Railway Headcodes
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Website to monitor railway headcodes in use...

• https://traksy.uk/live

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First Code

0-light engine movement
1-express passenger
2-local passenger
3-empty coaching stock/test
4-freight
5-empty coaching stock
6-freight
7-freight/track machines
8-freight/track machines
9-high speed/special requirements
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Second Code

A-london euston/marylebone
A-london
A-crewe/south manchester
A-aberdeen
B-london euston/birmingham
B-blackpool/york
B-mancester/sheffield/cleethorpes
B-edinburgh
B-south wales
C-london st pancras via derby
C-brighton/seaford
C-bristol/west
C-cumbria/morecambe/windermere
D-london st pancras via nottingham
D-north wales
D-oxford
E-eastern
F-liverpool/cardiff
F-southport/north west
G-fife/dumfermline/longannet power sta
G-birmingham/cheltenham
H-manchester
H-leeds/morecambe
H-inverness
J-reading/basingstoke
J-manchester/wrexham/strewsbury
K-crewe
L-london
L-norwich/cambridge/stanstead
L-leicester/grimsby
L-kingsbury/felixstowe
M-felixstowe/hams hall
M-midland/exeter/bristol
N-north eastern
N-preston/blackpool
O-southern/worcester/gloucester
O-weymouth/salisbury
O-cathcart
P-preston/lancaster
P-birmingham
R-london euston
R-barnstaple/okehampton/exeter
R-glasgow/edinburgh
S-scotland
T-special/test
T-glassgow
T-heathrow/paignton/exmouth
Q-test/track measurement
U-north west/manchester
U-cardiff/taunton
V-western/timetabled freight
W-worcester/malvern/hereford
Y-heathrow/bristol/weston super mare
X-special use
Ywest highland
Z-short term/test/charter
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The third and fourth digits...

These are the train number and usually sequential. If the same route letter is used for both directions odd numbers will go in one direction and even the other direction.

 

• *X** /****-Train describer showing section occupied without a headcode. Can be a fault or equipment on track during engineering work

 

• NOGO-not to use a particular route

• FAIL-failed signailing section or train

• SHUT-indicates a closed section of line

• -LB--Short term line blockage (closure) for staff safety during track or train examination

• -T3--total (long term) engineers possession (will often be accompanied by...

• ITEM  and a number referring to the applicable Engineering Notice for the work which may be abbreviated to something like I321

• DETS  may appear at the outer ends of the area indcating relative position of the detonator protection for the engineering work

• KEYD-may appear at ends of of the engineering works indicating an automatic signal keyed to danger to provide protection for the area

• -RT-/3187-Title of the form in connection with a signalling disconnection usually associated with long term alterations in an area

• TEST-If a signaller needs to test the Train Describer equipment, it will be done by placing TEST in a berth

• SHNT-shunter

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Colour Coding...

Colours used by Railcam to readily identify different types of trains operating. These colours are unique to this site and are just used so the viewer can pick out trains of interest more easily. Because of the format of certain freeform entries occasionally a 'wrong' colour will show for an entry.

• White-normal scheduled passenger train

• Blue-passenger train which is not in the normal published timetable

• Lilac-locomotive only movement

• Yellow-freight or test train, also includes some ECS trains (mainly during peak periods) for which timekeeping is critical

• Red-freeform entry made by the signaller as a reminder. Sometimes this may be across more than one signal berth. Occasionally these may appear in another colour because of the nature of the entry

• Green-time entered by a signaller as a reminder for when action is required. e.g. train booked to depart or engineering work to finish

• Orange-train to assist in reopening the railway. e.g. an assisting locomotive for a failed train or a snowplough or similar

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