John Hague

Thank you. Much earlier than I’d thought.

Morning all. I was always of the assumption that loco data panels were introduced from 1969 but a discussion on the BR Transition Liveries Facebook group made me question that and Neil Phillips in another thread on here records D838 Rapid with a panel on 11/9/68. The first loco I saw with data panels was D838 Rapid at Plymouth North Road on 11/9/68. I remember wondering (a) what a Class 43 was, and (b) why Swindon had outshopped the loco in ex-works maroon nearly two years after switching to blue - and not necessarily in that order! Credible explanation still awaited...... I recall the news sections in the railway mags of the time showing the new data panels stuck to a Peak and a Deltic. Application could still be patchy though, ex-works 6585 seen at Exeter 2/1/69 didn't have any (locos out-shopped without D prefixes or data panels must surely have been unusual). Data panels are useful for dating photos too, e.g. D7045 was often included in lists of Hymeks in blue syp livery, but shots of it in green with data panels make that impossible. From my own observations at the time the bulk of the depot-level TOPS renumbering of the BR loco fleet was achieved during February-April 1974. I'm interested in how this was organised and posted a request for info in Traction magazine a few years ago, but there were no takers......I live in hope! So the question is does anyone know when they were officially introduced and more importantly started to be used?

Hi Neil, It's been a long time. Do you remember helping me research my article on Corporate Identity on BR? Looking with Russ at when TOPS Data Panels were introduced. Do you know the correct date? I assumed 1969 but Russ thought 68. Seems he's correct reading this. Best wishes John