Commonwealth and Australian National Railways Rollingstock ClassificationComrails Logo

Rollingstock Classification

Original codes

All standard gauge Commonwealth Railways rollingstock was divided into the following groups

The vehicles in each group were numbered consecutively in order of introduction regardless of class. Narrow gauge rollingstock had similar classifications and groupings to standard gauge except all stock was prefixed with "N". When a vehicle was converted from one class to another in the same group (say from a ballast wagon to a tank wagon) it would retain the same number, but the class letters would be changed to reflect its new use. When a vehicle was converted from one group to another group (say from goods to a passenger vehicle) it would have both number and class changed. It would be struck off the list of the original group. An example of this was "NHRB 57" which when transferred to standard gauge was recoded "HRC 109".

Arrangement of wagon stock classification was based on bogie stock (ie. all stock was assumed to be of bogie design unless stated otherwise). When the design of a particular class of vehicle was altered in any important particular, such as extension of length, or introduction of some new feature the suffix "A" was used. In event of a still further alteration the suffix "B" as used and so on.



Base Code Letters

Original Vehicle Codes
CodeMeaning
BBallast
CCattle
(C)Composite vehicle
EEmployees accommodation van
GGoods (open)
LLouvre
(N)Narrow gauge
PExplosives
RFlat top
SSheep
(S)4 wheel stock
TTank
VCovered goods
WWooden vehicle
This table contains a list of the original meaning of the freight vehicle classification codes. Items in "()" are used as a suffix only.

Freight vehicle classifications

Freight vehicle classifications
CodeDescription
BBallast hopper wagon
BASBallast hopper wagon (4 wheel steel, complete self discharging)
BSBallast hopper wagon (4 wheel steel, partial self discharging)
BSCBallast hopper wagon (4 wheel steel composite)
BWSBallast hopper wagon (4 wheel wood)
BPBallast spreader
BPSBallast spreader (4 wheel steel)
BPWSBallast spreader (4 wheel wood)
CCattle wagon with roof
CACattle wagon with roof
CBCattle wagon with roof (partitioned)
FRefrigerator van
FAButchers refrigerator van
FSRefrigerator van (4 wheel)
GOpen goods wagon
GSOpen goods wagon (4 wheel)
LLouvre wagon
LALouvre wagon
LSLouvre wagon (4 wheel)
PExplosives wagon
PSExplosives wagon (4 wheel)
PWSExplosives wagon (4 wheel wood)
RFlat top, 33 and 35ft
RAFlat top, 45ft
RBFlat top, 45ft
RCFlat top
RSFlat top (4 wheel)
SSheep wagon
SAButchers van
TATank wagon 2,000 to 3,000 gallons
TBTank wagon 3,000 to 5,000 gallons
TCTank wagon 4,000 to 7,000 gallons (wood)
TDTank wagon 8,000 gallon (steel)
TETank wagon 8,000 gallon (steel, cylindrical)
TFTank wagon 9,000 gallon (steel, cylindrical)
TGTank wagon 9,000 gallon (steel, cylindrical)
TSATank wagon 2,000 to 4,000 gallon (4 wheel steel)
TSBTank wagon 3,000 to 5,000 gallon (4 wheel steel)
TOSOil tank wagon
VCovered goods wagon
VACovered goods wagon
VBCovered goods wagon
VPCovered goods wagon (covered)
VSCovered goods wagon (4 wheel)
WWell wagon (bogie)
XBreakdown van
XSBreakdown van (4 wheel)
XSABreakdown van (4 wheel)
Note: When a new vehicle was introduced and the classification had already been used, a suffix letter would be attached to the coding. The first suffix used would be "A" the next "B" and so on.