LB&SCR Steam Locomotive Headcodes
| The headcodes detailed on this page are those used
by the London Brighton & South Coast Railway from 1922. A white disc was
shown during daylight hours, with a white lamp used during darkness, to
designate the following routes:- (N.B. All references to the"Through Line" refer to the "Quarry Line" and for "following pages" read "this page"). |
| ENGINE HEAD CODES |
| (a) General.-The diagrams on the followowing
pages show the Engine Head Boards to be carried by Day, and positions of the
Lamps to be carried by Night, by all trains, Special and Ordinary, over the
various sections of the Line. Drivers are held responsible for the proper Head Boards and Lights being carried on their engines, but should they be in doubt as to what to carry, they must refer to the Traffic Staff. The Board is of circular pattern, 15 inches in diameter, and painted white:- 
|
| The Lamps show White Lights, and are carried by Night in the same positions as the Boards by Day. |
| (b) Changing Codes en route.-In some cases it will be necessary to change Head Boards or Lamps during the journey, and Drivers must be careful to make the proper changes. At Stations or Signal Boxes where a change of Engine Head Signals is necessary, a stoppage must be made for the purpose. Enginemen are prohibited from leaving the footplate to change Head Signals while their Engines are in motion. |
| (c) Royal Special Trains, and Special Trains
conveying Distinguished Personages.- The Head Boards and Lights for Royal
Special Trains, and Special Trains conveying Distinguished Personages, are as
under:- Royal Special Trains Conveying His Majesty The King Or Her Majesty The Queen, Or Both - Engine will carry by day, two white boards, with a crown painted on them, one over each buffer. By night, or in foggy weather, four white headlights, one over each buffer, one in centre of buffer beam, and one top of smoke-box. Royal Special Trains Conveying His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales - Engine will carry by day, three white boards, with the Prince of Wale's feathers painted on them, one over each buffer and one top of smoke-box. By night, or in foggy weather, four white headlights, one over each buffer, one in centre of buffer beam, and one top of smoke-box. Special Trains Conveying Distinguished Personages - Engine will carry by day, four head boards, one over each buffer, one top of smoke-box and one in centre of buffer beam. By night, or in foggy weather, four white headlights, over each buffer, one in centre of buffer beam, and one top of smoke-box. |
| (d) West London Line Trains.- Through Trains from the West London Line (other than for those carrying Codes Nos. 2, 8, 14 and 24) change Head Codes at Clapham Junction. Up Trains for the West London LIne will carry No. 14 Head Codes. |
| ((e)) Victoria, Battersea Wharf and Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings &c. (via Crystal Palace) - These Trains to carry Coulsdon and Smitham Downs Head Codes between Victoria &c. and East Croydon; other part of the journey, London Bridge Head Codes for the respective places. |
| (f) Engines from Battersea Yard (via Incline Road)
- Drivers of Engines from Battersea Yard to Victoria, via Incline Line, must
carry on leading end of Engine, Victoria Head Boards or Lights, and on stopping
at Battersea Park Junction reverse the position of the Boards or Lamps to the
