British Rail departmental wagons are wagons used by British Rail and their successors Railtrack and Network Rail for departmental purposes. Many vehicles are named after aquatic creatures (including fish, mammals, birds and mythical creatures), these names started life as telegraphic codes.
List of Codes +NameTOPS Code Wagon TypeImageNoteBarbelZKV4 Wheel Open Wagon Converted from MSV Iron Ore TipplerBassZDA4 Wheel Open Wagon BreamZEA / ZEB / ZEXRunner WagonBrillYAABogie Flat WagonCarpZBAOpen WagonCatfishZEV4 Wheel Ballast HopperChubbZCX4 Wheel Open WagonClamZCV4 Wheel Spoil Wagon CoalfishMHA / MPA4 Wheel Open WagonConverted from redundant HAA wagonsCockle -Brake Van with Ballast PloughsCodZAV4 Wheel Open WagonCongerYVQ / YXACrabZBV / ZCV4 Wheel Open WagonConverted from Lamprey wagonsCrayfish -A variant of a Mermaid WagonNever builtDaceZCV4 Wheel Open WagonDogfishZFV / ZFW4 Wheel Ballast Hopper DolphinYAOBogie Flat Wagon EelYMABogie Flat Wagon EgretZCV4 Wheel Spoil WagonModified from Grampus wagonsFalconJNABogied Open WagonHawkJNA-YBogied Open Wagonmodified Falcon wagons (2023)GaneYLO / YLPBogied Flat Wagon Gannet -4 Wheel Ballast Hopper GrampusZBO / ZBP / ZBQ / ZBV / ZBW4 Wheel Open Wagon Gudgeon -Ballast WagonHaddockZCO4 Wheel Open Wagon HakeZBA4 Wheel Open WagonHalibutYCABogie Open WagonHeronYCVBogie Open Wagon Based on a Turbot WagonHerringZLV4 Wheel Ballast Hopper LampreyZBO4 Wheel Open Wagon LimpetMKA / ZKA4 Wheel Open WagonLingZCO4 Wheel Open Wagon LobsterZVVEngineer's Support WagonMinnowZCO4 Wheel Open Wagon MackerelZMV4 Wheel Ballast Hopper with Centre chutes MantaYKAConverted passenger carriageUsed as part of a long welded rail train MarlinYKAConverted passenger carriageUsed as part of a long welded rail train MerdogZFVBallast Hopper MermaidZJV4 Wheel Tipping open wagonMulletYLABogie Flat Wagon OctopusYDABogie Ballast Hopper OspreyYKABogie Flat Wagon A modified Salmon wagon OtterYXABogie Wagon Used as part of a long welded rail train OysterZUP4 Wheel Brake Van with Ballast Ploughs ParrYMA / YQABogie Flat Wagon PerchYEABogie Flat Wagon Used as part of a continuous welded rail train PikeZAA4 Wheel Open Wagon PilchardYCOBogie Open Wagon PiranhaPNAOpen WagonUnofficial Name PlaiceZCV4 Wheel Open WagonPollockZCAOpen WagonPorpoiseYEABogie Chute Wagon Used as part of a continuous welded rail train PrawnYNOBogie Flat WagonPuffinZCV4 Wheel Spoil Wagon Converted from a Catfish wagon RoachZDA4 Wheel Open Wagon RuddZBA4 Wheel Open Wagon SalmonYFA / YMA / YMB / YMO / YSA / YWA / YXABogie Flat Wagon Sea UrchinZCA4 Wheel Spoil Wagon SeacowYGA / YGBBogie Ballast Hopper SeahareYCA4 Wheel Open Wagon SeahorseZCA4 Wheel Open Wagon SealZGAOpen WagonSealionYGHBogie Ballast Hopper SharkZUA / ZUB / ZUP / ZUV / ZUWBrake Van with Ballast Ploughs ShrimpYNPBogie Flat Wagon SkateYDABogie Skip Wagon SoleZCA / ZCO4 Wheel Open WagonSquidZDA4 Wheel Open Wagon StarfishZCO4 Wheel Open Wagon StingrayZGA / YGBBogie Ballast Hopper with GeneratorA Seacow wagon fitted with a generatorSturgeonYBA / YBB / YBO / YBP / YBQBogie Open Wagon Super TrenchFJABogie Container FlatTopeZCV / ZDV4 Wheel Spoil Wagon Trident -Side Rail LoaderTroutZFO4 Wheel Ballast Hopper TunnyZCO / ZCV4 Wheel Dropside wagonTurbotZCV / ZCWBogie Open Wagon UrchinZCABogie Open WagonWalrusYGVBogie Ballast Hopper WhaleYBA / YHABogie Ballast HopperWhelkYNOOpen WagonWhitingZVV4 Wheel Open WagonUse for the transportation of signaling equipmentWinkleZVV4 Wheel Open Wagon Use for the transportation of signaling equipmentZanderzKV4 Wheel Open Wagon
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