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Wagon Plates and Markings Decal Type Selection
Vacuum Release Star Markings

This page shows the range of wagon solebar plate or marking decals available in this group. To use it to select a paricular decal type, please click on the button below the relevant illustration. This will take you back to the main wagon plates and markings decals page while setting the decal type to that of the illustration you have selected. There you will be able to make changes to the basic plate or marking decal you've selected here.

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Vac Star Mark
5-Point Star

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Vac Star Mark
6-Point Star

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Vac Star Mark
7-Point Star

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Vac Star Mark
Brake Test Above Left of Star

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Vac Star Mark
Brake Test Above Star

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Vac Star Mark
Brake Test Above Right of Star

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Vac Star Mark
Brake Test Left of Star

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Vac Star Mark
Brake Test Split by Star

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Vac Star Mark
Brake Test Right of Star

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Vac Star Mark
Brake Test Below Left of Star

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Vac Star Mark
Brake Test Below Star

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Vac Star Mark
Brake Test Below Right of Star

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Note: Clicking on any of the images on this page, such as those above, will cause a larger version of the image to appear in a new tab or window of your browser (depending on how your browser is set up).

Notes

Wagons fitted with vacuum brakes had the position of the vacuum release cord or chain marked with a white star. This was usually applied to the solebar, but was sometimes applied low down on the wagon body. The relase cord, and hence star, was located adjacent to the vacuum cylinder, on both sides of the wagon.

The star was often accompanied by markings giving the date of the last brake operation test. Under BR, the date was usually follwed by the 4-digit code of the works or depot where the test took place, separated from the date with a "/". Known codes include:

2001 Derby 2033 Wolverton 2065 Horwich
3000 Swindon 4015 Eastleigh 5459 Doncaster
6005 York 7076 Glasgow  

There were undoubtedly others; if anyone has authoritative information I'll gladly add them to this list. The position of the test date relative to the star was subject to considerable variation, as shown above. With the arrival of the new British Rail corporate image around 1964, the maintenance information on wagons (including the brake test date) was moved to a standardised table painted on the wagon body. The star remained on the solebar on its own.

The size of the star, how many points it had, and the size of any adjacent lettering also varied:

  • BR: 2in. 7-point star, 0.75in, lettering.
  • GWR: 2.5in. 5-point star, later 3in. 6-point, 1.0in, lettering.
  • LMS: 2in. 7-point star, 1.0in, lettering.
  • LNER: 3in. 6-point star, 1.25in, lettering.
  • SR: 2in. 5-point star, no adjacent test date.

As always, individual wagons could deviate from the standard pattern. Please select your required combination of settings when you return to the main page.

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