other end of those Engines. Drivers proceeding via Incline Line to Clapham Junction or Stations beyond must carry on the leading end of their Engines, Head Boards or Lights according to Destination. |
 |
 |
| 1 | 2 |
| London Bridge, Willow Walk and Brighton via Red
Hill London Bridge and Portsmouth via Peckham Rye Victoria, Battersea Yard, Streatham Hill and Crystal Palace (London side) Oxted and Tunbridge Wells via East Grinstead High Level Lwews to Eastbourne Eastbourne and Hastings via Spur Line |
London Bridge, Willow Walk West Croydon, Epsom,
Dorling, Horsham and Portsmouth London Bridge and Crystal Palace via Tulse Hill Victoria, Battersea Yard and Brighton, also Down Trains Kensington or Lillie Bridge to Brighton (via Thornton Heath and Through Line) Deptford Wharf and Old Kent Road East Croydon and Wimbledon. (Note:- Goods Trains between Norwood Junction, Waddon Marsh and Mitcham Junction carry Code No. 3) Three Bridges and Eridge Brighton, East Grinstead and Oxted via Lewes Brighton and The Dyke Brighton and Kemp Town Pulborough and Chichester via Midhurst Havant and Hayling Island Tunbridge Wells LB&SC and Tunbridge Wells SE&C, Carrying Train Staff *Note:- When carrying Train Ticket an additional Board or Light must be carried on near side end of buffer beam |
 |
 |
| 3 | 4 |
| London Bridge and Streatham Common (via South
London Line and Streatham Spur Line.) (Note:- Trains via Norwood to carry Code
No 12) Victoria and Battersea Yard (Empties). Also Engines via Battersea Park Junction or Stewart's Lane Junction Crystal Palace, East Croydon, West Croydon, Stoon &c, to Battersea Yard (Light Engines only) Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne Brighton, Newhaven and Seaford Brighton and Horsham (via Shoreham) Horsham Ns Three Bridges and Horley Ford and Littlehampton, Barnham Junction and Bognor Portsmouth to Fratton (Light Engines). (Note:- Light Engines Fratton to Portsmouth carry same Head Boards or Lights as they will on the Trains they are going to work) |
London Bridge and Coulsdon and S Downs London Brisge and Victoria (via South London Line) Deptford Wharf and New Cross Sutton and Epsom Downs Woodside and Selsdon Road Three Bridges and Tunbridge Wells Brighton, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead, via Horsted Keynes. Also Up Trains from East Branch to East Grinstead. (Note:- Down Trains East Grinstead or Horsted Keynes to East Branch carry Codes Nos 19 or 20) Brighton and Portsmouth Brighton and Hastings (direct from Polegate) * Horsham and Guildford * Note:- (When carrying Train Ticket between Christs Hospital and Baynards and additional board or light must be carried on off side end of buffer beam.) |
 |
 |
| 5 | 6 |
| London Bridge, Clapham Junction & Victoria
(via Tulse Hill) Light Engines, Coulsdon & S Downs, Purley, Purley Oaks, South and East Croydon to West Croydon (via Selhurst) Sutton, Mitcham and Wimbledon Brighton and Tunbridge Wells via Uckfield |
London Bridge and New Cross - Empties London Bridge
to New Cross Up Side via South Bermondsey or Blue Ancjor, and Empties New Cross
to London Bridge via South Bermondsey Shoreditch and New Cross Victoris, Battersea Yard and Oxted (via Thornton Heath) Oxted and Brighton (via Eridge) Crystal Palace, West Croydon and Sutton Three Bridges and Portsmouth. Including short Trains between Ford Junction, Arundel, Pulboro' and Horsham |
|
|
 |
| 7 | 8 |
| London Bridge and Wimbledon (via Upper Loop).
