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SOUTHERN REGION STEAM HEADCODES 1956-67

SOUTH WESTERN DIVISION

Companion article to my layout "Basingstoke in OO"

Above: The "Bournemouth Belle" clearly displaying the Disc Headcode for Waterloo - Bournemouth West. Note that the "2" seen affixed to one of the discs is the Locomotive Duty code. "2" being a Nine Elms shed Loco roster.


As an adjunct to the Blogs I have posted on my layout Basingstoke, and because I have had a few questions on the subject of headcodes. Here is a diagrammatic list (bottom of page) of the steam headcodes used on the South Western Division during the layouts period 1958-67.
The Southern Railway and British Railways Southern Region steam locomotive headcodes, used a different system to that used on other Railways, or Regions of BR.

The four position Headcode system as seen on other Railways/Regions, was a system to indicate the Class of the train. So for example Class 1 (Express train) used two headlamps or discs. These being positioned one above each buffer.
The SR system, had six positions (not four). More importantly this system was used to describe the route the train was to take, not its class. In addition, it should be understood, that any Headcode used on one route could, also be used on other routes, as long as the routes did NOT overlap at any point. So for example the same Headcode could be used on the Waterloo-West of England line, The Victoria- Oxted lines, and Canon Street to Dover line.

Further, a Headcode did NOT have to mean the train using it, was going to complete the full route for which the Headcode was allocated. A good example of this was the Waterloo to Southampton Terminus Headcode. This was also used by trains only travelling between Woking and Basingstoke.







Above: Class S15 4-6-0 No 30508 trundles southbound through Basingstoke station with a Nine Elms to Southampton Docks via Brentford freight in March 1961


Another important factor of the Southern Headcode system, involved Inter-Regional trains. It was understood that non SR locomotives, did not have six lamp brackets. Therefore when such locos had to operate over SR tracks, the Headcode used would have to be of an arrangement, that only used one or more of the four lamp brackets as fitted to non SR type locomotives. Logically and where possible the equivilant 4 position class code would be used. Again a good example is the numerous Inter-regional express trains joining the SR at Basingstoke and heading to Bournemouth. The SR code for Oxford via Reading to Bournemouth being the same as the normal Class 1 Express train headcode of a lamp or disc above each buffer.

Finally special headcodes could and were issued for a specific train when no regular headcode was listed. Railway enthusiast specials being a good case in point. Such trains often required to take unusual routes !
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Highlighted in Green, are headcodes actually seen at Basingstoke.
No 1 : Basingstoke - Southampton Terminus Pull-Push trains only

No 2: Waterloo - Basingstoke - Southampton Terminus

No 3: Brookwood - Bisley OR Alton - Farnham, OR Bentley - Borden

No 4: Waterloo - Reading (via Richmond) OR Exeter Central - Sidmouth OR Plymouth Friary - Turnchapel OR Waterloo - Virginia Water via Weybridge OR Bournemouth Central - Brockenhurst via Wimborne OR Torrington - Halwill Junction.

No 5: Nine Elms - Southampton Docks via main line (Perishables)

No 6: Western Region - Basingstoke - Eastleigh (Freight)

No 7: Waterloo - Southampton Docks via Brentford and Woking

No 8: Bournemouth West - Weymouth OR Alton - Southampton Terminus Pull-Push trains only

No 9: Basingstoke to Brent (LMR) via Chertsey

No 10: Waterloo - Southampton Terminus via Alton

No 11: Waterloo - Exeter Central - Plymouth

No 12: Nine Elms - Exeter (Perishables)

No 13: Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour via Guildford OR Southampton Docks to Bournemouth via Sway

No 14: Waterloo - Portsmouth & Southsea (via Eastleigh or Guildford) OR Exeter Central - Padstow

No 15: LMR to Basingstoke via Gunnersbury & Chertsey OR Bournemouth Central - Weymouth

No 16: Milk & ECS to Waterloo via Byfleet curve & Richmond

No 17: Waterloo - Nine Elms OR Exeter Central - Wadebridge OR Salisbury - Portsmouth Harbour via Eastleigh.

No 18: Waterloo - Southampton Eastern Docks (Ocean Liner Boat Trains). Or Southampton Central - Andover via Redbridge.

No 19: Waterloo - Southampton Western Docks (Ocean Liner Boat Trains)

No 20: Waterloo - Bournemouth West via Sway

No 21: To Up Main Loop (Clapham Junc) from points westwards.

No 22: Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour via Eastleigh

No 23: Eastleigh - Basingstoke (Light engines for testing)

No 24: Southampton - Willesden via Chertsey and Kew East Junc

No 25: Breakdown Van trains going to incident

No 26: Royal Train

No 27: Nine Elms - Brent (LMR) via New Kew Junction

No 28: Waterloo - Wimbledon Depot via East Putney.

No 29: Feltham - Hither Green Sidings via Brentford

No 30: Waterloo - Weymouth via Ringwood OR Feltham - Hither Green Sidings via Richmond.

No 31: Feltham - Plumstead via Brentford

No 32: Feltham - Plumstead via Richmond

No 33: All stations to Eastleigh Works

No 34: Waterloo - Weymouth Quay via Mainline & Sway
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No 35: Waterloo - Weymouth Quay via Ringwood.

No 36: Waterloo - Exeter Central via East Putney.

SEE ALSO 2 DIGIT BR(SR) CODES AND 4 DIGIT (OTHER REGIONS) HEADCODES
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