One of the trickiest tasks when model-making can be the positioning of very small or delicate parts. In most...
Cart 0 Product Products (empty)
No products
Free shipping! Shipping
£ 0.00 Total
Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Quantity
Total
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Total products (tax incl.)
Total shipping (tax excl.) Free shipping!
Total (tax incl.)
Search Tips
Tips categories
Latest Tips
-
How can I accurately position small parts when making a model?Read more -
How do I build a Metcalfe kit?Read moreBuilding a Metcalfe kit is a great way to gain modelling experience. Building one should not be feared because they...
-
How can I easily create gradient variations for my track?Read moreCreating gradient variations for a model railway track can add realism and interest to a layout. Here are a few ways...
-
How can I create a simple water feature on my layout?Read moreAdding a simple water feature to a layout can be a reasonably straightforward process and can add a real interest...
-
What is a push to make switch?Read moreA push-to-make switch is a push-button type of switch that doesn't lock into place when pressed, it allows power to...
What is a headcode box?
A headcode box (also known as a route indicator or train reporting box) is a display unit mounted on the front of early British Rail diesel or electric locomotives and multiple-units. Its purpose was to display a four-digit code that told signal box staff certain information about the train. This system took over from an earlier one that used discs or lamps arranged in various ways on the front of trains to indicate its route and type.
As always with our very complicated railway history, the exact meaning of the information displayed in the box has changed over time and differed in certain regions, but the gist of it is that the code told the signal box which way to route a train.
The Southern Region was well known for using a simple two-digit display on their multiple-units and locomotives. This was because the Southern Region's traffic was both repetitive and dense. This meant that the first half of the code denoting the trains type and inter-regional destination was considered not as important as making sure the trains were routed correctly, with this in mind a simpler system using only the last 2-digits (demoting a destination within a region) was found to suffice.
Another variation of the headcode box was a split display unit on some older designs of a locomotive. This version featured two display boxes (one on either side) each showing half of the 4-digit code. The only reason this was done was to facilitate a centre gangway-door on the nose of the loco, but, the installation of such doors was a short-lived experiment and in its absence, a single 4-digit headcode box could be located in the centre of locomotive.
Interestingly, some locomotives were halfway through their production run whilst changes were happening. This led to some quite noticeable design difference within certain classes such as some featuring headcode boxes whilst others have discs and some having split headcodes while others have just one 4 digit display.
Still, it all makes for some very interesting modelling!
Click here to receive the tips weekly in your mailbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Related products
DISC**Headcode Number Stencils
Price: £ 2.60Headcode Number Stencils Etched Brass. 2 sets SR EMU stencils 0-9
DISC**Headcode Letter Stencils
Price: £ 2.60Headcode Letter Stencils Etched Brass 2 sets SR stencils for all letter...
Related posts
-
Do I need a respirator?If you are using an aerosol spray paint you should always use one. Always read the manufacturer’s... - How to remove super glue (cyanoacrylate)?Cyanoacrylate is best known as super glue. The best way to remove it is with acetone or an acetone-based product...
- What is the best wood for baseboards?The most common wood for baseboards is probably chipboard as this is relatively inexpensive. Plywood is another...
- How do I stick parts together for a test fit?There are several trains of thought on the best way to secure parts together temporarily. Some suggest using a small...
- How to clean model railways track?There is of course the old tried and tested method, the track rubber which does the job, no railway modeller should...