Returning via Lower Loop Brighton and Littlehampton direct Kensington, Lillie Bridge and Clapham Junction, also West London Trains to and from East Croydon (via Crystal Palace) |
London Bridge, Willow Walk and Brighton (via Through
Line) Victoria, Battersea Yard, Micham, Sutton, Epsom, Dorking, Horsham and Portsmouth. Also Down Trains, Kensington or Lillies Bridge to same places |
 |
 |
| 9 | 10 |
| London Bridge, Willow Walk and Oxted Oxted and Tunbridge Wells Victoria, Battersea Yard, West Croydon and Sutton (via Thornton Heath) Haywards Heath, Worthing and Bognor (via Preston Park Spur Line), also Brighton and Bognor (Down Trains only.) Up Trains to Brighton carry Portsmouth Head Codes Horsham and Bognor Up Trains going beyond Horsham carry Portsmouth Head Codes according to route |
London Bridge to New Cross. Empties (via Old Kent
Road) Victoria, Battersea Yard and Brighton (via Thornton Heath and Redhill) Empties and Light Engines to New Cross. From Peckham Rye and Stations below (via Okd Kent Road Spur Line) Lewes and Seaford. Up Trains, Seaford or Newhaven to London to carry same Boards or Lights as Trains from Hastings to London direct. |
 |
|
| 11 | 12 |
| London Brisge and Victoria (via Norwood Junction) London Bridge or New Cross and Eardley Sidings Brighton and Hove via Preston Park (Engines to turn) |
London Bridge and London Bridge, (via Norwood
Junction and Streatham Common) Victoria and Kensington (via Sterart's Lane) Horsham and Littlehampton direct. Up Trains going beyond Horsham carry Portsmouth Head Codes according to route |
 |
 |
| 13 | 14 |
| London Bridge and Crystal Palace (via Sydenham) Victoria, Battersea Yard, and Coulsdon and S Downs (via Crystal Palace) |
Empties, London Bridge to New Cross Down Side via
South Bermondsey or Blue Anchor, and Empties, New Cross to London Bridge via
Blue Anchor Kensington, Lillie Bridge and Norwood Junction (via Thornton Heath). Also Up Trains from any other part of the System to Lillie Bridge or Kensington |
 |
 |
| 15 | 16 |
| London Bridge and Brighton (via Streatham Spur and
Through Line) Victoria and Epsom Downs (via Mitcham Junction) |
London Bridge, Willow Walk and Portsmouth (via
Through Line and Three Bridges) Victoria or Battersea Yard and Eardley Sidings |
 |
 |
| 17 | 18 |
| London Bridge, Willow Walk and Portsmouth (via
Redhill and Three Bridges) London Bridge and Epsom Downs (via Peckham Rye) |
Victoria, Battersea Yard and Portsmouth (via Thornton Heath, Through Line and Three Bridges) |
 |
 |
| 19 | 20 |
| London Bridge and Eastbourne via Red Hill and Keymer Line | London Bridge, Willow Walk and Hastings (via Redhill and Keymer Line) |
 |
 |
| 21 | 22 |
| London Bridge and Eastbourne (via Through Line and
Keymer Line) London Bridge, Willow Walk and Hastings (via Through Line and Keymer Line) |
|
 |
 |
| 23 | 24 |
| Victoria and Eastbourne (via Thornton Heath, Red
Hill and Keymer Line) Victoria, Battersea Yard and Hastinga (via Thorton Heath, Redhill and Keymer Line) London Bridge and Epsom Downs (via West Croydon) Through G W Co's Trains to GWR:_ Down Trains will carry Codes Nos 7 or 14 |
|
 |
 |
| 25 | 26 |
| Victoria and Eastbourne (via Thornton Heath, Through Line and Keymer Line) | Victoria, Battersea Yard and Hastings (via Thornton
Heath, Through Line and Keymer Line) Down Trains Kensington or Lillie Bridge to Hastings London Bridge and Wimbledon (via Lower Loop). Reeturning by Upper Loop |
 |
 |
| 27 | 28 |
| Through L B & S C Co's Trains tp G WR (via
Thornton Heath) Down Trains will carry Codes Nos 7 or 14 |
Through Trains L B & S C R to L & N W R (via
Thornton Heath Down Trains will carry Codes Nos 7 or 14 |
 |
 |
| 29 | 30 |
| Victoria and Coulsdon and S Downs (via Thornton Heath) | Break Down Tool Van Trains, on outward journey only. On return journey boards or lights must be acrried according to route |
HEAD-BOARDS AND LIGHTS OF FOREIGN COMPANIES' TRAINS WORKING OVER JOINT LINES, OR CERTAIN PORTIONS OF L.B. & S.C. Rly |
||
| GREAT EASTERN TRAINS | ||
| Liverpool Street and Whitechapel Sidings to New Cross (L.B. & S.C.) and New Cross (L.B. & S.C. or G.E. Depot) to Liverpool Street | ||
| By Day - Two Boards, One Green
with White rim on top of Smoke Box, and one Green with White rim centre of
Buffer Beam By Night - Two Lamps. One Green Light on top of Smoke Box and one Green Light centre of Buffer Beam |
