[mikelhh]

Hello Could someone please explain to me the function and procedure for using the white discs displayed on the fronts of steam locomotives? I often see them in prototype photos but I have no idea of their meaning and usage. Thankyou.
Mike

 

[Doug]

These head codes - disks during the day, lights at night - were used to identify a type of train or a particular train. Signalmen would need to know what train and sometime which train was coming down the track so they could allow it through, stop it or divert it onto a branch line for example. This was done in the days before radio and on-board telephone.



Click here for more info.

For Southern Railway head codes, click here.

 

[mikelhh]

Thankyou very much for taking the trouble, Doug. It makes very interesting reading. I've printed them up.
Mike