Head codes ? Why?!

[whole diary]

[BerkshireBugsy]

Ok I know what a head code is but I don't understand why they get used in normal conversation. I'm prepared to believe that the answer maybe that if you have two people who understand the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) railway system using a head code conveys more information than simply saying "the 0649 Tha to Reading" . Another benefit may be when describing freight services which (AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know)) run to times which aren't normally known to joe public

The reason this came up is as a result of a conversation with one of my sons scouting friends who told me the that ham crossing barriers were kept down to allow service 1kxx through...

[Ollie]

It's a good question, I really don't know, I'll give it some thought when I'm on 1D89 and 2P99 later on

[BerkshireBugsy]

It's a good question, I really don't know, I'll give it some thought when I'm on 1D89 and 2P99 later on

Lol Ollie

[grahame]

I think it's because it's a unique standardised way of referring to a train in a certain area.   If someone refers to the 14:14 Westbury to Swindon, and someone refers to the 14:04 from Frome, it's not obvious that they're the same train - but they are - they're both 2M10 and this "normalised" name for train helps avoid confusion.   In rather the same way that "London Road" may be ambiguous, but LRB and LRD tell them apart.

[bobm]

By strange coincidence, during my recent trip around the country, I arrived at Euston on the sleeper from Inverness aboard 1M16.  I then went across to St Pancras and caught a train to Corby which was also 1M16.  Little chance for confusion I guess, but of the possible combinations it was a bit of a statistical longshot that I had the same headcode for two successive journeys.

[Western Pathfinder]

I'm one of those who can remember when head codes used to be on the front of the Loco
I quite miss that.

[Chris from Nailsea]

... I had the same headcode for two successive journeys.

I think you should have the same headcode on all of your journeys: 0M40.

That means, 'no mixers in any distilled spirit'. 

Although tonic water in gin is the one acceptable exception to that rule. 

[BerkshireBugsy]

Thanks for all your replies everyone. I suppose it's no different to my trade (IT) where we tend to use TLAs^▸ (three letter acronym) (Three Letter Abbreviations) and ETLAs (4 letter abbreviations) all over the place.

Out of curiosity (and without using any other resource apart from your memory and knowledge) what does the headcode 2H06  tell you?

[bobm]

In this part of the world H is used for the Henley branch. So 2H06 would be a fairly early in the day service from Twyford to Henley.  They tend to use even numbers for down trains and odd for up ones.

[BerkshireBugsy]

In this part of the world H is used for the Henley branch. So 2H06 would be a fairly early in the day service from Twyford to Henley.  They tend to use even numbers for down trains and odd for up ones.

I would say "correct" but I think you already know that !

[grahame]

From wikipedia ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_reporting_number

Here's what the first character (digit) code:

1. Express passenger train; nominated postal or parcels train; breakdown or overhead line equipment train going to clear the line (headcode 1Z99); traction unit going to assist a failed train (1Z99); snow plough going to clear the line (1Z99)
2. Ordinary passenger train; Officers^ special train (2Z01)
3. Freight train if specially authorised; a parcels train; autumn-railhead treatment train; empty coaching stock train if specially authorised
4. Freight train which can run up to 75 mph
5. Empty coaching stock train
6. Freight train which can run up to 60 mph
7. Freight train which can run up to 45 mph
8. Freight train which can run up to 35 mph
9. Class 373 train; other passenger train if specially authorised
0. Light locomotive or locomotives

[bobm]

1. Express passenger train; nominated postal or parcels train; breakdown or overhead line equipment train going to clear the line (headcode 1Z99); traction unit going to assist a failed train (1Z99); snow plough going to clear the line (1Z99)

I wonder what code is used for an assisting loco going to rescue a failed snowplough. 

[lordgoata]

Thanks for all your replies everyone. I suppose it's no different to my trade (IT) where we tend to use TLAs^▸ (three letter acronym) (Three Letter Abbreviations) and ETLAs (4 letter abbreviations) all over the place.

Hehe, we have so many TLA's and other abbreviations where I work, we have our own Wiki to explain them all. We probably even have a TLA for the Wiki, which is explained on the Wiki  It also doesn't help when we have the same one meaning two different things either ....

If you have to write it in full and then put the TLA in brackets after (or vice versa), why have the bloody TLA in the first place!!! 

[Oxman]

The TLA^▸ (three letter acronym) for a Wiki is surely GoT (Glossary of Terms)!

[JayMac]

GoT is Game of Thrones surely?