Adrian Barr
Member
Do you remember using TOPS “tags” for wagonload traffic? (e.g 250 for Tinsley Yard, 72E for Wembley, 652 for Bescot). Or do you have memories of the intricacies of wagonload working for particular eras / areas? Share them here…
In a thread discussing some obscure TOPS codes, the meaning of “tags” in TOPS was also discussed: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/tpb-in-tops-list.272360/
Within the datasets of TOPS itself is a document titled “General Principles of Tagging” (see below) which I’ve reformatted from all caps to make it a bit easier to read. It mentions “trunk tag lists” which are also stored within TOPS, which I’ll post separately as a reply to avoid this post being absurdly long (they are also available as a text file in the thread linked above). TOPS tagging is now basically obsolete, so the lists of tag codes reflect the EWS wagonload network of the early to mid-2000s.
I’m not quite sure how the “local tags” with 900 numbers worked, although the document suggests they were linked to patterns of local trip working. Were they also used for siding allocations in marshalling yards perhaps? Or did that rely purely on the destination Stanox (TOPS location) code of wagons arriving with a tag for that yard (e.g. wagons arriving at Tinsley with a 250 tag but destined for different local terminals)?
The “principles of tagging” are a bit hard to digest; for a quick introduction this is an extract from “Tinsley and the Modernisation of Sheffield’s Railways” by Chris Booth (an excellent book about Tinsley marshalling Yard and its impact on Sheffield-area freight working, although it appears to be out of print).
To clarify the meaning of "setout" in the document below, this reflects the location where wagons will be detached from a train en-route. For example if a wagonload service from Wembley to Mossend calls at Warrington and Carlisle, traffic that needs to be detached at Warrington needs to be "setout" to Warrington in TOPS, and the same for Carlisle. The TOPS "consist" (list of vehicles on a train) will then show the distinct portions which are being detached en-route (with the other wagons "setout" to the final destination of the train at Mossend).
And now follows….
Trunk tag numbers are allocated by BRB HQ in collaboration with each region using the following guidelines:
A ) the first two digits of the trunk tag correspond with the first two digits of the location to which the vehicle is routed e.g. Tees Yard (15400) receives 15 as the first two digits.
B ) the third digit represented by the numbers 0 (zero) to 9 for sorts to main yards, e.g. Tees Yard 150, 12 or 154, or the letters A to X for sorts to other than main yards e.g. Haverton Hill (ICI) (15020) , tag 15H. There are a few exceptions where the first two digits of the location number are the same for more than one yard and in such cases the third digit 0 (zero) can only be applied to one, the other points being identified by a letter.
The letter 'Y ' has been allocated for manual tagging of block / Freightliner trains. the letter 'Z ' preceded by 00 (zero) has been allocated for NPCCS use only.
When a wagon is released the computer will relate the wagon’s destination with the tag table file and automatically apply a tag number to the wagon.
The tag number will represent the next yard or terminal at which the wagon is to be detached or represent the destination of each section of a train included in the “Classification and Marshalling of Freight Trains” booklet.
Accurate updating of tag numbers by the computer throughout the journey of a wagon is dependent on the correct use of 'setouts ' (09) . the location number in the 'setout ' directs the computer to the appropriate tag table for that particular location. it will be appreciated that incorrect 'setouts ' corrupt tagging so it is essential that sections on trains are 'setout ' to the location numbers identified in the train call guide, applicable to the locations shown as detaching points in the marshalling book.
A tag number for a wagon correctly 'setout ' is held throughout its journey until a consist is output to the 'setout ' point.
Should a wagon deviate from its normal route it must be manually tagged to the next yard at which it is to be detached. a manual tag will revert to the computer generated tag number when the first two digit of the location number at which the wagon has been 'setout ' are the same as the first two digits of the tag number.
