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Headcode discs and numbers - changeover

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Inversnecky

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I was intrigued to see this photos of a Class 40, taken in April 1984:


I had thought all headcode discs had been changed to TRN displays long before, let alone before they were replaced by "0000" and domino dots since 1976?
 
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marsker

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As I recall, very few locos had 4 character reporting number screens added retrospectively. There were a number of Haymarket allocated EE Type 4s (later Class 40) that did, I think they were in the D26x series, but that was all I remember. You could tell them because they had square corners to the housing whereas those built with them (I think from about D325) had rounded corners.
 

Cowley

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As I recall, very few locos had 4 character reporting number screens added retrospectively. There were a number of Haymarket allocated EE Type 4s (later Class 40) that did, I think they were in the D26x series, but that was all I remember. You could tell them because they had square corners to the housing whereas those built with them (I think from about D325) had rounded corners.
Some of the hydraulics had them added. From memory some class 22s, some of the original NB Warships maybe and the first few production Warships as well possibly?
 

xotGD

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The Baby Deltics were retrofitted with headcode boxes.
 

43096

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The Class 21s that were converted to Class 29 had headcode boxes added at the time of conversion.
 

Cowley

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The Baby Deltics were retrofitted with headcode boxes.
Yes of course, forgot about those.
Why were some classes left completely alone I wonder?
The 31s worked alongside the Baby Deltics yet loads of them retained discs.
 

xotGD

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Yes of course, forgot about those.
Why were some classes left completely alone I wonder?
The 31s worked alongside the Baby Deltics yet loads of them retained discs.
The Baby Deltics had them fitted as part of more extensive modifications. Skirts removed and other bits chopped out to reduce weight IIRC.
 

Cowley

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The Baby Deltics had them fitted as part of more extensive modifications. Skirts removed and other bits chopped out to reduce weight IIRC.
The period of time that four character headcodes were used properly is surprisingly short when you think about how many things received them (even some DMUs)...
 

randyrippley

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Yes of course, forgot about those.
Why were some classes left completely alone I wonder?
The 31s worked alongside the Baby Deltics yet loads of them retained discs.
31s would have required a new cab roof
Baby Deltics just needed a hole cutting
 
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