TOPS classification

[deltic1989]

This has had me wondering for a while, under TOPS heritige kettles are class 98 (i think) but what about preserved diesel and electric traction registered for the mainline do they keep thief original TOPS classifcation e.g. class 55 for a deltic? And if so how are diesels and electrics if any that were withdrawn pre TOPS but were preserved? Also while im on the subject could someone oblige me with explaining what TOPS stands for? Many thanks.

 

[bb21]

Total Operations Processing System. See here and here.

 

[deltic1989]

Ah right, I see now thanks for the links.

 

[sprinterguy]

As I can't see it mentioned in any of those Wikipedia articles, aplogoies for the duplication if I've skimmed over it, but many preserved diesel and electric locomotives have been renumbered in the 89XXX number series. This allows for preserved locos that were withdrawn pre-TOPS to be allocated a five digit TOPS number, and for preserved locos whos' number has since been duplicated on multiple unit/coaching stock to have an individual TOPS number.

For example, D1015 "Western Champion" is 89416 and the prototype "Deltic" is 89523. The third digit is the power classification, and the final two digits in most instances match the loco number. A full list can be found here: http://www.rcts.org.uk/about/news/89xxx.htm

 

[mallard]

One thing I don't get is who decides whether a loco is "preserved" and gets an 89xxx number or just "in service" with it's original TOPS number?

i.e. That list contains a number of 20s, 47s 50s, etc. that have been "Renumbered back to original TOPS number", why did they lost their original numbers to begin with? Why did they get them back? Does it depend on who operates/owns them?

Clearly there are some "vintage" locos that have been in TOPS since was introduced, so keep their numbers, but some have been officially decommissioned and later re-instated. Who decides if these locos get new 89xxx numbers or just keep their original numbers?

 

[northernrail]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_89

The first articles are about the ECML class 89 but the last article is about the preservation class 89

 

[deltic1989]

Thanks for the links. So is the TOPS number displayed externally (or at all) on these locks?

 

[12CSVT]

Any reason why D123(45125) or D1705(47117) need to be registered on TOPS, both these locos having been confined to the Great Central Railway for many years.

 

[mallard]

Any reason why D123(45125) or D1705(47117) need to be registered on TOPS, both these locos having been confined to the Great Central Railway for many years.

Are they the locos that the GCR has certified for 75mph test running? I know D123 is. Maybe it has something to do with that?

 

[Townsend Hook]

TOPS numbers have been in use for many years and it is likely these locos would have been moved over the national network at some point following purchase, whether under their own power or not.