Signal box prefix codes

A (hopefully) comprehensive listing

Non-national rail codes

Last update 14 November 2008

To see the railway index, please click here ----->>.

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Introduction A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Non-National Rail

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.

Docklands Light Railway signals

Although the Docklands Light Railway is an automated system, trains are driven manually in the depots.  At present, only two signal codes are known, both for Poplar depot.  These are AS and WA.

 

Glasgow Subway signals

Most signals appear not to carry a prefix.  Those seen with a prefix carry A.

 

London Underground signals

London Underground (and its predecessors) has a complex signal labelling system.  A summary can be found below, most of the raw data coming from District Dave's site (Page 1, Page 2, Page 3), and from Tube Prune (these sources are not identical), in addition to other observations.  In addition to these codes, a 1930s photograph shows signals at Stanmore (controlled from Wembley) displaying Y8LA and Y4LA on the same post.  The Y represents control from Stanmore, and the L signifies "push-pull lever control".  The significance of the smaller A is not known.

Code Control centre or relay room Current Line (for numbering series purposes) Date code used (where known) Became or taken over by (where known)
BMX "Special" signal Bakerloo   -
A Automatic signals [General use]   -
S Automatic signals Northern   -
X Last automatic signal before controlled area (also used in combination with controlled area code) [General use]   -
FDX Floodgate signals District   -
FNX Floodgate signals Northern   -
FX Floodgate signals Victoria 1968- -
TN Floodgate signals (at Canning Town) Jubilee 1999- -
X Floodgate signals Bakerloo   -
PNX Possession protection signals Northern   -
WL Acton Town District 1905- -
E Aldersgate (Barbican) Metropolitan/Circle 1865-1954 OG
P Aldersgate (Widened Lines) Metropolitan/Circle 19xx-1924 E
H Aldgate Metropolitan/Circle 1909-1946 OB
OB Aldgate and Aldgate East Circle 1946- -
EL Aldgate East District 1906-1946 OB
JW Amersham Metropolitan 1960- -
K Angel Northern 1919-1959 -
J Arnos Grove Piccadilly 1932-1982 PJ
PJ Arnos Grove Piccadilly 1982- -
BM Baker Street Jubilee 1939- -
MB Baker Street Metropolitan 1947- -
M Baker Street Metropolitan/Circle 1928-1947 MB
A Baker Street (also recorded as B in some sources) Metropolitan/Circle 1913-1928 M
B See Baker Street (A)
B Bank Central 1914-1941 CB
BAN Bank Central 1996- -
CB Bank Central 1941-1971 -
OG Barbican Circle 1954-1979 -
FF Barking And Upney District 1960- -
BAR Barkingside Central 1996- -
LN Barkingside Ground Frame Central 1948-1965 -
WC Barons Court District 1962-1983 -
WD Barons Court District 1906- -
TR Bermondsey Jubilee 1999- -
BEG Bethnal Green Central 1995- -
LC Bethnal Green Central 1946-1995 -
LY Blake Hall Ground Frame (no signals present) Central 1957-1967 -
X Borough Northern 1922-1923 -
WS Boston Manor District 1974- -
EP Bow Road District 1907-1964 -
AA Brent Cross Northern 1926-1937 -
C British Museum Central 1914-1933 CB
VE Brixton Victoria 1971- -
FB Bromley-By-Bow District 1960- -
FBX Bromley-By-Bow advanced starting board District 1960- -
FRFB Fog repeater for Bromley-By-Bow signals District 1960- -
FRFBX Fog repeater for Bromley-By-Bow intermediate stop signals District 1960- -
