Triangle on front of heritage DEMU/EMU etc

[CalaisFret]

Maybe a silly question but I've been wondering what the purpose of the black triangle on the front of heritage DEMU/EMU is. Some units only have a yellow front whilst others have the triangle as well so I'm assuming that this is not/was not a regulatory requirement.

Many thanks for shedding any light on this.

 

[Marklund]

Brake van at that end.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think an inverted triangle denoted the end of the unit with the brake van/parcels area. It's a previous version of the P suffix on some EMU numbers.

 

[Phil.]

Pedant mode...........
It's not a brake van, it's a Guard's compartment. It's only a brake van if it's got a means of manually applying the handbrake/parking brake from the inside. The handbrake on a DEMU/EMU is in the driving cab.
(Yes I know about the CIGS/BIGS that had the parking brake in the Guard's compartment).

 

[jopsuk]

on a 317 or 321 a small triangle denotes the end with 1st class. Think the 379s have that too

 

[Islineclear3_1]

In the days when a lot of mail was carried in the guard's/luggage compartment, the triangle was a visual notification of mail staff waiting on the platform which end of the train carried the mail (so they could position themselves promptly at the right end). Black triangle visible upon approach = mail at that end of the train (i.e. front), no black triangle = mail at other end (i.e. back).

The triangle was peculiar to Southern Region 2 and 3 car units; it wasn't needed on 4car units as they had a guard's/luggage compartment at both ends (apart from stock built after about 1963) when the guard's/luggage van was moved to the middle.

 

[CatfordCat]

Prior to the triangle (and prior to yellow ends) a yellow V (presumably to indicate Van - luggage if not brake) was used - see - http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class205_01.html

and http://www.bloodandcustard.com/OV001.html

 

[headshot119]

Pedant mode...........
It's not a brake van, it's a Guard's compartment. It's only a brake van if it's got a means of manually applying the handbrake/parking brake from the inside. The handbrake on a DEMU/EMU is in the driving cab.
(Yes I know about the CIGS/BIGS that had the parking brake in the Guard's compartment).

So how come the vehicle designation was DMBS (Driving Motor Brake Standard) which had a brake van, as opposed to a DMC (Driving Motor Comp) which doesn't have a brake van.

 

[306024]

on a 317 or 321 a small triangle denotes the end with 1st class. Think the 379s have that too

On AGA 170s too. No one has ever explained that to the public, but it is useful to those in the know.

 

[Phil.]

So how come the vehicle designation was DMBS (Driving Motor Brake Standard) which had a brake van, as opposed to a DMC (Driving Motor Comp) which doesn't have a brake van.

I've no idea but what I do know is that if it hasn't got a means of applying a hand/parking brake then it's not a brakevan.
The terminology for where the Guard rode/rides carried on with the designation brakevan but it wasn't a brakevan, it was a Guard's van/compartment.

 

[physics34]

Brake van at that end.

I miss the EPBs

 

[61653 HTAFC]

On AGA 170s too. No one has ever explained that to the public, but it is useful to those in the know.

Likewise the yellow "bar" on the coupler on 185 DMCL vehicles.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Likewise the yellow "bar" on the coupler on 185 DMCL vehicles.

And on voyagers, although in both cases it actually means first class at this end. However the principle is the same.

 

[yorksrob]

I miss the EPBs

 

[375610]

The cowlings over the anti-over riders on the 395s are painted yellow on end of the train that has the disabled loo.

 

[Phil.]

I miss the EPBs ??????

Here's a fix for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zksIuLWy6oQ&list=PLOCnC_n01zf1o_BmoYIZZYnV7siSeZxGZ

 

[CalaisFret]

Many thanks for the info everybody