||
| Liverpool Street and Whitechapel Sidings to New Cross (G.E.) Depot | ||
| By Day: - Two Boards, One Green
with White rim on top of Smoke Box, and one White Board in centre of Buffer
Beam By Night - Two Lamps. One Green Light on top of Smoke Box and one White Light centre of Buffer Beam |
||
| New Cross (L.B. & S.C. or G,E. Depot) to Whitechapel Sidings | ||
| By Day - Two Boards, One Green with White rim at each end of Buffer Beam | ||
| By Night - Two Lamps. One Green Light at each end of
Buffer Beam Note. - All engines running over the East London Line during daylight must carry a white light on the buffer beam while travelling between Shoreditch and Surrey Docks Stations |
||
| GREAT NORTHERN TRAINS | ||
| Stewart's Lane Junction and Battersea Yard | ||
| By Day: - Two White Discs onright hand Buffer, one above
the other By Night: - Two White Lights on right hand Buffer, one above the other |
||
| Factory Junction and Clapham Junction (L. & S.W.) | ||
| By Day: - Three white Discs, one top of Smoke Box and two off-side
of Buffer Beam By Night: - Three white Lights, one top of Smoke Box and two off-side of Buffer Beam |
||
| Factory Junction and Brentford (L. & S.W.) | ||
| By Day: - Three white Discs, one top of Smoke Box and two
off-side of Buffer Beam By Night: - Three white Lights, one top of Smoke Box and two off-side of Buffer Beam |
||
| Tulse Hill and Streatham Common | ||
| By Day: - Two Discs of Buffer Beam, White Disc on top,
White Disc with Black Rim and Black Bull's eye beneath By Night: - Threee Lights, two off-side of Buffer Beam, Blue Light on top, White Light beneath and one white light near side of Buffer Beam |
||
| GREAT WESTERN TRAINS | ||
| Battersea and Victoria | ||
| Passenger Trains .. | By Day: - One unlighted lamp at foot of chimney By Night: - One green light at foot of chimney and one white light in centre of Buffer Beam |
|
| Goods Trains .. | By Day: - One White Diamond on centre of Buffer Beam, and one White
Diamond over left hand Buffer By Night: - White Lights in same position as by day |
|
Old Oak Common to Stewart's Lane |
||
| By Day: - Two Unlighted Lamps, one in centre of Buffer
Beam, one near side of Buffer Beam By Night: - Two White Lights in same positions |
||
Old Oak Common to South Lambeth Goods Depot |
||
| By Day: - Three Unlighted Lamps, one top of
Smoke Box, one centre Buffer Beam and one off side of Buffer Beam By Night: - Three White Lights in same positions |
||
ISLE OF WIGHT TRAINS |
||
| Ryde St Johns and Ryde Pier Head | ||
| By Day: - Green Disc Centre of Smoke Box By Night: - Green Light Centre of Smoke Box |
||
ISLE OF WIGHT CENTRAL TRAINS |
||
| Ryde St Johns and Ryde Pier Head | ||
| Passenger Trains .. | By Day: - Unlighted Lamp off side of Buffer Beam By Night: - White Light off side of Buffer Beam |
|
| Light Engines .. | By Day: - Unlighted Lamp near side of Buffer Beam By Night: - White Light near side of Buffer Beam |
|
LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN TRAINS |
||
| Willesden and Victoria | ||
| By Day: - Destination Board in front, and one White
Diamond-shaped Board at foot of Chimney By Night: - One White Light at foot of Chimney Rail Motors: - When engine in front, same as passenger trains; when motor coach in front, by day Head Lamp on near side over Buffer; by night, White Light on near side over Buffer |
||
| Willesden and East Croydon Local | ||
| By Day: - One White
Diamond-shaped Board at right hand side of Chimney and Destination Board in
front By Night: - One White Light at foot of Chimney, and one White Light over left Buffer |
||
| Goods Trains, Willesden and Clapham Junction (Falcon Lane) | ||
| By Day: - No Board By Night: - One White Light each end of Buffer Beam and one White Light centre of Buffer Beam |
||
LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN TRAINS |
|
| By Day | |
| Stewart's Lane Junction and Battersea Yard (Worked by Midland Coy) | |
| By Day: - One White Round Board on top of Smoke Box, one White Round
Board in centre of Buffer Beam By Night: - One White Light on top of Smoke Box, and White Light on near side of Smoke Box |
|
| * Portsmouth Harbour to Fratton (Light Engines) | |
| * Light Engines Fratton to Portsmouth carry same Head Boards or Lights as the Trains they are going to work | |