RFB Repeater for Bromley-By-Bow advanced signals District 1960- -
RFBX Repeater for Bromley-By-Bow advanced starting board District 1960- -
BUH Buckhurst Hill Central 1996- -
LS Buckhurst Hill Ground Frame Central 1948-1965 -
BT Camberwell Green (planned, not used) Bakerloo - -
E Camden Town Northern 1907- -
TK Canada Water Jubilee 1999- -
E Canal Junction East London 1913-1950 ET
RE Repeater for Canal Junction signals East London 1913-1950 ET
ET Canal Junction East London 1950-1997 -
RF Canal Junction Proposed Fleet Line/East London - -
TL Canary Wharf Jubilee 1999- -
MJ Canons Park Metropolitan 1941-1976 -
WW Canons Park Metropolitan 1941-1941 MJ
JT Chalfont Metropolitan 1949-1959, 1960- JW
JW Chalfont Metropolitan 1959-1960 JT
CHL Chancery Lane Central 1996- -
TG Charing Cross Jubilee 1978- -
C Charing Cross Northern 1937- -
RC Charing Cross Proposed Fleet Line/East London - -
JV Chesham Metropolitan 1949-1970 -
CHI Chigwell Central 1996- -
JS Chorleywood Metropolitan 1954-1970 -
T Clapham Common Northern 1919-1976 -
M Cockfosters Piccadilly 1933-1982 PM
PM Cockfosters Piccadilly 1982- -
AC Colindale Northern 1924- -
B Covent Garden Piccadilly 1906-1931 C
C Covent Garden Piccadilly 1931-1979 -
EC Cromwell Road District 1906-1967 -
B Croxley Metropolitan 1924-1970 -
FG Dagenham East District 1960- -
DEB Debden Central 1996- -
LU Debden Central 1949-1996 DEB
D Deptford Road Junction (GF emergency crosover) East London 1913-1950 -
MX Dollis Hill Metropolitan 1938-1939 -
PB Down Street Piccadilly 1979- -
LD Drapers Field (Leyton) (temporary reversing siding) Central 1946-1947 -
B Drayton Park Northern City 1904-1953 NC
NC Drayton Park and Finsbury Park Northern City 1939-1976 -
EAB Ealing Broadway Central 1993- -
L Ealing Broadway Central 1920-1952 WP
WP Ealing Broadway District 1905- -
WM Ealing Common District 1905- -
EC Earls Court (Main) District 1966- -
EA Earls Court East District 1905-1936 EC
WA Earls Court West District 1905-1966 EC
EAA East Acton Central 1996- -
MS Eastcote (also recorded as MR in some sources) Metropolitan 1948-1966 -
MR See Eastcote (MS)
T Eastcote (also recorded as R in some sources) Metropolitan 1930-1948 MS
R See Eastcote (T)
NP East Finchley Northern 1939-1961 -
FE East Ham District 1960- -
FEX East Ham last automatic signal before controlled area District 1960- -
FD East Ham (planned, not used) District - -
AE Edgware Northern 1924- -
A Edgware Road Bakerloo 1907-1913 -
B Edgware Road Metropolitan/Circle 1907-1951 OP
OP Edgware Road Metropolitan/Circle 1951- -
BS Elephant And Castle Bakerloo 1941-1991 -
E Elephant And Castle Bakerloo 1906-1941 BS
Q Elephant And Castle? Northern   -
EH Embankment District 1905- -
EPP Epping Central 1996- -
LW Epping Central 1949-1996 -
J Euston Northern 1919- -
OZ Euston Square Metropolitan/Circle 1941-19xx -
FAI Fairlop Central 1996- -
LM Fairlop Ground Frame Central 1948-1964 -
D Farringdon Metropolitan/Circle 1909-1956 OH
OH Farringdon Metropolitan/Circle 1956- -
M Farringdon (Widened Lines) Metropolitan/Circle 19xx-1924 D
RD Fenchurch Street Proposed Fleet Line/East London - -
NQ Finchley Central Northern 1940-1969 -
JD Finchley Road Jubilee 1984- -
MD Finchley Road Metropolitan 1937- -
C Finchley Road (also recorded as D) Metropolitan 1911-1937 MD
D See Finchley Road (C)
C Finsbury Park Northern City 1904-1939 NC
F Finsbury Park Piccadilly 1906-1965 VK
VK Finsbury Park Victoria 1968- -
GAH Gants Hill Central 1996- -
