GSWR numbering scheme

[Mol_PMB]

At some stage in the 1900 to 1920 period, the GSWR introduced a new numbering scheme whereby blocks of numbers were allocated to particular wagon or carriage types. For example, 15000-19999 was allocated to goods vans.

This number scheme was continued by the GSR and CIE for both wagons and carriages, and (with some developments) is still with us today.

What year was it introduced?

[Mol_PMB]

I think I can narrow down the range a bit, though I am making an assumption that the numbering policy for wagons changed at the same date as the policy for carriages.

• Wagons supplied by Hurst Nelson in 1907 were in the old numbering scheme.
• Bogie carriages built by the GSWR in 1915 were the first carriages built in the new numbering scheme.
• The new numbering scheme for wagons was definitely in use by 1920 but the numbers reached indicate that it had started a few years earlier.

It occurs to me that there was also a change in loco numbering policy around the same time, with the new classes starting at 400, 500, 900. Maybe Watson influence?

Edited May 26 by Mol_PMB
correcting typo

[Mol_PMB]

For info, my understanding of the numbering scheme is as follows:

 

Carriages:

• 1st class: 1140 onwards
• 3rd class: 1290 onwards (eventually reaching 1558 with the Cravens)
• Brake 3rd: 1890 onwards (eventually reaching 1946 with the Park Royal conversions)
• Composite: 2090 onwards
• Catering: 2400 onwards
• Full brake: 2540 onwards

This scheme continued into CIE days for all the steam-heated stock, with new categories added for railcars, steam heat vans etc. The use of the next-available 2600 series for the 1950s AEC railcars was reprised by the Arrows in the 1990s, and of course forms the basis of the railcar fleet numbering today.

 

Wagons:

• High-sided opens: 10000 onwards (though there are also some in the 9000s, I'm not sure whether the block started at 9000 or whether those were the last of the old consecutive numbering scheme) - this series was almost filled up by the final corrugated opens.
• Goods vans: 15000 onwards (eventually reaching 19754 with the H vans, and then jumping ahead to a new 26000 series for the Palvans)
• Cattle vans: 20000 onwards (these reached 21617)
• Flat wagons: 23000 onwards
• Brake vans: 23500 onwards (these reached 23694 with the 30T vans)
• Special wagons: 23700 onwards
• Ballast and PW wagons: 24000 onwards (the series is subdivided into various blocks; the last one seems to be the 1978-built plough brake 24854)

This scheme continued into CIE days and many new categories were added. Things did get a bit mixed up in the 1970s but order was restored for the CIE bogie wagons numbered in blocks in the 30000 series, some of which are still running today.

[BSGSV]

1915 is the date for carriages according to a Brendan Pender article in the IRRS journal (61), in that 1290 appears the earliest built in the new numbering, and was 1915.

Don't forget the TPO from 2950, and the GSR brake compos 2490/1.

The Park Royals went to 1948. And 1949 was the last (RPSI, GNR 9) in the 2000's.

Edited June 1 by BSGSV