Master key questions.

[trainlover43]

Would anyone know what the 3 letters on railway master/driver keys mean, specifically RPT please?

 

[skyhigh]

Maker I guess. None of mine say RPT, but they have Crewkit written on them.

 

[t_star2001uk]

RPT is possibly and abbreviation for 'RailPart'

 

[JN114]

I’ve also seen drivers who’ve gotten theirs engraved with their initials

 

[driver9000]

Master keys have had various things stamped on them over the years but RPT is the manufacturer Unipart/Railpart. Newer keys seem to have Crewkit stamped on them, I have both RPT and Crewkit keys plus an old key which is stamped with a number.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Many years ago some of our senior or enthusiast drivers had acquired keys with loco numbers stamped on (BR (s)) IIRC. Apparently before drivers were issued with personnel keys each loco had a key. You collected it when prepping the loco and then handed it in when stabling it.
I have a master key (spoon) from a class 10 with its number on.

 

[ungreat]

Many years ago some of our senior or enthusiast drivers had acquired keys with loco numbers stamped on (BR (s)) IIRC. Apparently before drivers were issued with personnel keys each loco had a key. You collected it when prepping the loco and then handed it in when stabling it.
I have a master key (spoon) from a class 10 with its number on.

In all my years driving I've never known of numbered keys for locos...as for shunting locos ( in my case 08/09) the "keys" were left in the cabs.
As for handing keys back when stabling, again never experienced this at all...impractical on long distance express/freight work as the loco would not always be coming back to its home depot that day.

 

[Ashley Hill]

In all my years driving I've never known of numbered keys for locos...as for shunting locos ( in my case 08/09) the "keys" were left in the cabs.
As for handing keys back when stabling, again never experienced this at all...impractical on long distance express/freight work as the loco would not always be coming back to its home depot that day.

It was in the early days of diesels. I suppose it was not unlike drawing a bucket of tools,oil and lamps from the stores and carrying on the steam practice of taking locos on an off shed. One chap I knew had 2 numbered keys. I can’t remember the numbers.

 

[driver9000]

In all my years driving I've never known of numbered keys for locos...as for shunting locos ( in my case 08/09) the "keys" were left in the cabs.
As for handing keys back when stabling, again never experienced this at all...impractical on long distance express/freight work as the loco would not always be coming back to its home depot that day.

When locomotives were built and sent out for delivery the key they were supplied with was often stamped with the number of the loco. I don't know if the key was intended to stay with the loco or be issued daily but my numbered key doesn't seem to correspond with a loco that ever existed. The only daily issue and return of keys I knew about was for the old DMMU units where the various keys for them were kept together in a little case.

 

[TurboMan]

The only daily issue and return of keys I knew about was for the old DMMU units where the various keys for them were kept together in a little case.

Like in this wonderful old film: The Diesel Train Driver (British Transport Films)

All the keys are in a pouch labelled '50009' which is the vehicle number when the driver sets the destination blind in the rear cab at about 5 minutes in.

 

[ungreat]

When locomotives were built and sent out for delivery the key they were supplied with was often stamped with the number of the loco. I don't know if the key was intended to stay with the loco or be issued daily but my numbered key doesn't seem to correspond with a loco that ever existed. The only daily issue and return of keys I knew about was for the old DMMU units where the various keys for them were kept together in a little case.

I used to drive DMMUs ( usually 128 parcel units) and we used to get them from the foreman occasionally.
I have a master key with the number 3618 on it . That was a class 10 number but no class 10 ever had a regular master key! I assumed it was just an issue number or maybe someone had stamped their pay number on it

 

[Class377lover]

does the standard uk master key fit all trains including class 800's and class 377's etc or does it just fit class 43's and 90's?

 

[D6130]

It fits 142s, 143s, 144s, 150s, 153s, 155s, 156s, 158s, 159s and 333s.....amongst many others.

 

[Class377lover]

This one!

 

[D6130]

That's the one....also known - especially on the former Southern Region - as an 'EP' key.

 

[Railworker101]

It doesn't fit class 66 or 70

 

[Class377lover]

That's the one....also known - especially on the former Southern Region - as an 'EP' key.

what does EP stand for?

 

[zuriblue]

what does EP stand for?

Electro Pneumatic as in the 4EPB (Class 415, Electro Pneumatic Brake)

 

[Ken H]

Is it the same key that was used on modenisation plan DMU's?

 

[t_star2001uk]

Doesn't fit a 68 either

 

[L401CJF]

It fits 142s, 143s, 144s, 150s, 153s, 155s, 156s, 158s, 159s and 333s.....amongst many others.

313,314,315,317,318,319,320,321,322,323, etc etc etc. Probably easier to list what they dont fit I'd imagine?

 

[bengley]

Almost every type of train and loco in the UK uses a master key.

66/70/68 and presumably 88 don't but that's most likely about it.

 

[ExRes]

Almost every type of train and loco in the UK uses a master key.

66/70/68 and presumably 88 don't but that's most likely about it.

I know I'm getting a bit aged but I don't remember one on 67s either

 

[ExRes]

I've got two left over from my time, one has NUMBER on it while the other has E and what could be a dog made from letters, and no, I haven't been drinking, now I wish I'd kept the four I gave to other drivers when I left

 

[railwaytrack]

So out of interest what do the 59/66/67/68/70/88 use instead if they do not use the master key? Do they use a BR1/BR1A/BR1B/BR1C key or a T key or is it some type of specialised key just for these classes? Also why did they decide not to use the master key on these classes when it is used on pretty much every other class of train (every DMU and every EMU and every other locomotive other than these) in the country?

 

[ExRes]

So out of interest what do the 59/66/67/68/70/88 use instead if they do not use the master key? Do they use a BR1/BR1A/BR1B/BR1C key or a T key or is it some type of specialised key just for these classes? Also why did they decide not to use the master key on these classes when it is used on pretty much every other class of train (every DMU and every EMU and every other locomotive other than these) in the country?

66 & 67 used the reverser handle, not quite so easy to put in your pocket though ....

 

[t_star2001uk]

Class 68 cab doors are a Euro cylinder side pin lock, the master key is similar to an industrial emergency stop button release key...

 

[CAF397]

And strangely the 195 external cab doors are locked/unlocked using the drivers master key!

 

[D6130]

The traditional 1950s/1960s BR diesel-mechanical units used an FG1 key....one of which I still have in my possession. They are similar in appearance to a small Yale key.

 

[railwaytrack]

Out of interest does anyone know what do Translink Northern Ireland Railways trains and Irish Rail trains use? Do their trains have the same master keys that we use? Or have they got their own keys over there?