EE Gloucester Road/South Kensington District 1906-1957 EC
K Gloucester Road Metropolitan/Circle 1909-1952 OQ
OQ Gloucester Road Metropolitan/Circle 1952-1957 EC
G Golders Green Northern 1907- -
GRH Grange Hill Central 1997- -
LK Grange Hill (subsiduary to Hainault) (unofficial code), also recorded as LL Central 1948-1997 GRH
B Great Central (Marylebone) Bakerloo 1907-1915 -
TF Green Park Jubilee 1999- -
CL Greenford Central 1947-1960 -
CLX Greenford Central 1947-1948 -
GRE Greenford Central 1996- -
HAI Hainault Central 1997- -
LL Hainault/Grange Hill Central 1948-1997 -
H Hammersmith Hammersmith and City 1921-1951 OZ
OZ Hammersmith Hammersmith and City 1951- -
A Hammersmith Piccadilly 19xx-1932 WD
F Hampstead Northern 1907- -
HAL Hangar Lane Central 1996- -
WO Hanger Lane Junction (also recorded as WN) District 1905-1925 WM
WN See Hanger Lane Junction (WO)
N Harrow North Metropolitan 1908-1948 JB
H Harrow South Metropolitan 1908-1948 JB
J Harrow Station Metropolitan 1908-1948 JB
JB Harrow-on-the-Hill Metropolitan 1948- -
WW Hatton Cross Piccadilly 1975- -
WY Heathrow Central Piccadilly 1977- -
AB Hendon Central Northern 1923-1930 -
NU High Barnet Northern 1940- -
VJ Highbury Victoria 1968- -
H Highgate (Archway) Northern 1907-1939 NN
NN Highgate (Archway) Northern 1939- -
NH Highgate Depot Panel Northern 1989- -
EB High Street Kensington District 1907-1936 -
ED High Street Kensington District 1967- -
J High Street Kensington Metropolitan 1909-1926 EB
MV Hillingdon Metropolitan 1948-1966 -
V Hillingdon Metropolitan 1930-1948 MV
C Holborn Central 1933-1941 CC
CC Holborn Central 1941-1994 HOL
HOL Holborn Central 1994- -
D Holborn/Aldwych Piccadilly 1906-1980 PD
PD Holborn/Aldwych Piccadilly 1980- -
HOP Holland Park Central 1996- -
FJ Hornchurch District 1959- -
FK Hornchurch District 19xx-1959 FJ
WT Hounslow Central District 1910- -
WS Hounslow East/Town District 1905-1923 -
WX Hounslow West District 1926-1975 -
WT Hounslow West/Barracks District 19xx-c1905 -
A Hyde Park Corner Piccadilly 1906-1931 B
B Hyde Park Corner Piccadilly 1931-1979 PB
WH Junction with LWSR at Ravencscourt Park? District   -
A Kennington Northern 1926-1937 B
B Kennington Northern 1937- -
Y Kennington (temporary control) Northern 1923-19xx -
D Kennington Road (Lambeth North) Bakerloo 1906-1939 BR
OJ Kings Cross Metropolitan 1941- -
C King's Cross Metropolitan/Circle 1908-1958 OJ
J King's Cross Metropolitan/Circle 1912-1939 -
L King's Cross Northern 1927- -
VH King's Cross Victoria 1968- -
E Ladbroke Grove Hammersmith and City 1921-1950 OU
OU Ladbroke Grove Hammersmith and City 1950-1983 -
BR Lambeth North Bakerloo 1939-1991 -
LAG Lancaster Gate Central 1996- -
F Latimer Road Hammersmith and City 1921-1950 OV
OV Latimer Road Hammersmith and City 1950-1957 -
RK Lewisham Proposed Fleet Line/East London - -
LE Leyton Central 1947-1971 -
LEY Leyton Central 1996- -
LES Leytonstone Central 1997- -
LF Leytonstone Central 1947-1997 -
A Liverpool Street Central 1912-1937 LB
LB Liverpool Street Central 1937-1997 LIS
LIS Liverpool Street Central 1997- -
G Liverpool Street Circle 1910-1954 OD
OD Liverpool Street Circle 1954- -
TJ London Bridge Jubilee 1999- -
P London Bridge Northern 1919- -
D London Road Depot Bakerloo 1906-1915 D
B Lords Metropolitan 1910-1937 MC
MC Lords Metropolitan 1937-1971 ML
LOU Loughton Central 1997- -
LT Loughton Central 1948-1997 -
EG Mansion House District 1973- -
EI Mansion House District 1969-1973 EG
