Steam locomotive basics - section 16, British Railways headlamp codes

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Section 16 - British Railways headlamp codes

Position the mouse cursor over part of the image below to find its code

'Group 1' headlamps 'Group 2' headlamps 'Group 3' headlamps 'Group 4' headlamps 'Group 5' headlamps 'Group 6' headlamps 'Group 7' headlamps 'Group 8' headlamps 'Group 9' headlamps 'Group 10' headlamps


Description		Headlamp Code
Express passenger train, breakdown van train going to clear the line, 'light engine' going to assist disabled train, empty coaching stock timed at express passenger train speed		Group 1

Ordinary passenger train, 'mixed' train, breakdown van train not going to clear the line, branch passenger train, rail motor train or railcar		Group 2

Express freight, or ballast train authorised to run at a maximum speed of 35 m.p.h., Empty coaching-stock train not carrying headlamps for 'group 1'		Group 3

Parcels, newspaper, fish, meat, fruit, milk, horsebox, cattle or perishable train composed entirely of vacuum-fitted stock with the vacuum pipe connected to the engine. Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train partly vacuum fitted with not less than one-third vacuum braked vehicles connected by vacuum pipe to the engine		Group 4

Freight, mineral or ballast train. Train of empties carrying a through load to destination		Group 5

Express freight, fish, meat, fruit or cattle train. Ballast train not running under groups 3 or 4 headlamps. Special train conveying 36-ton breakdown crane but not proceeding to an accident		Group 6

Through fast train not running under groups 3, 4 or 5 headlamps and carrying a through load		Group 7

Light engine or light engines coupled together or engine and brake van		Group 8

Freight, mineral or ballast train stopping at intermediate stations		Group 9

Ballast train, freight train or inspection train requiring to stop in between signal boxes (in the section). Branch freight train		Group 10


Taken from 'British Railways Standard Locomotive Headlamp Codes, 1961' These codes were subject to alteration and minor variations on the different regions of British Railways