In the early part of the 1970's British Rail dropped the requirement to
display the Train Reporting Number on the front of locomotives, making
redundant the four character headcode panels used since the introduction of
Diesel and Electric locomotives in the 1960's.
By 1974 most locomotives were merely carrying the code 0000, though moves to
find alternatives began with an experiment fitted to one end only of 9009
"ALYCIDON" in November 1972.
On the 29th October 9009's home depot, Finsbury Park, carried out
experiment DL/381 to the locomotives No.1 end, this was simply a removal of
the route indicators and the replacement of a black blind with two white
aspects resembling a domino appearance.
The experiment was accepted and 9009's No.2 end was similarly treated at
Doncaster Works in February 1973. The Deltic locomotives were all to receive
this treatment by 1975 and other fleets of locomotives were also treated to
the program.
Here 9009 is seen on the 18th November 1972 as it passes Stratford with 5B99, a TPO turning move.
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