Tagging is based on destination and can take into account separate routing arrangements, as follows:
Normal routing option - this consists of three groups :
Group 1 (airbraked) - applies to air braked, dual braked, air- piped vehicles. this is an optional group and a tag is allocated to a location or range of locations only where an appropriate air braked service is available.
Group 2 (fitted ) - applies to all vacuum fitted and vacuum pipe vehicles. if an air brake tag has not been allocated (see group 1), this group will allocate a tag number to dual braked and air brake/vacuum pipe vehicles.
Group 3 (unfitted ) - applies to all unfitted vehicles. If an air brake tag has not been allocated (see group 1 ) this group will allocate a tag number to all air braked vehicles which are not fitted with a vacuum brake or pipe.
Exception Tag Option.
When applied takes preference over the normal routing option.
There are nine groups, as follows :-
Group 1 All empty wagons
Group 2 Empty vehicles by specified wagon group or range of groups.
Group 3 Empty vehicles by specified wagon type, either individual or range of types.
Group 4 Loaded vehicles by specified commodity, either individual or range of commodities.
Group 5 Unfitted vehicles by specified speeds.
Group 6 Vacuum fitted vehicles by specified speeds.
Group 7 Loaded and empty vehicles by specified wagon detail code, either individual or range of codes, or by specified pool numbers.
Group 8 Empty vehicles by specified wagon detail code, either individual or range of codes, or by specified pool numbers.
Group 9 By special handling code.
Local tag numbers are allocated by regional HQ in collaboration with area managers. All locations have been allocated a local tag either individually or the same number for a range of locations, depending on local trip working etc. The local tag numbers range between 900 and 99Z.
Application -
A ) applies to block/freightliner trains which have not been included in the tagging specification.
B ) should a wagon deviate from its normal route then it must be manually tagged to the next yard at which the wagon is to be detached.
General -
If after a wagon has been released it is desired to :-
A) Alter the manual tag, or
B ) Apply a manual tag in place of the computer generated tag, or
C ) Revert from a manual tag number to the tag number generated by the computer -
then the change data added - yard procedure 261, should be used.
The manual tag applied will revert to the computer generated tag number when the first two digits of the location number, to which the wagons have been setout, are the same as the first two digits of the manual tag.
Note: If the first two digits of the location number do not equal the first two digits of the tag number then the manual tag is held until the wagons are released for their next journey.
Those trains routed differently to wagon load services require to be manually tagged on release (procedure 021 applies). If, however a tag number has been allocated for the particular destination in the tagging specification then the computer will obviously generate the correct tag and a manual tag will not be necessary.
If, however manual tagging is required then the first two digits of the manual tag must correspond with the first two digits of the location number to which the wagons are labelled. the third character should be decided as follows:
A ) If the location concerned has already been allocated a trunk tag number in the central list of trunk tags on the "IN” database, then this tag must be used as the manual tag e.g. wagons destined to Haverton Hill ICI (15020) should be manually tagged 15H, or
B ) If the location does not appear in the "IN" database" then a letter "Y" must be entered as the third character e.g. wagons destined to Fryston colliery (16801) should be manually tagged 16Y.
If a train consists of two or more sections, each section must be given a separate manual tag based on the above guidelines.
NPCCS vehicles (wagon groups 41 to 48 ) when released will generate a 00Z tag. When conveyed on a freight train a computer generated tag (as per tagging specification ) must be obtained for vehicles in this category. this is achieved by the use of procedure 261, by inserting 000 (zeros) in columns 59 to 61. should these vehicles have to be diverted from the normal route, then a manual tag must be inserted in columns 59 to 61.
When a wagon generates a 001 tag this indicates that it is an unfitted vehicle with no planned service for disposal. if, however a service is arranged specially then these wagons must be manually tagged in accordance with manual tagging procedures.
Note this tag is also applied to wagons with brake types 'A ' and 'B’ where no planned air braked service is available.
All wagons for which responsibility is held but not physically present must be manually tagged 00X (zero,zero X).
