of which I don't think I know the answer.

 

[Mike Redding]

I've always thought it is generally 0-99 for loco's, 100-199 for dmu's, 200-299 for demu's and 300-399 for emu's and 400-499 for 3rd rail emu's. But i'm probably wrong, 508's?

 

[GNERman]

0 - 14 Diesel Shunters
15 - 69 Diesel Locos
70 - 73 Diesel / Electric (750v) locos

normally anyway, not with the current class 70 though

74 - 79 Electric locos (1500v)
80 - 95 Electric Locos (25kv)
96 - 99 Department Locos

100 - 139 DMU's (1st generation)
140 - 199 DMU's (2nd generation)

200 - 209 DEMU's (1st generation)
210 - 299 DEMU's (2nd generation)

300 - 399 EMU's (25kv and 25kv/750v)
400 - 599 EMU's (750v)

900 - 999 Department Stock

 

[90019]

IIRC, all TOPS codes for locos (As well as MUs) are actually 6 digit, but the first 0 is dropped.

 

[jopsuk]

GNERman- to expand on that a little, there's the Parry People Mover (most definitely a "2nd generation" unit) at 139, and the 3rd rail stock is technically split 4xx southern, 5xx Merseyside (yes some 508s have taken a rather long time to move north)

 

[Oswyntail]

... and the 3rd rail stock is technically split 4xx southern, 5xx Merseyside (yes some 508s have taken a rather long time to move north)

IIRC, the split as AC (or AC enablable, like the 377s) EMUs in the 300 series, DC Southern in the 400 series, DC Other regions in the 500 (hence 501s etc).
And, for earlier diesel locomotives, the first digit of the number was derived from the BR "Type" number which roughly indicated power range. So the Class 47 was a Brush Type 4, 2750 horsepower; Class 31 was the Brush Type 3, 1450 HP. Confusingly, Class 20 was a Type 1. This relation between number and power seems to have been abandoned with the 58s onwards, as, IIRC, the 58, 59, 66 and 67 would all fall within Type 4 limits.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

I thought 56, 58, 59, 60 & 66 were all type 5s?

 

[mbonwick]

They are, but there's no numbers spare in the class 5x range...

If what 90019 says is true, surely it would make sense to stick a 1 in front of all the coach numbers and avoid the clashes which happen with every new order now - Powerhaul was supposed to be cl. 68, but this clashes with EMU coaches.

 

[will1337]

Does anyone know what will happen now that we have run out of numbers for diesel locos?

 

[GNERman]

use numbers that have already been used, eg class 43 was a simila dsign to the class 42 but we use it for HST power cars...

 

[jopsuk]

Ah, but the class 43 designation for the HST powercars is a bit of an oddity- regardless of any opinions on the "DMU V loco hauled" debate as to what an HST is, BR did originally designate them as DMUs, with the power cars being coaching stock in the 43xxx range- they were less worried about coaching stock/loco number clashes then I think.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I think this is right for BR days correct me if I am wrong...

4XX (Southern Region DC only)

3XX (Dual-voltage)

5XX (Non-Southern region DC)

9XX (Departumental units)

2XX (Southern region DMUs & DEMUs)

1XX (Diesal Multiple units)

Only a few mostly Southern Region ones but I think they are correct not sure.

 

[starrymarkb]

Maybe we should go to all three digit classes
ie

• 1xx: DMMU/DMHU
• 2xx: DEMU
• 3xx: AC EMU
• 4xx: DC EMU
• 5xx: Diesel Locomotives
• 6xx: Electric Locomotives
• 7xx: Oddities

 

[starrymarkb]

Well there is going to have to be some changes, where will Bi-Mode IEP go, is it a DEMU, is it an AC electric, is it something else?

 

[jopsuk]

there's always the 6xx, 7xx and 8xx ranges sitting unused- or, like with the electrodiesel locos, they might be classified as electrics (precedent is often a factor).

Frankly, though, a clean up and reclassification/reboot of TOPS would, whilst massively expensive and complicated, in the long term simplify things.

 

[thefab444]

Maybe we should go to all three digit classes
ie

• 1xx: DMMU/DMHU
• 2xx: DEMU
• 3xx: AC EMU
• 4xx: DC EMU
• 5xx: Diesel Locomotives
• 6xx: Electric Locomotives
• 7xx: Oddities

No real reason these days why DMUs and DEMUs need to be split.

 

[Vulcan]

Can you imagine what everything would be called if we didn't have TOPS numbering? class 66 - EMD type 5?