Standard Codes for Coaching Rolling Stock

Standard code adopted for the identification of coaching stock (including horse boxes and carriage trucks) throughout all Regions. The codes were to be used in all telegraphic and other messages, as well as in stock reports, carriage diagrams and train working advices.

The appropriate code was painted on each vehicle in 1½ inch letters as shown:-

Gangway stock - on the left-hand bottom corner of each end of the vehicle (approximately 18 inches above the Buffer).
Non-gangway stock - on the right-hand bottom corner of each side of the vehicle.

The following codes come from instructions dated August 1954 and June 1960. It must be borne in mind that third class was abolished in 1956, at which time all Third Class (T) became Second Class (S).

 

Type		Description	1954 Code	1960 Code
PASSENGER VEHICLES
	Restaurant Kitchen Cars	First	RF	RF
		Composite	RC	RC
		Either Class	RU	RU
		Third/Second	RT	RS
		Triplet	RTS	RTS
		Pantry Third/Second	RTP	RSP
		Buffet Car	RB	RB
		Kitchen only	RK	RK
		Cafeteria Car	-	CAF
		Kitchen/Buffet Car	-	RKB
		Restaurant/Cafeteria Car	-	RCAF
		Restaurant/Miniature Buffet	-	RMB
	Restaurant Cars   (without kitchens)	First, Open (loose chairs)	-	RFO
		Composite, Open (loose chairs)	-	RCO
		Second, Open (loose chairs)	-	RSO
	Sleeping Cars	First Class	SLF	SLF
		First Class (Twin)	Twin SLF	Twin SLF
		Composite	SLC	SLC
		Composite (Twin)	Twin SLC	Twin SLC
		Third/Second Class (without attendant's compartment)	SLT	SLS
		Third Class (with attendant's compartment)	SLTP	-
	Saloons	First Class	SF	SF
		Third/Second	ST	SS
		Invalid Saloon	SI	SI
	Open Stock	First Class	FO	FO
		Composite	CO	CO
		Third/Second Class	TO	SO
		Third/Second Class Brake	BTO	BSO
		Semi-Open First	Semi FO	Semi FO
		Second Class	SO	-
		First Class (used for dining purposes)	RFO	-
		Third/Second Class (used for dining purposes)	RTO	-
	Open Tourist Stock   (Bucket Seats)	Third/Second Open	TTO	TSO
		Brake Third/Second Open	TBTO	TBSO
	Corridor Stock	First Class	FK	FK
		First Class Brake	BFK	BFK
		Second Class	SK	-
		Composite	CK	CK
		Composite Brake	BCK	BCK
		Third/Second Class	TK	SK
		Third/Second Class Brake	BTK	BSK
	Non-Corridor Stock   (Bogies)	First Class	F	F
		First Class (Lavatory)	FL	FL
		First Class Brake	BF	BF
		First Class Brake (Lavatory>	BFL	BFL
		Composite	C	C
		Composite (Lavatory)	CL	CL
		Composite Brake	BC	BC
		Composite Brake (Lavatory)	BCL	BCL
		Third/Second Class	T	S
		Third/Second Class (Lavatory)	TL	SL
		Third/Second Class Brake	BT	BS
		Third/Second Class Brake (Lavatory)	BTL	BSL
Articulated Stock - Should be indicated by the word "Twin," "Triplet," "Quad," or "Quint," according to the number of vehicles in the set, the number of the set being shown when necessary, and the code ART
POST OFFICE VEHICLES		Post Office Sorting Van	POS
		Post Office Tender	POT
PASSENGER VANS
	Brake Vans	4-wheeled	BY
		6-wheeled (without gangways)	BZ
		6-wheeled (with gangways)	BGZ
		Bogie (without gangways)	B
		Bogie (with gangways)	BG
		Pigeon Van (Braked)	BP
		Milk Van (Braked)	BM
	Miscellaneous Traffic Vans	Bogie General Utility Vans	-	GUV
		Parcels and Miscellaneous Vans	PMV	PMV
		Horse Boxes	HB	HB
		Special Cattle Vans	SCV	SCV
		Open Carriage Truck	CTO	CTO
		Covered Carriage Truck	CCT	CCT
In the case of British Standard coaching vehicles fitted with Pullman "adaptors," the letter "A" should be added after the Code.

This page was created 14 August 2004