LB&SCR A1 Class - Numbering

Numbering

The locomotives were originally numbered between 35 and 84, and most were given names of London boroughs or other areas of local importance which were served by the LB&SCR suburban trains they were built to operate (such as Whitechapel, Surrey and Thames), and indeed also after areas around Brighton itself, such as Kemp Town. However, there were exceptions, such as No.82 which was, in fact, named after Box Hill, a peak of the North Downs in Surrey, just outside Dorking.

From 1900, the two-digit numbers were prefixed with a 6 and their names were replaced with the inscription LBSC on their side tanks (for example, No.55 Stepney became No.655). This was fairly standard LB&SCR practice; as engines got old, they were given higher numbers so that newer engines could have lower numbers.

Further renumbering took place under Southern Railway ownership. Initially, the ex-LBSC number was prefixed with a letter which related to the depot the locomotive was based at (engine No.654 based at Brighton would become B654). The exceptions to this rule were the engines based on the Isle of Wight, which were given a "W" prefix. These new numbers were replaced soon afterwards when the class were renumbered with a 2 prefix (for example, No.B661 became No.2661). This was the standard prefix for engines inherited from the LB&SCR by the Southern Railway, with former SE&CR engines receiving a 1 prefix, while those engines inherited from the LSWR retained their original numbers.

A final renumbering in British Railways ownership saw the remaining members of the class gain a number 3 at the start of their number (2678 becoming 32678, for instance), the 3 being the standard prefix for former Southern Railway locomotives inherited by the Southern Region of British Railways.

The famous Brighton Works shunting engine 377S (i.e. no. 377 in Service stock), by this stage the only member of the class not in revenue earning service, became DS377 (the "DS" standing for Departmental, Southern region).