Section codes for overhead line electrification (OLE) installations

A (one day) comprehensive listing

Last update 11 May 2012

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Phil Deaves, Swindon, Wiltshire

- - c o n t a c t - m e - -

I am always grateful for additional information, whether entirely new records (particularly historical records), or information to fill in gaps or correct errors, via the email address above.  Thank you.

Latest change: BB, LD, GX

This is a list of codes associated with British railway overhead electrification installations.  This photograph by Andy Williams shows a prefix code "in action" at Bescot.  The "08" shows that the mast is in the 8th mile from the datum, and the "44" that the mast is the 44th within that mile.  Some routes, such as the East Coast Main Line, use metric measurements, but the mast numbering principle is the same.  For the meaning of other electrification-related signs, this "Railway Signs" page should answer all your questions.  One sign not on that page is yellow with black letters "D E P" arranged vertically.  This defines a designated earthing point, and an image can be found on another Railway Signs page.

In general, schemes up to around 1972 are measured in miles and those after in km (metric measures came in for the northern electrification of the WCML).  The WCML (prefix G) switches from miles to km at Weaver Junction so there is a big gap in the numbers there.  Also note that the datum points for the masts are not necessarily the same as for milepost milages.  For example, on the Manchester Airport line (prefix MIA) the mileage number starts from Heald Green North Junction, but the milepost count runs from Manchester Airport station.

In many cases, the letters refer to the ends of the line of route, the first letter often referring to the datum. Thus DW would be "Dudley to Winchnor", though there are two separate sections electrified.  Other letters refer to older conventions of giving each route a letter, and branches off that route a second (and in some cases, third) letter.

Stephen Murray has kindly produced this sketch showing the codes used and codes allocated but not used.  Use your browser's "back" button to return to this page.

• Note regarding "G" codes near Glasgow: masts are numbered from G/0/1 upwards across the Clyde covering all lines to Bridge Street Junction, and then continue to Eglinton Street Junction.  Here they meet "G" series masts counting from Euston.  Originally, the "Glasgow" count continued to Lesmahagow Junction with the 1960s electrification, being renumbered in 1974 to the "Euston" count.

Codes not certain (confirmation would be welcome)

Suspicious data

This data comes from an unverified source, and should be treated with caution.  If you know of the veracity of these codes, please contact me.

An odd one to complete the record

Codes not known (Please contact me if you can supply missing data)

Birkenhead Central Carriage Sidings overhead trolley system
Shildon-Newport and associated yards
LBSC/Southern Railway overhead system
    (London Bridge - Victoria via Denmark Hill opened 1909)
    (Battersea Park - Crystal Palace via Streatham Hill opened 1911)
    (Peckham Rye - Streatham Hill opened 1911)
    (Peckham Rye - Crystal Palace via Tulse Hill opened 1911)
    (Balham - Coulsdon North opened 1925)
    (Balham - Sutton opened 1925)
Southern region overhead electrified yards
Bury-Holcombe Brook (used 1912-1951)
Lancaster-Morecambe and branches (used from 1908)
Ashford Hitachi depot (single overhead track for testing Javelin units)
Geldard Road Junction to Leeds via Farnley viaduct (closed late 1990s?)
Selhurst depot (single overhead track for testing trains)
New Cross Gate depot (single overhead track for testing trains)

Birkenhead Tramway

Masts do not appear labelled.

Blackpool Tramway

Blackpool Tramway masts use a system whereby the masts act as distance markers from the datum point near Starr Gate.  Prefixes are based on electrical sections, the "joining" mast carrying three letters.  Section codes known at present are:

• B (Bispham)
• B (Broadwater)
• C (Copse?)
• F (Fleetwood)
• G (Gynn Street)
• K (??)
• L (Fleetwood loop)
• L (Little Bispham)
• P (Pleasure Beach)
• S (Squires Gate)
• T (Tower)
• T (Thornton Gate)

Known prefixes are:

Other "joining" mast codes can be inferred but were not seen on my visit.

Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway (Magnus Volk's "Daddy Long Legs" railway)

It appears that masts were not labelled at all.

Channel Tunnel

Masts do not have a prefix letter, but are measured from a fixed datum in the same way as the national system.

Croydon Tramlink

Croydon Tramlink mast references can be found on the Croydon Tramlink Unofficial Site.

Edinburgh Tramway

It appears that masts in Gogar depot may be labelled MC, though it is possible that the label refers to something different.

Heaton Park Tramway

Masts do not appear labelled.

Nottingham Express Transit

Nottingham Express Transit mast references can be found on the NET Trams Unofficial Site.

Midland Metro

Masts are prefixed B for the Birmingham-bound track, and W for the Wolverhampton-bound track.  Masts holding wiring for both tracks carry both labels, one on each side appropriate to the viewing direction.  It appears that the depot masts are not labelled.  Masts also act as distance markers.

Manchester Metrolink

Queen's Road Depot codes are unknown

Seaton Tramway

Many masts appear unlabelled.  Those that are (Axmouth loop to Tyne Lane loop observed) use the form 5A, 5B, etc. (with the number over the letter).

Sheffield Supertram

Masts are labelled according to the nearest stop.

Tyne & Wear Metro

Tyne & Wear Metro masts (excluding the Network Rail-owned portion, see above) use a system whereby the masts act as distance markers from the datum point near South Gosport Junction.  Prefixes are based on electrical sections, the "joining" mast carrying three letters.  Section codes known at present are:

• A (Airport)
• B (Benton)
• B (Byker)
• C (Chichester)
• E (east end of South Gosforth depot)
• G (Gosforth)
• H (Hebburn)
• K (Kenton Bank Foot)
• M (Manors)
• M (Monument)
• N (unknown)
• O (Old Ford [now Gateshead Stadium])
• S (St James)
• S (South Shields)
• P (Percy Main)
• W (Whitley Bay)
• W (west end of South Gosforth depot)
• X (used in sidings)
• Y ("Wye" (South Gosforth triangle and depot sidings))

Known prefixes are:

Other "joining" mast codes can be inferred but were not seen on my visit.  The link line between Manors and Jesmond appears not to carry a prefix at all.

With thanks to...

David E Belcher for the initial idea and initial data; David Birch for copious quantities of notes and encouragement; Walter Turner for sharing expertise and a West Coast main line technical paper, and verifying so much with site visits; Paul Robertson, Andy Williams, Garry Keenor, Richard Smith, Jeremy Barker, Brian Carter, Paul Steane, Derek Small, Robert Wilkins, Tony Baker, Aron Moran, John Salmon, Phil Lockwood, Enid Vincent, Martyn Brailsford, Dave Stuttard, Dave Coxon, Stephen Murray, Paul Burroughs, Mike Christelow, David Glasspool, Bob Forster, Matther Raine, Ian McAulay and Ian Henderson for additional data.

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