OTP Numbering
Thanks to Vince for this information
Nearly all OTP machines carry some sort of prefix before their number. Usually it is just a two letter code, however some cranes can carry a three of four letter prefix. This is what it all means..
The main part
This part indicates whether or not a machine is reportable to TOPS.
- DR - this means that the machine is reportable to TOPS
- DX - and this means that it isn't.
In addition to this, rail cranes may have some extra letters...
Crane Prefixes
In BR days, several operating departments added an additional prefix before the DR part, ie ADRR.
- A - Director of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
- C - BREL
- K - Director of Signal & Telegraph Engineering
- L - Electrification Department
- T - Operating Department
With privatisation the possibility of new prefixes ended, so generally a few older cranes carry them.
Crane Suffixes
These are carried after the DR part, ie DRB. All cranes are reportable to TOPS, so you won't find a DXP or DXC. This suffix indicates the builder of the vehicle.
- A - Booth
- B - British Rail
- C - Cowans Boyd/Cowans Sheldon/Clark Chapman
- F - Coles
- G - Grafton
- J - Jones
- K - Kirow
- M - Marshall Fleming
- P - Plasser & Theurer
- R - Ransome and Rapier
- S - Smith
- T - Taylor & Hubbard
- V - Cravens
- W - Warwell/Atlas
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