CD Marble Arch Central 1941-1994 MAA
D Marble Arch Central 1914-1941 CD
MAA Marble Arch Central 1994- -
MIE Mile End Central 1996- -
NV Mill Hill East Ground Frame Northern 1943-1964 -
EK Minories Junction District 1906-1909 EL
D Moor Park Metropolitan 1924-1953 -
JG Moor Park Metropolitan 1962-1971 -
OE Moorgate Circle 1956- -
F Moorgate Metropolitan/Circle 1909-1956 OE
M Moorgate Northern 1919- -
A Moorgate Northern City 1904-1922 D
D Moorgate Northern City 1922-1937 ND
ND Moorgate Northern City 1937-1976 -
R Moorgate (Widened Lines) Metropolitan/Circle 19xx-1926 F
Y Morden Northern 1926- -
Z Morden Depot Ground Frame (unofficial code) Northern 1926- -
D Mornington Crescent Northern 1907-1924 E
JM Neasden Jubilee 1985- -
F Neasden Metropolitan 1911-1938 MF
MM Neasden Metropolitan 1985- -
JF Neasden (some doubt if this code used) Jubilee 1985- -
MH Neasden North Metropolitan 1939-1987 -
MF Neasden South Metropolitan 1938-1987 MM
RJ New Cross Proposed Fleet Line/East London - -
RH New Cross Gate Proposed Fleet Line/East London - -
LP Newbury Park Central 1947-1994 NEP
NEP Newbury Park Central 1994- -
CJ North Acton Central 1947-1996 NOA
K North Acton Central 1920-1947 CJ
NOA North Acton Central 1996- -
WU North Ealing District 1907-1971 -
TM North Greenwich Jubilee 1999- -
LX North Weald Central 1957-1978 -
WR Northfields District 1916- -
CP Northolt Central 1960-1996 -
NOR Northolt Central 1996- -
VN Northumberland Park Victoria 1968- -
E Northwood Metropolitan 1924-1962 JF
JF Northwood Metropolitan 1962-1962 -
F Northwood Hills Siding Ground Frame Metropolitan 1924-1953 -
JE Northwood Hills Temporary Box Metropolitan 1961-1962 -
NHG Notting Hill Gate Central 1996- -
K Oakwood Piccadilly 1933-1982 PK
PK Oakwood Piccadilly 1982- -
L Old Street Northern City 1919-1922 -
LZ Ongar Central 1957-1969 LX
WR Osterley Park District 19xx-1910 -
OXC Oxford Circus Central 1996- -
BD Paddington Bakerloo 1939- -
C Paddington Bakerloo 1913-1939 BD
OR Paddington Suburban (some doubt whether code used) Circle   -
NH Park Junction Northern 1939-1984 -
WF Parsons Green District 1905- -
PER Perivale Central 1996- -
B Piccadilly Circus Bakerloo 1915-1939 BP
BP Piccadilly Circus Bakerloo 1939- -
BPZ Piccadilly Circus station starting signals (controlled from Bakerloo cabin) Piccadilly 1939-1980 -
BZ Piccadilly Circus station starting signals (controlled from Bakerloo cabin) Piccadilly 1934-1939 BPZ
Y Piccadilly Circus station starting signals (controlled from Bakerloo cabin) Piccadilly 1915-1927 -
G Pinner Metropolitan 1924-1962 JD
JD Pinner Metropolitan 1962-1970 -
FC Plaistow District 1959-7 May 1960 -
FCX Plaistow last automatic signal before controlled area District 1959-7 May 1960 -
A Praed Street Junction Metropolitan/Circle 1908-1926 B
MZ Preston Road Metropolitan 1938-1948 -
WG Putney Bridge District 1905- -
A Queens Park Bakerloo 1915-1937 BB
BB Queens Park Bakerloo 1937- -
CE Queens Road (Queensway) Central 1941-1984 -
E Queens Road (Queensway) Central 1914-1941 CE
QUE Queensway Central 1996- -
MP Rayners Lane Metropolitan 1985- -
P Rayners Lane Metropolitan 1925-1985 MP
REB Redbridge Central 1996- -
JP Rickmansworth Metropolitan 1953- -
K Rickmansworth Metropolitan 1910 or 1924-1953 JP
ROV Roding Valley Central 1996- -
RE Rotherhithe/Surrey Docks Proposed Fleet Line/East London - -
X Royal Oak (special signals activated by derailment detector in main line goods yard) Hammersmith and City 1970-1978 -
