Rear bunker numbering?

[Right Away]

Whilst having a browse through some older books I came across this undated photo of an ex LBSC D3 0-4-4 tank at Horsham in unlined BR black livery with its number on the rear of the bunker. The loco carries the early crest (did it even go straight from “Southern”, missing out the “British Railways” notation on the tanks?) and was withdrawn in 1953.

Would this rear numbering, a short-lived early BR practice, have been applied to many engines?

 

 

 

[Steamport Southport]

I think it was a Brighton Works thing. Definitely seen Terriers with it in early BR days. ISTR even some tenders got it.

 

Terrier 32678 half way down here.

 

https://www.ianrathbonemodelpainting.co.uk/british-railways-liveries.php

 

 

Jason

Edited August 31, 2023 by Steamport Southport

[Right Away]

Thanks Jason

I’ve now found photos of both two ex-LBSCR Pacific tanks with the BR number on the bunker rear, courtesy of Mike Morant’s online collection.

I would imagine there are plenty more examples of other classes showing this practice.

Edited August 31, 2023 by Right Away
correction

[Matt37268]

London Transport Panniers used to have their numbers on the bunker, and Caley 828 has its number on the back of its tender. (Have a feeling this might have been a St Rollox thing?) 

[AMJ]

ISTR that IoW locos in BR days carried the Wxx number on the bunker rear.  I always thought that it was a SR practice.

A quick image search has popped up W24 with a number plate on the rear of the bunker

 

[Steamport Southport]

20 minutes ago, AMJ said:

ISTR that IoW locos in BR days carried the Wxx number on the bunker rear.  I always thought that it was a SR practice.

A quick image search has popped up W24 with a number plate on the rear of the bunker

 

 

I think that practice dated back to pre grouping IoWR days. Possibly some operating need for the numbers to be seen when working bunker first?

 

 

Jason

[Wickham Green too]

2 hours ago, Right Away said:

... there are plenty more examples of other classes showing this practice.

There are, indeed ........ bunker rear numbers were standard on the Southern for many years though the application did vary over time, between Works and even between loco colours !   Often seems to have been the place to use up out-dated transfers and the exact application with/without 'S' or '3' prefix in early BR days didn't always correspond with the cabside !  [ Further details in the Southern Style volumes ]

[Nick C]

20 hours ago, AMJ said:

ISTR that IoW locos in BR days carried the Wxx number on the bunker rear.  I always thought that it was a SR practice.

A quick image search has popped up W24 with a number plate on the rear of the bunker

 

The plates were affixed in SR days, and in BR days removed, the words "Southern Railway" ground off, and the plates replaced. The last three that arrived after nationalisation didn't have them though.