UIC classification of goods wagons

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This list contains the UIC classification of goods wagons and their meanings. The description is made up of a category letter (in capitals) and usually several index letters (in lower case).

The international system for the classification of goods wagons was agreed by the Union internationale des chemins de fer (UIC) in 1965 and subsequently introduced into member countries. For example it was adopted in Germany on 1 January 1968 replacing the previous German railway wagon classes that originated as early as 1905. The UIC classification has been amended several times since it began.

Not all wagons are given UIC designations. In Germany the few remaining guards vans and narrow gauge goods wagons have retained their original classifications.

Category letters

The following table contains the complete list of standard category letters. Letters A, B, C, D, P and W are reserved for coaches. However, also S is used for coaches and this doubles a goods wagons class.COMMISSION DECISION of 11 August 2006 concerning the technical specification of interoperability relating to the subsystem ‘Traffic Operation and Management’ of the trans-European conventional rail system (notified under document number C(2006) 3593) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/920/EC) These are covered in detail in the article on UIC classification of railway coaches.

Each goods wagons type is given a type number, whose first digit forms the fifth digit of the 12-digit UIC wagon number.

class="wikitable sortable"
Class ! Wagon type ! 1st digit of type no. (5th digit of UIC no.)
E \| Ordinary open high-sided wagon \|\| 5
F \| Special open high-sided wagon \|\| 6
G \| Ordinary covered wagon \|\| 1
H \| Special covered wagon \|\| 2
I \| Refrigerated van \|\| 8
K \| Ordinary flat wagon with separate axles \|\| 3
L \| Special flat wagon with separate axles \|\| 4
O \| Open multi-purpose wagon (composite open high-sided flat wagon) \|\| 3
R \| Ordinary flat wagon with bogies \|\| 3
S \| Special flat wagon with bogies \|\| 4
T \| Goods wagon with opening roof \|\| 0 (before 1988: 5)
U \| Special wagons \|\| 9
Z \| Tank wagon \|\| 7

class="wikitable sortable"

Class

! Wagon type

! 1st digit of type no. (5th digit of UIC no.)

| Ordinary open high-sided wagon || 5

| Special open high-sided wagon || 6

| Ordinary covered wagon || 1

| Special covered wagon || 2

| Refrigerated van || 8

| Ordinary flat wagon with separate axles || 3

| Special flat wagon with separate axles || 4

| Open multi-purpose wagon (composite open high-sided flat wagon) || 3

| Ordinary flat wagon with bogies || 3

| Special flat wagon with bogies || 4

| Goods wagon with opening roof || 0 (before 1988: 5)