A) Tagging Specification - these are the planning documents produced by regional HQ in collaboration with BR HQ and managers and sets out in detail the tagging requirements for each TRA.
B) Explanation sheets - the information for these is taken from the tagging specifications and they list and describe the tag numbers in use in each TRA.
C) Trunk tag lists - these are maintained by the director of operations on the 'IN' database. See TAG01 to TAG17.
======================================================================
British Railways Headquarters, Paddington
FMS (Tel,00-30072)
======================================================================
I'm not sure of the date that document was produced, but the reference to "Fryston Colliery" (closed in 1985) gives some idea. https://www.flickr.com/photos/pontefractheritagegroup/5973120683/
For an example of “classification and marshalling” instructions associated with tagging, these are the 2005 tagging instructions for wagonload service 6V19 from Immingham to Margam:
Immingham Yard
6V19 18:04 SX Margam Terminal Complex 79780
At Bescot 65702 REVERSE, detach 5 and 6. Departs marshalled:-
At Washwood Heath 66312 detach 4
At Llanwern 76110 detach 3 and attach
At Newport AD Jn 76470 detach 2 and attach
AMENDED from w/c 30/01/05
HAZARDOUS GOODS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THIS TRAIN AT LLANWERN
THEREFORE WAGONS OF DANGEROUS GOODS FOR SOUTH WALES SHOULD WORK VIA 6M31 DONCASTER BELMONT – WARRINGTON ARPLEY AND 6V71 WARRINGTON ARPLEY – CARDIFF TIDAL
In a thread discussing some obscure TOPS codes, the meaning of “tags” in TOPS was also discussed: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/tpb-in-tops-list.272360/
Within the datasets of TOPS itself is a document titled “General Principles of Tagging” (see below) which I’ve reformatted from all caps to make it a bit easier to read. It mentions “trunk tag lists” which are also stored within TOPS, which I’ll post separately as a reply to avoid this post being absurdly long (they are also available as a text file in the thread linked above). TOPS tagging is now basically obsolete, so the lists of tag codes reflect the EWS wagonload network of the early to mid-2000s.
I’m not quite sure how the “local tags” with 900 numbers worked, although the document suggests they were linked to patterns of local trip working. Were they also used for siding allocations in marshalling yards perhaps? Or did that rely purely on the destination Stanox (TOPS location) code of wagons arriving with a tag for that yard (e.g. wagons arriving at Tinsley with a 250 tag but destined for different local terminals)?
The “principles of tagging” are a bit hard to digest; for a quick introduction this is an extract from “Tinsley and the Modernisation of Sheffield’s Railways” by Chris Booth (an excellent book about Tinsley marshalling Yard and its impact on Sheffield-area freight working, although it appears to be out of print).
To clarify the meaning of "setout" in the document below, this reflects the location where wagons will be detached from a train en-route. For example if a wagonload service from Wembley to Mossend calls at Warrington and Carlisle, traffic that needs to be detached at Warrington needs to be "setout" to Warrington in TOPS, and the same for Carlisle. The TOPS "consist" (list of vehicles on a train) will then show the distinct portions which are being detached en-route (with the other wagons "setout" to the final destination of the train at Mossend).
And now follows….
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TAGGING
1. Trunk Tag Numbering System
1. Trunk Tag Numbering System
Trunk tag numbers are allocated by BRB HQ in collaboration with each region using the following guidelines:
A ) the first two digits of the trunk tag correspond with the first two digits of the location to which the vehicle is routed e.g. Tees Yard (15400) receives 15 as the first two digits.
B ) the third digit represented by the numbers 0 (zero) to 9 for sorts to main yards, e.g. Tees Yard 150, 12 or 154, or the letters A to X for sorts to other than main yards e.g. Haverton Hill (ICI) (15020) , tag 15H. There are a few exceptions where the first two digits of the location number are the same for more than one yard and in such cases the third digit 0 (zero) can only be applied to one, the other points being identified by a letter.
