Unit Numbers on the Roof

[JRHurst]

The re-liveried London Overground class 378s have the full set number on the cab roof. Anyone know why? And have any other units ever had this?

 

[tfw756rider]

Perhaps it's following on from Transport for London buses having numbers on their roofs, and therefore maybe is for a similar reason of identification for aerial views by emergency services in the air.

 

[nineteenninety]

I know the 390s have numbers where the pantographs are located, although I believe its the last few digits of the set & vehicle number rather than the whole number

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I know the 390s have numbers where the pantographs are located, although I believe its the last few digits of the set & vehicle number rather than the whole number

Those numbers don't face upwards and aren't particularly large, though, are they?

 

[wickham]

As mentioned above, all buses opperated for TfL have the opperator code and fleet number painted on the roof, and I presume this is a follow on from that. It is indeed so they can be identified from the air, particularly in case of emergency. This is not completely new to the railway as I beleive that BR Bullion vans had some sort of identification painted on the roof and indeed imports of gold from Southampton Docks to London were followed by a police helecopter, but this all ceased many years ago.

 

[Falkland Yard]

The Tyne & Wear Metrocars also have the car numbers on the cab roof. The attached picture is of car 4005 at South Gosforth with the second being of an enlargement of the cab roof.

 

[JRHurst]

I did not know that! Thanks.