| Special wagons || 9

| Tank wagon || 7

Index letters

= International index letters =

! Classes ! Meaning
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan=3\| a \| E, F, G, H, I, T, U, Z \|\| 4 wheelsets
L, O	3 wheelsets
S	6 wheelsets
rowspan=3\| aa \| E, F, G, H, T, U, Z \|\| ≥ 6 wheelsets
L	≥ 4 wheelsets
S	≥ 8 wheelsets
rowspan=9\| b \| F \|\| Wagon with separate wheelsetsi.e. not a bogie wagon and a volume greater than {{cvt\|45\|m³\|cuft}}
G	Wagon with separate wheelsets and of {{cvt\|12\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} length or more and {{cvt\|70\|m2\|sqft}} loading area
H	Wagon with separate wheelsets and of length {{cvt\|12–14\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}, {{cvt\|70\|m³\|cuft}} volume, may be less for ferry wagons (f)
I	Wagon separate wheelsets and loading area {{cvt\|22–27\|m2\|sqft}}
T	Wagon with separate wheelsets and length over {{cvt\|12\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
G, T	Bogie wagon with loading length of {{cvt\|18\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} or more
H	Bogie wagon with loading length {{cvt\|18–22\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
K	Bogie wagon with long stakes
L, S	Transporter for medium-sized containers
rowspan=3\| bb \| H \|\| Bogie wagon with loading length of {{cvt\|22\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} or more
I	Wagon with separate wheelsets and loading area of {{cvt\|27\|m2\|sqft}} or more {{cvt\|22\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} or more
H	Bogie wagon with loading length of {{cvt\|22\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} or more
rowspan=6\| c \| E \|\| Discharging trap on the wagon floor
F	Controllable gravity discharging wagon. Underside of floor ≥{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails
H, T	Door in front wall
I	Meat hooks
L, S	Cradle
U, Z	Compressed air or air blast discharging system
rowspan=2\| cc \| F \|\| Controllable gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails
H	Door in end wall and interior equipment for the transportation of motor vehicles
rowspan=4\| d \| H \|\| Floor trap
I	For sea fish
L, S	For transportation of motor vehicles on one level
T, U	Controllable gravity discharge hopper, Underside of floor ≥{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails
dd \| T, U \|\| Controllable gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails, cannot be used with lifting equipment
rowspan=6\| e \| H \|\| Two levels
I	Electrical forced-air heating
L, S	Double-decker wagon for motor vehicles
R	Folding sides
T	Door height over {{cvt\|1.90\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
Z	Heating equipment
ee \| H \|\| More than 2 levels
f \| F, H, I, L, O, S, T, U, Z \|\| Great Britain loading gauge, suitable for ferries and channel tunnel
ff \| F, H, I, L, O, S, T, U, Z \|\| Great Britain loading gauge, suitable for channel tunnel only
fff \| F, H, I, L, O, S, T, U, Z \|\| Great Britain loading gauge, suitable for ferries only
rowspan=5\| g \| G, H, T, U \|\| For grain
I	Refrigerated van with cooling equipment
K, L, R	For container transport
S	For containers up to 60 feet
Z	For sealed or liquified gases or gas dissolved under pressure
rowspan=2\| gg \| I \|\| Refrigerated van, cooled with liquid gas
S	For containers up to 80 feet
rowspan=3\| h \| G, H \|\| For early vegetables
I	With thick insulation
L, R, S, T	For sheet metal coils laid horizontally
hh \| L, R, S, T \|\| For sheet metal coils laid vertically
rowspan=5\| i \| H, T \|\| Opening side walls (sliding walls)
I	Refrigerated van with refrigerator on trailer wagon
K, L, R, S	Fixed front wall, movable top cover
U	Low-loading platform
Z	Non-metal containers
rowspan=2\| ii \| H \|\| High-strength sliding walls
I	Technical trailer
rowspan=5\| k \| E, F, G, H, K, L(a), O, T, U, Z \|\| Maximum load on class C route: m < {{cvt\|20\|t}}
Ea, Fa, Ga, Ha, Laa, R, S, Ta, Ua, Za	Maximum load on class C route: m < {{cvt\|40\|t}}
Eaa, Faa, Gaa, Haa, Sa(a), Taa, Uaa, Zaa	Maximum load on class C route: m < {{cvt\|50\|t}}
I	Maximum load on class C route: m < {{cvt\|15\|t}}
Ia	Maximum load on class C route: m < {{cvt\|30\|t}}
rowspan=3\| kk \| E, F, G, H, K, L(a), O, T, U, Z \|\| Maximum load on class C route: {{cvt\|20\|t}} ≤ m < {{cvt\|25\|t}}
Ea, Fa, Ga, Ha, Laa, R, S, Ta, Ua, Za	Maximum load on class C route: {{cvt\|40\|t}} ≤ m < {{cvt\|50\|t}}
Eaa, Faa, Gaa, Haa, Sa(a), Taa, Uaa, Zaa	Maximum load on class C route: {{cvt\|50\|t}} ≤ m < {{cvt\|60\|t}}
rowspan=6\| l \| E \|\| Not tippable
F, T, U	Loose (i.e. not controllable) gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor ≥{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails
G	Up to {{cvt\|8\|cm\|in\|frac=32}} ventilation space
H	With movable partitions (from 1 May 1994)
I	Insulated wagon without ice chests
K, L, O, R, S	No stakes
rowspan=3\| ll \| F, T, U \|\| Loose gravity discharge hopper; underside of floor <{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails
—	No lifting gear allowed
H	With lockable partitions (from 1 May 1994)
rowspan=9\| m \| E \|\| Loading length: l < {{cvt\|7.7\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
Ea(a)	Loading length: l < {{cvt\|12\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
G, H, T	Loading length: l < {{cvt\|9\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
Ga(a), Ha(a), Ta(a)	Loading length: l < {{cvt\|15\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
I	Loading area: A < {{cvt\|19\|m2\|sqft}}
Ia	Loading area: A < {{cvt\|39\|m2\|sqft}}
K, O, L	Loading length: {{cvt\|9\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} ≤ l < {{cvt\|12\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
R, S	Loading length: {{cvt\|15\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} ≤ l < {{cvt\|18\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
La(a), Sa(a)	Loading length: {{cvt\|18\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} ≤ l < {{cvt\|22\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
rowspan=3\| mm \| K, O, L \|\| Loading length: l < {{cvt\|9\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
R, S	Loading length: l < {{cvt\|15\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
La(a), Sa(a)	Loading length: l < {{cvt\|18\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
rowspan=7\| n \| I \|\| Maximum load on class C route: m > {{cvt\|25\|t}}
H	Maximum load on class C route: m > {{cvt\|28\|t}}
E, G, K, L, T	Maximum load on class C route: m > {{cvt\|30\|t}}
F, O, U, Z	Maximum load on class C route: m > {{cvt\|30\|t}} for twin-axled wagons / m > {{cvt\|40\|t}} for three-axled wagons
Ia, La	maximum load at limit of load C: m > {{cvt\|40\|t}}
Ea, Fa, Ga, Ha, Laa, R, S, Ta, Ua, Za	Maximum load on class C route: m > {{cvt\|60\|t}}
Eaa, Faa, Gaa, Haa, Sa(a), Taa, Uaa, Zaa	Maximum load on class C route: m > {{cvt\|60\|t}}
rowspan=7\| o \| E \|\| Not end-tipping
F, T, U	Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor ≥{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails. Lifting gear not usable
G, H	Twin-axled with loading length under {{cvt\|12\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} and more than {{cvt\|70\|m³\|cuft}} loading area
I	Ice chests under {{cvt\|3.5\|m³\|cuft}}
K	Fixed sides
R	Fixed end walls under {{cvt\|2\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}}
S	Articulated wagon with three twin-axled bogies
rowspan=2\| oo \| F, T, U \|\| Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails. Lifting gear cannot be used
R	Fixed end walls over {{cvt\|2\|m\|ftin\|frac=8}} high
rowspan=4\| p \| F, T, U \|\| Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor ≥{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails. Lifting gear cannot be used
I	No slatted floor
K, L, S	No sides
R	No end wall
rowspan=2\| pp \| F, T, U \|\| Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <{{cvt\|70\|cm\|in\|frac=8}} above top of rails. Lifting gear cannot be used
K, R	Removable sides
q \| all \| Electrical heating pipes for all permitted types of power
qq \| all \| Electrical heating pipes and heating equipment for all permitted types of power
r \| all \| Steam heating pipes
rr \| all \| Steam heating pipes and equipment
r \| S \|\| Articulated wagon
s \| all \| Permitted in trains up to {{cvt\|100\|km/h\|mph}}
ss \| all \| Permitted in trains up to {{cvt\|120\|km/h\|mph}}

