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Scalefour Society Resources
Locomotive Headcodes
Last altered 16 December 2006

The following data is an extract from the British Railways General Appendix issued by the Railway Clearing House on 1st October 1960. Note that the codes were changed from Alphabetic to numeric in June 1962.  The numeric version is available on the Great Western website.

STANDARD CODE OF ENGINE HEAD LAMPS OR DISCS.

Unless otherwise shown in the Sectional Appendix, all engines must carry head lamps or white discs as described in Diagrams A to K below.

Each train will be signalled and take precedence in accordance with the engine head lamps, or discs, except where instructions are issued to the contrary, and Drivers will be responsible for seeing that the proper head code is carried.

Where discs are not provided unlighted lamps are to be carried in the prescribed position in the daytime.

Guards must instruct Drivers to alter their head lamps or discs when any change in the classification of the train is necessary. 

When a train is worked by two engines attached in front of the train, the second engine must not carry head lamps or discs.

Classification

Engine Head Code (white lights or discs).

Description of Train.

A Express passenger train, newspaper train or breakdown van train or snow plough going to clear the line or light engine going to assist disabled train.

Officers' Special train not requiring to stop in section.

B Ordinary passenger train, mixed train, or breakdown van train Not going to clear the line.

*_Branch passenger train.

C Parcels, fish, fruit, horse, livestock, meat, milk, pigeon or perishable train composed entirely of vehicles conforming to coaching stock requirements.
Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train piped fitted  throughout with the automatic brake operative on not less than half of the vehicles.
Emp ty coaching stock train (not specially authorised to carry "A" head code).
D Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train partly fitted with the automatic brake operative on not less than one third of the vehicles.
E Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train partly fitted, with not less than four braked vehicles next to the engine and connected by the automatic brake pipe.
Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train with a limited load of vehicles Not fitted with the automatic brake.
F Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train Not fitted with the automatic brake.
G Light engine or light engines coupled.

Engine with not more than two brake vans.

H

Through freight or ballast train Not running under class "C," "D,""E" or "F" head code.
J

Mineral or empty wagon train.
K

Freight, mineral or ballast train stopping at intermediate stations.
*_Branch freight train.
Freight, ballast or Officers' Special train requiring to stop in section.

*_To be used only where authorised by the regional Operating Officer.

The above arrangements do not apply on the Southern Region.

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