Difference between revisions of "Headcodes and colour-coding"
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| − | + | ''Headcodes'' are used to identify a particular train. They are not completely unique and the same identification might be used for multiple trains around the network, but not usually at the same time. | |
| + | A headcode is a 4-digit (numbers and letters) code, which can be interpreted as follows : | ||
| − | + | '''First Digit :''' | |
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| − | First Digit : | + | |
1 = Express passenger service (or postal) | 1 = Express passenger service (or postal) | ||
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7 = Freight - limited to 45mph - occasionally used for track machines and departmental | 7 = Freight - limited to 45mph - occasionally used for track machines and departmental | ||
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8 = Freight - limited to 35mph or less - occasionally used for track machines and departmental | 8 = Freight - limited to 35mph or less - occasionally used for track machines and departmental | ||
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9 = Eurostar | 9 = Eurostar | ||
| − | Second digit | + | |
| + | '''Second digit''' | ||
A letter which signifies the destination of an inter-regional working, or a route or zone within the region. | A letter which signifies the destination of an inter-regional working, or a route or zone within the region. | ||
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1A = London Euston | 1A = London Euston | ||
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2A = Crewe/South Manchester via Manchester Apt | 2A = Crewe/South Manchester via Manchester Apt | ||
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1B = London Euston via Birmingham New Street | 1B = London Euston via Birmingham New Street | ||
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....or Blackpool North/York services (both way) | ....or Blackpool North/York services (both way) | ||
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....or Manchester Apt/Sheffield/Cleethorpes services (both ways) | ....or Manchester Apt/Sheffield/Cleethorpes services (both ways) | ||
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?C = Cumbria/Morecambe | ?C = Cumbria/Morecambe | ||
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?E = Eastern | ?E = Eastern | ||
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?F = Liverpool/Southport/North West | ?F = Liverpool/Southport/North West | ||
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?G = Birmingham area | ?G = Birmingham area | ||
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1H = Manchester Picc/Apt | 1H = Manchester Picc/Apt | ||
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2H = Leeds to Morecambe (both ways) | 2H = Leeds to Morecambe (both ways) | ||
....or South Manchester services | ....or South Manchester services | ||
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?J = Manchester North/Wrexham/Strewsbury | ?J = Manchester North/Wrexham/Strewsbury | ||
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?K = Crewe | ?K = Crewe | ||
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?L = Norwich/Cambridge/Stanstead Apt | ?L = Norwich/Cambridge/Stanstead Apt | ||
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?M = North West/Midlands inter-regional | ?M = North West/Midlands inter-regional | ||
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?N = Preston/Blackpool North | ?N = Preston/Blackpool North | ||
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?O = Southern England Inter-Regional | ?O = Southern England Inter-Regional | ||
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?P = Preston/Lancaster | ?P = Preston/Lancaster | ||
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?R = Mon-Fri peak hour VT arrivals into London Euston | ?R = Mon-Fri peak hour VT arrivals into London Euston | ||
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?S = Scottish Inter-regional | ?S = Scottish Inter-regional | ||
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?T = Special/test/retimed trains only | ?T = Special/test/retimed trains only | ||
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?U = North West England to Manchester South | ?U = North West England to Manchester South | ||
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?V = West of England/South and West Wales inter-regional service | ?V = West of England/South and West Wales inter-regional service | ||
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?X = Other special services | ?X = Other special services | ||
| − | The third and fourth digits are a the train number. | + | |
| + | '''The third and fourth digits are a the train number.''' | ||
| + | |||
Freight Headcodes on the Diagram | Freight Headcodes on the Diagram | ||