{{reflist|group=note|refs=

In the version of the classification scheme valid up to 1979 a meant bogie wagon, aa was not applicable to classes E, F, G, H, T, U, Z.

In version of the classification scheme valid up to 1979 there was also a load limit 40 t.

The index letter was not part of the original 1966 version and was not introduced until later.

In the DR the definition was initially just "length under …m", which referred to the length over buffers. As a result numerous wagons were given the wrong classification with the m missing.

In the original 1965 version m was only intended for classes E, G, I, K, O, R.

In the original 1965 version mm was only intended for classes K, O, R.

The index letter could be dropped in 1980, but was sometimes displayed beyond that date.

The index letter was introduced later than 1980.

Up to 1979 both wagons with metered as well as those with loose gravity discharge were designated with a d.

}}

= National index letters =

== Country code 50: DR ==

class="wikitable sortable"
! Classes ! Period ! Meaning
t \| Gbkl, Hkr \| 1968 to 1979 \| with special equipment for transporting personnel
u \| E, G, K, R \| 1968 to 1979 \| not suitable for military use
rowspan=3\| v \| E, T \| 1968 to 1979 \| not suitable for loading or unloading with a crane
G, H \| 1968 to 1993 \| With roof hatches (loading hatches in the roof)
U \| 1980 to 1993 \| For cement
rowspan=2\| w \| U \| 1968 to 1979 \| rowspan=2\| For liquid fuel
Z \| 1980 to 1993
rowspan=2\| x \| Uc \| 1968 to 1993 \| For coal dust
E \| 1980 to 1993 \| With steel floor
rowspan=2\| y \| Uc \| 1968 to 1979 \| Chemical container wagon
T, U, Z \| 1980 to 1993 \| With internal lining
rowspan=2\| z \| K, L, R, S \| 1968 to 1979 \| Removable platform railings
G, I \| 1980 to 1993 \| With steam heating pipes
zz \| F \| 1980 to 1993 \| With steam heating pipes and equipment

class="wikitable sortable"