| Portsmouth Harbour and Cosham | |
| Two Round White Boards on off side of Smoke Box, one centre of Buffer Beam,
|
|
| Portsmouth Harbour and Havant | |
| Three Round White Boards, one each side of Buffer Beam, off side of Smoke Box | |
| Havant and Cosham | |
| One Round White Board near side of Smoke Box | |
| Leatherhead and Epsom | |
| Two Round White Board, one top of Smoke Box, near side of Smoke Box | |
| Wimbledon and Tulse Hill (via Merton Abbey) | |
| One Round White Board, centre of Buffer Beam | |
| Wimbledon and Tulse Hill (via Haydons Road) | |
| Three Round White Boards, one each side of Smoke Box and one centre of Buffer Beam | |
| By Night | |
| White Lights will be carried in the same positions as the Boards | |
METROPOLITAN TRAINS |
|
| New Cross to Hammersmith | |
| One White Light near side end of Buffer Beam, and one Purple Light in centre above them | |
| New Cross to Shoreditch | |
| Two White Lights, each end of Buffer Beam | |
| Hammersmith to New Cross | |
| One White Light each end of Buffer Beam, and one Purple Light in centre above them | |
| Shoreditch to New Cross | |
| Two White Lights each end of Buffer Beam, and one White Light in centre above | |
MIDLAND TRAINS |
|
| Stewart's Lane Junction and Battersea Yard | |
| By Day: - One Round White Board each end of Buffer Beam By Night: - Two Blue Lights, one top of Smoke Box, and one on off side end of Buffer Beam |
|
SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM TRAINS |
||
| London and Bricklayers' Arms Branch | ||
| By Day: - One Round White Board each end of Buffer Beam | ||
| London and Redhill | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board off side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| London and Caterham or Chipstead Lines | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| Purley and Tadworth (Local) | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| Purley and Caterham (Local) | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board off side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| London, Oxted and Crowhurst Junction (via Croydon) | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board with Black Cross top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board off side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| London, Oxted and Crowhurst Junction (via Croydon) | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board with Black Cross top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board off side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| London, Oxted and Crowhurst Junction (via Mid Kent) | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| Victoria, Stewarts Lane and Clapham Junction (L. & S.W.) | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board with Black Cross each end of Buffer Beam | ||
| Clapham Junction (L. & S.W.) and Holborn | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board with Black Cross each end of Buffer Beam | ||
| Norwood and Beckenham | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| Crystal Palace and Beckenham | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board off side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| Tunbridge Wells (L.B amp; S.C) and Tunbridge Wells (S.E. & C.) | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam | ||
| Bopeep Junction and Hastings | ||
| Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board with Black Cross top of Smoke
Box and one Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam
|
||
| Royal Special | ||
| By Day: - One Round White Board top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board each end of Buffer Beam | ||
| Breakdown Van Special | ||
| By Day: - One Round White Board with Black Cross top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board with Black Cross each end of Buffer Beam | ||
Notes |
|
| By nights: - White Lights are carried in the White Board position, and Green Lights in the Black Cross Board positions | |
Special trains (except between London and Bricklayers' Arms Branch) carry in addition to above Codes a lamp in the centre of Buffer Beam unlighted by day, and a White Light in same position by night. |
|
Return to Steam Loco Headcodes index page.
This page was created 1 August 2020