Dear Barrie, thanks for another interesting video. 1 / with all due respect, the Big Four (GWR,LMS,LNER,SR) all issued their own Telegraphic Code Book, which covered all telegraphic communications , and as you say, these Code Words shortened the Telegraphic Message by substituting Code Words for Standard Words and Phrases eg GATER (p51)"Contents of wagon...transhipped into wagon... and sent forward..." or PRUNE (p60)"Bank engine required to assist the following train". In some cases a Telegraphic Word became a short hand expressed term, eg EMCAR ( p61)"Special Empty Carriages". 2 / The Railway Executive of the BTC issued a system wide "Standard Code for Telegraphs" which commenced on the 1st September 1950 ( BR 87222 ). This 88 page book (similar size to the BR Rule Book, 1950 ) covers all authorised Telegraphic Codes, of which the "Standard Codes for Freight Rolling Stock" is listed as Appendix B pp 71-87, Appendix C "Non Standard and Service Vehicles" p 88 (Fishcodes ! ) . There was a note on p2 advising that some Codes had been changed to ensure their was only one meaning, and that Local Codes are no longer to be used. The BR Codes varied in length from 3 letters (APE p21) upwards (HEXTHIRD p39). 3 / re Toad (and TOADFIT), is listed as the Telegraph Code for all Goods Brake Vans, not just the GWR version. The GWR did label all of its Goods wagons, Service/Departmental vehicles, and most NPCC vehicles , with their appropriate Telegraphic Code, which actually made sense, as Goods Traffic would, by its very nature, elicit a fair amount of telegraphic traffic, and by labelling the wagons with its telegraphic code, the Traffic staff would use those Codes in work related conversations. The BTC-RE / BR Wagon Telegraphic Codes appear to be derived, and expanded from, the LNER Wagon Codes (LNER Wagons, Peter Tatlow, OPC 1976, pp 174-176), with BR only marking specialist vehicles with a Telegraphic Code, though that seemed to slowly change, especially with the introduction of air braked wagons, and the later adoption of TOPS / Total Operations Processing Systems [ originated by the Southern Pacific Railway, USA in 1968 ] , which BR introduced from 1972 (British Railway Wagons, Don Rowland, D&C 1985, p153 ). The LNER did mark some of its vehicles with a Telegraphic Code, usually specialist wagons , the LMS also marked some specialist vehicles after 1936, but this was not as widespread, or as consistent as was the case with the LNER. (LMS Wagons, Vol 2, Bob Essay, OPC 1983, p157). The SR, like the LMS only marked some specialist vehicles. So the GWR was the stand out who marked all of their vehicles with a Telegraphic Code Name, some of which were also used by BR, eg DAMO A, DAMO B, ASMO (p74), all xGWR Covered Motor Car Vans , or BLOATER, xGWR 18ftwheelbase Fish Van. Even though BR did not mark their Goods Guards Van with the Telegraphic Code TOAD, as you say, the name outlived the wagon markings, and I suspect the name was probably used in conversation by BR staff, and as the LNER also used the TOAD telegraphic code for a Goods Guards Van, it is also likely that both the LMS and SR also used the same Telegraphic Code word. 4 / I rather like the GWR's exotic naming convention, such as MACAW (BR - Bogie Bolster C - BOBOL C p74), or CROCODILE (BR -bogie Trolley well wagon - WELTROL p86) . 5 / Hope this is of interest, Best wishes and regards from Australia.
Wonderful video, thank you so much!
Good morning Barrie...Heartfelt and true comments at the end of the video. Totally agree!
Dear Barrie, thanks for another interesting video.
1 / with all due respect, the Big Four (GWR,LMS,LNER,SR) all issued their own Telegraphic Code Book, which covered all telegraphic communications , and as you say, these Code Words shortened the Telegraphic Message by substituting Code Words for Standard Words and Phrases eg GATER (p51)"Contents of wagon...transhipped into wagon... and sent forward..." or PRUNE (p60)"Bank engine required to assist the following train". In some cases a Telegraphic Word became a short hand expressed term, eg EMCAR ( p61)"Special Empty Carriages".
2 / The Railway Executive of the BTC issued a system wide "Standard Code for Telegraphs" which commenced on the 1st September 1950 ( BR 87222 ). This 88 page book (similar size to the BR Rule Book, 1950 ) covers all authorised Telegraphic Codes, of which the "Standard Codes for Freight Rolling Stock" is listed as Appendix B pp 71-87, Appendix C "Non Standard and Service Vehicles" p 88 (Fishcodes ! ) .
There was a note on p2 advising that some Codes had been changed to ensure their was only one meaning, and that Local Codes are no longer to be used.
The BR Codes varied in length from 3 letters (APE p21) upwards (HEXTHIRD p39).
3 / re Toad (and TOADFIT), is listed as the Telegraph Code for all Goods Brake Vans, not just the GWR version. The GWR did label all of its Goods wagons, Service/Departmental vehicles, and most NPCC vehicles , with their appropriate Telegraphic Code, which actually made sense, as Goods Traffic would, by its very nature, elicit a fair amount of telegraphic traffic, and by labelling the wagons with its telegraphic code, the Traffic staff would use those Codes in work related conversations.
The BTC-RE / BR Wagon Telegraphic Codes appear to be derived, and expanded from, the LNER Wagon Codes (LNER Wagons, Peter Tatlow, OPC 1976, pp 174-176), with BR only marking specialist vehicles with a Telegraphic Code, though that seemed to slowly change, especially with the introduction of air braked wagons, and the later adoption of TOPS / Total Operations Processing Systems [ originated by the Southern Pacific Railway, USA in 1968 ] , which BR introduced from 1972 (British Railway Wagons, Don Rowland, D&C 1985, p153 ).
The LNER did mark some of its vehicles with a Telegraphic Code, usually specialist wagons , the LMS also marked some specialist vehicles after 1936, but this was not as widespread, or as consistent as was the case with the LNER. (LMS Wagons, Vol 2, Bob Essay, OPC 1983, p157). The SR, like the LMS only marked some specialist vehicles. So the GWR was the stand out who marked all of their vehicles with a Telegraphic Code Name, some of which were also used by BR, eg DAMO A, DAMO B, ASMO (p74), all xGWR Covered Motor Car Vans , or BLOATER, xGWR 18ftwheelbase Fish Van.
Even though BR did not mark their Goods Guards Van with the Telegraphic Code TOAD, as you say, the name outlived the wagon markings, and I suspect the name was probably used in conversation by BR staff, and as the LNER also used the TOAD telegraphic code for a Goods Guards Van, it is also likely that both the LMS and SR also used the same Telegraphic Code word.
4 / I rather like the GWR's exotic naming convention, such as MACAW (BR - Bogie Bolster C - BOBOL C p74), or CROCODILE (BR -bogie Trolley well wagon - WELTROL p86) .
5 / Hope this is of interest,
Best wishes and regards from Australia.