! Classes

! Period

! Meaning

| Gbkl, Hkr

| 1968 to 1979

| with special equipment for transporting personnel

| E, G, K, R

| 1968 to 1979

| not suitable for military use

rowspan=3| v

| E, T

| 1968 to 1979

| not suitable for loading or unloading with a crane

G, H

| 1968 to 1993

| With roof hatches (loading hatches in the roof)

| 1980 to 1993

| For cement

rowspan=2| w

| U

| 1968 to 1979

| rowspan=2| For liquid fuel

| 1980 to 1993

rowspan=2| x

| Uc

| 1968 to 1993

| For coal dust

| 1980 to 1993

| With steel floor

rowspan=2| y

| Uc

| 1968 to 1979

| Chemical container wagon

T, U, Z

| 1980 to 1993

| With internal lining

rowspan=2| z

| K, L, R, S

| 1968 to 1979

| Removable platform railings

G, I

| 1980 to 1993

| With steam heating pipes

| F

| 1980 to 1993

| With steam heating pipes and equipment

== Country code 80: DB ==

(Germany)

class="wikitable sortable"
! Classes ! Meaning
rowspan=2\| t \| H \|\| Daberkow transport protection equipment (to 30 April 1994)
L	inside loading width at the ends under 2.45 m
tt \| H \|\| Lockable partitions (to 30 April 1994)
rowspan=2\| u \| E, F, S \|\| Hydraulic tipping system
G, H, I, K, L, T	Steam heating pipes
v \| all \|\| Electrical heating pipes for 1,000 or 1,500 volts
vv \| all \|\| Electrical heating pipes and heating equipment for 1,000 or 1,500 volts
w \| G, H, S \|\| Full spark protection covering
ww \| all \|\| Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543
x \| E \|\| With steel floor (from 1 January 1994)
rowspan=3\| z \| F \|\| Dumper wagon
H	Wagons for Leig-Einheit units
T	Wagons used as Td or Tdg
zz \| Fb \|\| Bucket wagon

class="wikitable sortable"

! Classes

! Meaning

rowspan=2| t

| H || Daberkow transport protection equipment (to 30 April 1994)

inside loading width at the ends under 2.45 m

| H || Lockable partitions (to 30 April 1994)

rowspan=2| u

| E, F, S || Hydraulic tipping system

G, H, I, K, L, T

Steam heating pipes

| all || Electrical heating pipes for 1,000 or 1,500 volts

| all || Electrical heating pipes and heating equipment for 1,000 or 1,500 volts

| G, H, S || Full spark protection covering

| all || Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543

| E || With steel floor (from 1 January 1994)

rowspan=3| z

| F || Dumper wagon

Wagons for Leig-Einheit units

Wagons used as Td or Tdg

| Fb || Bucket wagon

== Country code 85: SBB ==

(Switzerland)

! Classes ! Meaning
class="wikitable sortable"
---- ! t \| all	line feeder ({{cvt\|10\|bar\|kPa psi\|disp=or}})
rowspan=2\| u \| F \|\| Electro-hydraulic dumping system
H	Cooling system
v \| all \|\| Electrical heating pipes 1000 V 16{{frac\|2\|3}} ~
w \| R, S, U \|\| Movable handbrake railings and screw brake spindle (removable/folding)
ww \| H \|\| Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543
rowspan=2\| x \| H \|\| 2-axled drum brake
S, L	ACTS rotating frame
rowspan=3\| y \| H \|\| Insulated
F	Smaller loading area (<{{cvt\|20\|m³\|cuft\|disp=or}})
R, S	Disc brakes
z \| G, H \|\| With 12-core UIC cable

Footnotes and references

External links

[http://www.uic.org/spip.php?article2144 Marking of freight wagons (UIC site)]
[http://home.wtal.de/gueterwagen/gzde.htm Overview of former and current classification systems] {{in lang|de}}
[http://www.stinnes-freight-logistics.de/gueterwagenkatalog/deutsch/nomenklatur.html Current classifications used by Railion.] {{in lang|de}}
[http://home.wtal.de/gueterwagen/gatt-zde.htm UIC classification system] {{in lang|de}}

Category:Rolling stock classification systems

Classification of goods wagons

Category:Rail transport standards

Category:Railway vehicles register numbers

! Classes ! Meaning
class="wikitable sortable"
---- ! t \| all	line feeder ({{cvt\|10\|bar\|kPa psi\|disp=or}})
rowspan=2\| u \| F \|\| Electro-hydraulic dumping system
H	Cooling system
v \| all \|\| Electrical heating pipes 1000 V 16{{frac\|2\|3}} ~
w \| R, S, U \|\| Movable handbrake railings and screw brake spindle (removable/folding)
ww \| H \|\| Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543
rowspan=2\| x \| H \|\| 2-axled drum brake
S, L	ACTS rotating frame
rowspan=3\| y \| H \|\| Insulated
F	Smaller loading area (<{{cvt\|20\|m³\|cuft\|disp=or}})
R, S	Disc brakes
z \| G, H \|\| With 12-core UIC cable

UIC classification of goods wagons

Category letters

Index letters

= International index letters =

= National index letters =

== Country code 50: DR ==

== Country code 80: DB ==

== Country code 85: SBB ==

See also

Footnotes and references

External links