| − | Reportedly due to pressure from customers such as the big supermarkets, Network Rail initially exlcluded all freight from the data-feed which the diagram uses. Fortunately, from January 2013, freight has now been added and all services are now represented. However, to keep the freight customerss happy, they have "anonomised" the headcodes so that the train cannot be immediately identified. | + | Reportedly due to pressure from customers such as the big supermarkets, Network Rail initially exlcluded all freight from the data-feed which the diagram uses. Fortunately, from January 2013, freight has now been added and all services are now represented. However, to keep the freight customerss happy, they have "anonomised" the headcodes so that the train cannot be immediately identified. Since then, GBRf have aparrently opted-out of the scrambling system. The Railcam system also allows users to add the "true" headcode to a particular train, so that it will display correctly on the diagrams that day. |
Headcodes which have been scrambled in this way, can be identified by their form - three numbers followed by one letter. The first digit of the headcode (train class), remains un-altered, but the following 3 digits are effectively meaningless. | Headcodes which have been scrambled in this way, can be identified by their form - three numbers followed by one letter. The first digit of the headcode (train class), remains un-altered, but the following 3 digits are effectively meaningless. | ||
Revision as of 17:45, 20 February 2017
Headcodes are used to identify a particular train. They are not completely unique and the same identification might be used for multiple trains around the network, but not usually at the same time. A headcode is a 4-digit (numbers and letters) code, which can be interpreted as follows :
First Digit :
1 = Express passenger service (or postal)
2 = Local passenger service
3 = Freight - capable of more than 75mph
4 = Freight - limited to 75mph
5 = Empty stock working
6 = Freight - limited to 60mph
7 = Freight - limited to 45mph - occasionally used for track machines and departmental
8 = Freight - limited to 35mph or less - occasionally used for track machines and departmental
9 = Eurostar
Second digit
A letter which signifies the destination of an inter-regional working, or a route or zone within the region.
Looking at the first two digits together :
1A = London Euston
2A = Crewe/South Manchester via Manchester Apt
1B = London Euston via Birmingham New Street
....or Blackpool North/York services (both way)
....or Manchester Apt/Sheffield/Cleethorpes services (both ways)
?C = Cumbria/Morecambe
?E = Eastern
?F = Liverpool/Southport/North West
?G = Birmingham area
1H = Manchester Picc/Apt
2H = Leeds to Morecambe (both ways) ....or South Manchester services
?J = Manchester North/Wrexham/Strewsbury
?K = Crewe
?L = Norwich/Cambridge/Stanstead Apt
?M = North West/Midlands inter-regional
?N = Preston/Blackpool North
?O = Southern England Inter-Regional
?P = Preston/Lancaster
?R = Mon-Fri peak hour VT arrivals into London Euston
?S = Scottish Inter-regional
?T = Special/test/retimed trains only
?U = North West England to Manchester South
?V = West of England/South and West Wales inter-regional service
?X = Other special services
The third and fourth digits are a the train number.
Freight Headcodes on the Diagram
Reportedly due to pressure from customers such as the big supermarkets, Network Rail initially exlcluded all freight from the data-feed which the diagram uses. Fortunately, from January 2013, freight has now been added and all services are now represented. However, to keep the freight customerss happy, they have "anonomised" the headcodes so that the train cannot be immediately identified. Since then, GBRf have aparrently opted-out of the scrambling system. The Railcam system also allows users to add the "true" headcode to a particular train, so that it will display correctly on the diagrams that day.
Headcodes which have been scrambled in this way, can be identified by their form - three numbers followed by one letter. The first digit of the headcode (train class), remains un-altered, but the following 3 digits are effectively meaningless.
Signaler Messages and codes
Apart from headcodes, as detailed above, berths may sometimes contain other codes, which have been placed there by signalmen. Here are some of the codes you may see.
- = Train describer error
NOGO = a reminder not to use a particular route FAIL = a failed train SHUT = indicates a closed section of line - perhaps a closed signalbox -LB- = emergency / short term line blockage -T3- = total (long term) engineers possession 1TRN =First Train. Used to remind signalers that the next train will be the first over a previous possession or other problem location and care needs to be taken. TEST = If a signaler needs to test the Train Describer equipment, it will be done by placing TEST in a berth.