MT Ruislip Metropolitan 1948-1975 -
U Ruislip Metropolitan 1930-1948 MT
RUG Ruislip Gardens Central 1993- -
MU Ruislip Siding Metropolitan 1975- -
EG St James's Park District 1905-1967 -
EM St Marys Junction (planned, not used) District - -
STP St Paul's Central 1996- -
VL Seven Sisters Victoria 1968- -
CF Shepherd's Bush Central   -
F Shepherd's Bush Central 1914-1938 -
SHB Shepherd's Bush Central 1996- -
A Shoreditch East London 1913-1928 -
B Shoreditch/Whitechapel East London 1943-19xx -
N Smithfield (Widened Lines) Metropolitan/Circle 1909-1918 PK
SNA Snaresbrook Central 1996- -
LG Snaresbrook Ground Frame Central 1947-c1954 -
WQ South Acton District 1905-1932 -
WV South Harrow District 1932- -
EF South Kensington District 1967- -
L South Kensington Metropolitan 1909-1949 OR
OR South Kensington Metropolitan 1949-1957 EC
SOR South Ruislip Central 1996- -
LH South Woodford Central 1947-1972 -
SOW South Woodford (George Lane) Central 1996- -
TP Southwark Jubilee 1999- -
JL Stanmore Jubilee 1984- -
MK Stanmore Bakerloo 1938-1986 JL
Y Stanmore Metropolitan 1932-1938 -
U Stockwell Northern 1919-1962, 1976- -
B Strand Northern 1907-1937 C
C Strand/Charing Cross Northern 1937- -
TW Stratford Jubilee 1999- -
LD Stratford (some doubt if code used) Central   -
TY Stratford Market Depot Jubilee 1999- -
WW Sudbury Hill District 1933-1966 -
C Surrey Docks East London 1913-1950 ER
ER Surrey Docks/Quays District 1950- -
ML Swiss Cottage Metropolitan 1964- -
THB Theydon Bois Central 1996- -
LV Theydon Bois Ground Frame Central 1949-1967 -
W Tooting Broadway Northern 1926- -
TCR Tottenham Court Road Central 1996- -
NT Totteridge Ground Frame Northern 1940- -
EJ Tower Hill District 1967- -
WK Turnham Green District 1911- -
FM Upminster District 1958- -
MW Uxbridge Metropolitan 1938- -
W Uxbridge Metropolitan 1930-1938 MW
VF Victoria Victoria 1969- -
VP Walthamstow Central Victoria 1968- -
WAN Wanstead Central 1996- -
VG Warren Street Victoria 1968- -
BR Waterloo Bakerloo 1991- -
BS
TH Waterloo Jubilee 1999- -
A Watford Metropolitan 1924-1948 JL
JL Watford Metropolitan 1948-1958 JP
C Watford Junction (Croxleyhall) Metropolitan 1924-1955 JP
JJ Watford South Junction (Croxleyhall) Metropolitan 1962- -
JG Wembley Park Jubilee 1984- -
G Wembley Park Metropolitan 1911-1937 MG
MG Wembley Park Metropolitan 1937- -
WEA West Acton Central 1996- -
D Westbourne Park Hammersmith and City 1921-1950 OS
OS Westbourne Park Hammersmith and City 1950-1971 -
WE West Brompton District 1906-1971 -
WEH West Ham Central 1996- -
TU West Ham/Stratford (West end) Jubilee 1999- -
D West Hampstead Metropolitan 1911-1937 MD
WB West Kensington East and Olympia District 1906- -
WC West Kensington West District 1906- -
WER West Ruislip Central 1991- -
CS West Ruislip/Ruislip Gardens Central 1948-1991 WER
CG White City Central 1948-2000 WHC
WHC White City Central 1996- -
EN Whitechapel District 1907- -
B Whitechapel East London 1913- EN
Q Whitecross Street (Widened Lines) Metropolitan/Circle 19xx-1916 P
E Willesden Green Metropolitan 1911-1938 ME
JE Willesden Green Jubilee 1984- -
ME Willesden Green Metropolitan 1937-1985 JE (in part)
WOO Woodford Central 1997- -
LJ Woodford Central 1947-2000 WOO
G Wood Green Piccadilly 1932-1980 PG
PG Wood Green Piccadilly 1980- -
G Wood Lane Central 1914-1948 CG
J Wood Lane Junction Central 1920-1938 -
NS Woodside Park Ground Frame Northern 1940-1965 -
E York Road Piccadilly 1906-1964 -

