British Rail Departmental Wagons Explained

British Rail departmental wagons are wagons used by British Rail and their successors Railtrack and Network Rail for departmental purposes. Many vehicles are named after aquatic creatures (including fish, mammals, birds and mythical creatures), these names started life as telegraphic codes.[1]

List of Codes

!Name!TOPS Code [2] !Wagon Type!Image!Note
BarbelZKV4 Wheel Open Wagon Converted from MSV Iron Ore Tippler
BassZDA4 Wheel Open Wagon
BreamZEA / ZEB / ZEXRunner Wagon
BrillYAABogie Flat Wagon
CarpZBAOpen Wagon
CatfishZEV4 Wheel Ballast Hopper
ChubbZCX4 Wheel Open Wagon
ClamZCV4 Wheel Spoil Wagon
CoalfishMHA / MPA4 Wheel Open WagonConverted from redundant HAA wagons
Cockle-Brake Van with Ballast Ploughs
CodZAV4 Wheel Open Wagon
CongerYVQ / YXA
CrabZBV / ZCV4 Wheel Open WagonConverted from Lamprey wagons
Crayfish-A variant of a Mermaid WagonNever built
DaceZCV4 Wheel Open Wagon
DogfishZFV / ZFW4 Wheel Ballast Hopper
DolphinYAOBogie Flat Wagon
EelYMABogie Flat Wagon
EgretZCV4 Wheel Spoil WagonModified from Grampus wagons
FalconJNABogied Open Wagon
GaneYLO / YLPBogied Flat Wagon
Gannet-4 Wheel Ballast Hopper
GrampusZBO / ZBP / ZBQ / ZBV / ZBW4 Wheel Open Wagon
Gudgeon-Ballast Wagon
HaddockZCO4 Wheel Open Wagon
HakeZBA4 Wheel Open Wagon
HalibutYCABogie Open Wagon
HeronYCVBogie Open Wagon Based on a Turbot Wagon
HerringZLV4 Wheel Ballast Hopper
LampreyZBO4 Wheel Open Wagon
LimpetMKA / ZKA4 Wheel Open Wagon
LingZCO4 Wheel Open Wagon
LobsterZVVEngineer's Support Wagon
MinnowZCO4 Wheel Open Wagon
MackerelZMV4 Wheel Ballast Hopper with Centre chutes
MantaYKAConverted passenger carriageUsed as part of a long welded rail train
MarlinYKAConverted passenger carriageUsed as part of a long welded rail train
MerdogZFVBallast Hopper
MermaidZJV4 Wheel Tipping open wagon
MulletYLABogie Flat Wagon
OctopusYDABogie Ballast Hopper
OspreyYKABogie Flat Wagon A modified Salmon wagon
OtterYXABogie Wagon Used as part of a long welded rail train
OysterZUP4 Wheel Brake Van with Ballast Ploughs
ParrYMA / YQABogie Flat Wagon
PerchYEABogie Flat Wagon Used as part of a continuous welded rail train
PikeZAA4 Wheel Open Wagon
PilchardYCOBogie Open Wagon
PiranhaPNAOpen WagonUnnofficial Name
PlaiceZCV4 Wheel Open Wagon
PollockZCAOpen Wagon
PorpoiseYEABogie Chute Wagon Used as part of a continuous welded rail train
PrawnYNOBogie Flat Wagon
PuffinZCV4 Wheel Spoil Wagon Converted from a Catfish wagon
RoachZDA4 Wheel Open Wagon
RuddZBA4 Wheel Open Wagon
SalmonYFA / YMA / YMB / YMO / YSA / YWA / YXABogie Flat Wagon
Sea UrchinZCA4 Wheel Spoil Wagon
SeacowYGA / YGBBogie Ballast Hopper
SeahareYCA4 Wheel Open Wagon
SeahorseZCA4 Wheel Open Wagon
SealZGAOpen Wagon
SealionYGHBogie Ballast Hopper
SharkZUA / ZUB / ZUP / ZUV / ZUWBrake Van with Ballast Ploughs
ShrimpYNPBogie Flat Wagon
SkateYDABogie Skip Wagon
SoleZCA / ZCO4 Wheel Open Wagon
SquidZDA4 Wheel Open Wagon
StarfishZCO4 Wheel Open Wagon
StingrayZGA / YGBBogie Ballast Hopper with GeneratorA Seacow wagon fitted with a generator
SturgeonYBA / YBB / YBO / YBP / YBQBogie Open Wagon
Super TrenchFJABogie Container Flat
TopeZCV / ZDV4 Wheel Spoil Wagon
Trident-Side Rail Loader
TroutZFO4 Wheel Ballast Hopper
TunnyZCO / ZCV4 Wheel Dropside wagon
TurbotZCV / ZCWBogie Open Wagon
UrchinZCABogie Open Wagon
WalrusYGVBogie Ballast Hopper
WhaleYBA / YHABogie Ballast Hopper
WhelkYNOOpen Wagon
WhitingZVV4 Wheel Open WagonUse for the transportation of signaling equipment
WinkleZVV4 Wheel Open Wagon Use for the transportation of signaling equipment
ZanderzKV4 Wheel Open Wagon

References

  1. Book: Ellis, Iain . Ellis' British Railway Engineering Encyclopaedia . lulu.com . 2019 . 978-0-244-81540-0 . Fourth.
  2. Web site: LTSV Wagons - Reference - Codes - Fishkinds . 2022-08-23 . www.ltsv.com.