Old Loco boards

[Ascot]

Quick question, on locos such as the 73 etc.. they have a board on the middle window with RED, WHITE, BLACK and aload of numbers on (probs headcodes) in 2 sections

but what do the colours and that mean?

 

[Guinness]

Colours are for Direction. White = Forward Direction, Red = Rear of Train, White/Red = Shunting within Station/Yard Limits.

Numbers are ex-Southern Region Codes. See: http://www.rodge.force9.co.uk/faq/headcodes.html.

 

[Tom]

White is when you're at the front of the train and you can't be bothered to put the headcode up... black I believe is the same. Red is at the back of the train. The numbers are headcodes.

 

[Coxster]

White is when you're at the front of the train and you can't be bothered to put the headcode up

Or when running ECS? Of course originally Southern EMUs (for example) did not have headlights so the headcode boxes were the only form of light given off from the front of the train. The numbering system can also be found on the front of Turbos/Networkers along with the destination.

Edit: An example for anyone wondering what is being talked about can be seen in Tom's Class 73 signature (headcode "GB").