 

Manchester Metrolink signals

Photographs seen suggest that most signals do not carry a prefix.  Repeater signals carry R.

 

Nottingham Tram signals

Prefixes for these are based on the electrification code, in addition to a P (points indicator) or S (stop signal).  Other codes may also exist.  Thus a stop signal at Phoenix Park carries the prefix PPS.

 

Tyne & Wear Metro signals

No evidence of any signal prefixes has been found.

 

Heritage, other minor railway and "special" signals

Signal boxes without known prefixes are excluded.

Code Signal Box Location Note
A Abergynolwyn Talyllyn Railway  
A Alston South Tynedale Railway  
AT Alton Mid Hants Railway  
AR Angel Road Malden and District Society of Model Engineers  
AJ Armwell Junction East Herts Miniature Railway  
BJ   Bridgen Training Academy Training signal
B Britannia Crossing Paignton & Dartmouth Railway  
BC
CW Cranmore West East Somerset Railway  
DE Deeside Llangollen Railway  
KJ Derby Catalys Training Training signal
R   East Lancashire Railway Repeater signals
GC Grosmont Crossing North Yorkshire Moors Railway  
H Hampden Court Junction Malden and District Society of Model Engineers  
H Hythe Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway  
CN Ipswich Rail Tech Group Training Academy Training signal
F   Liverpool Overhead Railway  
MA Motala Swanage Railway  
N Needham Stevington and Turvey Light Railway  
NB New Bridge North Yorkshire Moors Railway  
GF Ground frame controlled signals
R New Romney Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway  
VO Orchard Green Junction Isle of Wight Railway Museum demonstration signal
AF Original code ("April Fool"), soon replaced
WJ Rugby Signalling Engineering School and Technical Assessment Centre (GM Rail Services) Training signal
GM
ED Slateford Slateford Signalling School Training signal
Z South Kensington London Underground Signalling School (in disused "deep level" tunnel) Training signal
W Willowbank Malden and District Society of Model Engineers  

 

Introduction A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Non-National Rail

 

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