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Headcodes are an indication of an engine or train's class or importance by means of a position of lamps shown on the front of an engine, or white discs during the day. The headcode system allows the signalmen at the signal boxes to identify and regulate trains and determine their routes.

Engines on the North Western Railway have been seen wearing lamp and disc codes on many occasions in the Railway Series. According to Surprise Packet, the NWR has its own headcode meanings.

In the television series, the engines no longer used headcodes with their lamps following the third series briefly until the sixth series onwards. By the request of railway consultant Sam Wilkinson, all the engines eventually gained permanent lamps from the seventeenth series onwards, with the Branchline (Toby, Rosie and Nia) and Empty Wagon (Thomas, Edward, Henry, James and Percy) headcodes being the most common, though some engines have a random arrangement of lamps.

Although headcodes are not used in the series anymore, some engines have been permanently fitted with the express headcode, them being Gordon, Spencer, Flying Scotsman, LadyMerlin and Lorenzo, the most recent being Duchess

List of Headcodes[]

Class Means Position Images
A Express; Breakdown; Snowplough Two lamps or discs on the left and right lamp irons FlyingScotsmanillustratedbyGunvorandPeterEdwards
B Ordinary Passenger; Branch Line One lamp or disc on the smokebox lamp iron MainTobyRWS2
C Perishable Goods; Express Parcels; continuous brakes throughout Two lamps or discs on the middle and right lamp irons HenryIllustratedbyGunvorandPeterEdwards
D Fast Freight; ⅓ train fitted with continuous brakes Two lamps or discs on the smokebox and right lamp irons SirHandelillustratedbyJohnTKenney
E Medium Freight; at least 4 vehicles fitted with continuous brakes Two lamps or discs on the middle and left lamp irons Medium Freight Headcode
F Express Freight without continuous brakes Two lamps or discs on the smokebox and left lamp irons Express Freight Headcode
G Light Engine, Light Engines coupled together, or Engine with not more than two Brake Vans One lamp or disc on the middle lamp iron PercyillustratedbyGunvorandPeterEdwards
H Through Freight; Ballast Train Two lamps or discs on the smokebox and middle lamp irons DuckillustratedbyCReginaldDalby
J Mineral; Empty Wagon Train One lamp or disc on the right lamp iron ThomasandtheTrucksRS4
K Pick Up Goods; Branch One lamp or disc on the left lamp iron MainDonaldRWS2
Royal Train All four lamps or discs GoldenJubileeRS4

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