The letter 'Y ' has been allocated for manual tagging of block / Freightliner trains. the letter 'Z ' preceded by 00 (zero) has been allocated for NPCCS use only.
2. How Tagging Works
When a wagon is released the computer will relate the wagon’s destination with the tag table file and automatically apply a tag number to the wagon.
The tag number will represent the next yard or terminal at which the wagon is to be detached or represent the destination of each section of a train included in the “Classification and Marshalling of Freight Trains” booklet.
Accurate updating of tag numbers by the computer throughout the journey of a wagon is dependent on the correct use of 'setouts ' (09) . the location number in the 'setout ' directs the computer to the appropriate tag table for that particular location. it will be appreciated that incorrect 'setouts ' corrupt tagging so it is essential that sections on trains are 'setout ' to the location numbers identified in the train call guide, applicable to the locations shown as detaching points in the marshalling book.
A tag number for a wagon correctly 'setout ' is held throughout its journey until a consist is output to the 'setout ' point.
Should a wagon deviate from its normal route it must be manually tagged to the next yard at which it is to be detached. a manual tag will revert to the computer generated tag number when the first two digit of the location number at which the wagon has been 'setout ' are the same as the first two digits of the tag number.
3) Tagging Options
Tagging is based on destination and can take into account separate routing arrangements, as follows:
Normal routing option - this consists of three groups :
Group 1 (airbraked) - applies to air braked, dual braked, air- piped vehicles. this is an optional group and a tag is allocated to a location or range of locations only where an appropriate air braked service is available.
Group 2 (fitted ) - applies to all vacuum fitted and vacuum pipe vehicles. if an air brake tag has not been allocated (see group 1), this group will allocate a tag number to dual braked and air brake/vacuum pipe vehicles.
Group 3 (unfitted ) - applies to all unfitted vehicles. If an air brake tag has not been allocated (see group 1 ) this group will allocate a tag number to all air braked vehicles which are not fitted with a vacuum brake or pipe.
Exception Tag Option.
When applied takes preference over the normal routing option.
There are nine groups, as follows :-
Group 1 All empty wagons
Group 2 Empty vehicles by specified wagon group or range of groups.
Group 3 Empty vehicles by specified wagon type, either individual or range of types.
Group 4 Loaded vehicles by specified commodity, either individual or range of commodities.
Group 5 Unfitted vehicles by specified speeds.
Group 6 Vacuum fitted vehicles by specified speeds.
Group 7 Loaded and empty vehicles by specified wagon detail code, either individual or range of codes, or by specified pool numbers.
Group 8 Empty vehicles by specified wagon detail code, either individual or range of codes, or by specified pool numbers.
Group 9 By special handling code.
4. Local Tag Numbers
Local tag numbers are allocated by regional HQ in collaboration with area managers. All locations have been allocated a local tag either individually or the same number for a range of locations, depending on local trip working etc. The local tag numbers range between 900 and 99Z.
5. Manual Tagging
Application -
A ) applies to block/freightliner trains which have not been included in the tagging specification.
B ) should a wagon deviate from its normal route then it must be manually tagged to the next yard at which the wagon is to be detached.
General -
If after a wagon has been released it is desired to :-
A) Alter the manual tag, or
B ) Apply a manual tag in place of the computer generated tag, or
C ) Revert from a manual tag number to the tag number generated by the computer -
then the change data added - yard procedure 261, should be used.
The manual tag applied will revert to the computer generated tag number when the first two digits of the location number, to which the wagons have been setout, are the same as the first two digits of the manual tag.
Note: If the first two digits of the location number do not equal the first two digits of the tag number then the manual tag is held until the wagons are released for their next journey.
6. Tagging of Block / Company or Freightliner trains
Those trains routed differently to wagon load services require to be manually tagged on release (procedure 021 applies). If, however a tag number has been allocated for the particular destination in the tagging specification then the computer will obviously generate the correct tag and a manual tag will not be necessary.
