Before TOPS Class 97 was issued to self-propelled locomotives in departmental (non-revenue earning) use, British Rail had such locomotives numbered in a variety of series, together with locomotives that were no longer self_propelled.

Eastern Region Series

The Eastern Region of British Rail had its own series for departmental locomotives (steam and modern traction), running from 1 to 100.

Southern Region Series

The Southern Region of British Rail numbered all its departmental stock (locomotives and rolling stock) in a series running from DS1 onwards (formerly 1S onwards, under the Southern Railway).

Engineering Department Series

The London Midland Region Engineering Department numbered its diesel locomotives in a series running from ED1 upwards (though ED8 and ED9 were never alloctaed).

966xxx & 968xxx Series

The 968xxx series (in the carriage and wagon number series) was used for departmental locomotives from 1968 onwards. Previously, some former Class 08 shunters that were converted to snowploughs had been numbered in the 966xxx series, but this was discontinued and some of these locomotives were renumbered into the 968xxx series.

When the Class 97 series for self-propelled locomotives was introduced, some locomotives in this series were renumbered to Class 97, leaving the 968xxx numbers just for locomotives that were no longer self-propelled. Since privatisation, other numbering schemes have been used for locomotives used for a similar-purpose as those in the 968xxx series. For completion these locomotives are also included. Details of all locomotives are shown below:

Internal User Series

Internal User vehicles are those that are not allowed to run on the mainline, but are only for use within depot complexes. They are often stationary, though not always. Two former locomotives that were heavily stripped, leaving just the frames, to carry power units within Toton depot were allocated IU numbers.

Miscellaneous Locomotives

Brush Traction, Loughborough have been using a former British Rail Class 56 locomotive in their works as a power unit transporter. It is not registered on the TOPS system, but Brush have given it the painted TOPS-like number 56201.

Similarly, a Class 73 locomotive has been used as a static training locomotive at Moreton-in-Marsh, replacing the previously used locomotives TDB 968030 and ADB 968034. Since this locomotive was converted after privatisation it was not renumbered into the 968xxx series.

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	Steve's Page on British Rail Diesels - The "Crompton" (class 33) (2413 words) Locomotives that received this livery change after 1968 also lost the D from the front of their number at this time as there was no longer a need to distinguish them from steam locomotives. Locomotive D6530 was the first Crompton to be involved in an accident involving serious damage when it ran down an embankment at Gravesend West which resulted in the locomotive bearing a crease in one side for many years afterwards. Between 1966 and 1971 the locomotives were all repainted into BR blue and while the yellow end and window surrounds were retained, the white stripe down the side of the locomotive was removed.
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