how would you allocate a TOPS numbering replacement?

[popeter45]

if the UK just decided to replace TOPS numbers as they are now and start again with a UIC compatible replacement how would you lay it out?

 

[JonathanH]

if the UK just decided to replace TOPS numbers as they are now and start again with a UIC compatible replacement how would you lay it out?

I don't think there is any need to do this - the vehicle numbering can already be worked into UIC compatible formats by including the country and type codes and an additional digit.

The method of applying and spacing the digits differs between operators. For example a British Rail Class 66 loco registered in Britain has been seen to carry the number: GB 9 2 70 0 066246-4, with the existing national number "66246" underlined, and lacking the operator identifying code.[7] Frequently the commonly used national part of the number is underlined in order to make it more readily identifiable.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UIC_identification_marking_for_tractive_stock

 

[popeter45]

I don't think there is any need to do this - the vehicle numbering can already be worked into UIC compatible formats by including the country and type codes and an additional digit.

what i was meaning with that was for new system to be UIC compatible instead of something else, more how would you group stuff

 

[JonathanH]

what i was meaning with that was for new system to be UIC compatible instead of something else, more how would you group stuff

Yes, but I think that it is already compatible - ie someone has already thought about it and the grouping - see appendix A of https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/GMRT2453 Iss 2.pdf

 

[popeter45]

Yes, but I think that it is already compatible - ie someone has already thought about it - see appendix A of https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/GMRT2453 Iss 2.pdf

yes i know
ok rephrase to be more clear, how would you reorganise TOPS if you could?

 

[JonathanH]

yes i know
ok rephrase to be more clear, how would you reorganise TOPS if you could?

I'm sorry - sometimes I can't get my head round why people want to reinvent things which are already in place and which pose no issue to the people who are primary users rather than interested observers.

If it helps, a long time ago when I was quite young, I considered how a bus fleet might be remembered to match fleet numbers to the numerals on the number plate. It got a bit dufficult with clashes. Many years on I now realise that the bus operator probably coped perfectly adequately without needing these numbers to be aligned, especially with the change in number plates.

Reorganising train numbers to a new structure would happen if someone thought it worthwhile but it probably isn't really necessary.

 

[popeter45]

I'm sorry - sometimes I can't get my head round why people want to reinvent things which are already in place and which pose no issue to the people who are primary users rather than interested observers.

If it helps, a long time ago when I was quite young, I considered how a bus fleet might be remembered to match fleet numbers to the numerals on the number plate. It got a bit dufficult with clashes. Many years on I now realise that the bus operator probably coped perfectly adequately without needing these numbers to be aligned, especially with the change in number plates.

Reorganising train numbers to a new structure would happen if someone thought it worthwhile but it probably isn't really necessary.

was thinking about with how much has changed since TOPS was first introduced
loss of real differences between AC/DC units
Bi modes
High speed units/ Very High speed units like Eurostar and future HS2 units
lots of allocations filling up (e.g. diesel loco's/ AC EMU's etc)
allocations filling up with now retired units
some bizarre usage of space (the 700 range)

 

[HSTEd]

TOPS does have some disadvantages.
Like the whole thing where it is possible to have a carriage with the same number as a locomotive.

I suppose that was a limitation caused by the not particularly good hardware in use.

Ideally we would adopt a simplified system based either on the UIC standard, or simply treating every individual vehicle as it was a multiple unit.