If, however manual tagging is required then the first two digits of the manual tag must correspond with the first two digits of the location number to which the wagons are labelled. the third character should be decided as follows:
A ) If the location concerned has already been allocated a trunk tag number in the central list of trunk tags on the "IN” database, then this tag must be used as the manual tag e.g. wagons destined to Haverton Hill ICI (15020) should be manually tagged 15H, or
B ) If the location does not appear in the "IN" database" then a letter "Y" must be entered as the third character e.g. wagons destined to Fryston colliery (16801) should be manually tagged 16Y.
If a train consists of two or more sections, each section must be given a separate manual tag based on the above guidelines.
7. Tagging of Parcels Vehicles
NPCCS vehicles (wagon groups 41 to 48 ) when released will generate a 00Z tag. When conveyed on a freight train a computer generated tag (as per tagging specification ) must be obtained for vehicles in this category. this is achieved by the use of procedure 261, by inserting 000 (zeros) in columns 59 to 61. should these vehicles have to be diverted from the normal route, then a manual tag must be inserted in columns 59 to 61.
8. 001 Tag
When a wagon generates a 001 tag this indicates that it is an unfitted vehicle with no planned service for disposal. if, however a service is arranged specially then these wagons must be manually tagged in accordance with manual tagging procedures.
Note this tag is also applied to wagons with brake types 'A ' and 'B’ where no planned air braked service is available.
9. Wagon for which responsibility is held but not physically present
All wagons for which responsibility is held but not physically present must be manually tagged 00X (zero,zero X).
10. Present Tagging Documents
A) Tagging Specification - these are the planning documents produced by regional HQ in collaboration with BR HQ and managers and sets out in detail the tagging requirements for each TRA.
B) Explanation sheets - the information for these is taken from the tagging specifications and they list and describe the tag numbers in use in each TRA.
C) Trunk tag lists - these are maintained by the director of operations on the 'IN' database. See TAG01 to TAG17.
======================================================================
British Railways Headquarters, Paddington
FMS (Tel,00-30072)
======================================================================
I'm not sure of the date that document was produced, but the reference to "Fryston Colliery" (closed in 1985) gives some idea. https://www.flickr.com/photos/pontefractheritagegroup/5973120683/
For an example of “classification and marshalling” instructions associated with tagging, these are the 2005 tagging instructions for wagonload service 6V19 from Immingham to Margam:
Immingham Yard
6V19 18:04 SX Margam Terminal Complex 79780
- 22B Scunthorpe
- 662 Washwood Heath
- 76L Llanwern (empty coil carriers) inc 76K (Llanwern coil)
- 762 Newport AD Jn
- 792 Margam
- 652 Bescot
- 65Z Bloxwich
- 562 Toton
- 662 Washwood Heath
- 76L Llanwern (empty coil carriers) inc 76K (Llanwern coil)
- 762 Newport AD Jn
- 792 Margam
- 652 Bescot
- 65Z Bloxwich
- 562 Toton
At Bescot 65702 REVERSE, detach 5 and 6. Departs marshalled:-
- 792 Margam
- 762 Newport AD Jn
- 76L Llanwern (empty coil carriers) inc 76K (Llanwern coil)
- 662 Washwood Heath
At Washwood Heath 66312 detach 4
At Llanwern 76110 detach 3 and attach
At Newport AD Jn 76470 detach 2 and attach
AMENDED from w/c 30/01/05
HAZARDOUS GOODS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THIS TRAIN AT LLANWERN
THEREFORE WAGONS OF DANGEROUS GOODS FOR SOUTH WALES SHOULD WORK VIA 6M31 DONCASTER BELMONT – WARRINGTON ARPLEY AND 6V71 WARRINGTON ARPLEY – CARDIFF TIDAL