Section codes for overhead line electrification (OLE) installations: independent lines

A (one day) comprehensive listing

Last update 14 September 2024

Additional information is always gratefully received, whether entirely new records (particularly historical records) or information to fill in gaps or correct errors, via the contact link under the Miscellaneous entry in the navigation bar above. Thank you.

Please select a feature list from the links below:

Beamish Tramway

Masts do not appear labelled.

Birkenhead Tramway

Masts do not appear labelled.

Black Country Living Museum Tipton

Masts appear to be numbered with no prefix.

Blackpool Tramway

Blackpool Tramway masts use a system whereby the masts act as distance markers from the datum point near Starr Gate. Prefixes are based on electrical sections, the 'joining' mast carrying three letters. Section codes known at present are:

Known prefixes are:

Code Area
BC Broadwater-Copse Road
BL Bispham-Little Bispham
CF Copse Road-Fleetwood
CFL Copse Road-Fleetwood-Loop
FL Fleetwood-Loop
GB Gynn Street-Bispham
KT Kirby Road-Tower
KTG Kirby Road-Tower-Gynn Street
LT Little Bispham-Thornton Gate
PK Pleasure Beach-Kirby Road
SP Squires Gate-Pleasure Beach
TB Thornton Gate-Broadwater
TBC Thornton Gate-Broadwater-Copse Road
TG Tower-Gynn Street

Other 'joining' mast codes can be inferred but were not seen on the editor's visit.

Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway Magnus Volk's 'Daddy Long Legs' railway

It appears that masts were not labelled at all.

Channel Tunnel

Masts do not have a prefix letter, but are measured from a fixed datum in the same way as the national system.

Conwy Valley Railway Museum

Masts do not appear labelled.

Croydon Tramlink

Croydon Tramlink mast references can be found on the Croydon Tramlink Unofficial Site.

East Anglia Transport Museum Lowestoft

Masts do not appear labelled.

Edinburgh Tramway

It appears that some masts in Gogar depot may be labelled MC, though it is possible that the label refers to something different.

Code Area Unit Datum
AIR Airport line (Airport to loop near Haymarket) km Edinburgh Airport
CTY City centre section (loop near Haymarket to Newhaven) km Edinburgh Airport
GDE Gogar depot Masts are given unique numbers unrelated to distance from any datum

Heath Park Tramway Cardiff

Masts do not appear labelled, except one carrying a solitary W.

Heaton Park Tramway Manchester

Masts do not appear labelled.

Iarnród Éireann

All routes are measured in km.

Code Area Datum Note
BEL Belfast line Dublin Pearse electrified to Malahide only
CY some masts near Connolly Dublin Pearse
FV Fairview depot Dublin Pearse
HBR Howth branch Dublin Pearse
ROS Rosslare line Dublin Pearse electrified to Greystones, a couple of masts beyond ROS 30 196 only

Luas Dublin

All routes are measured in km.

Code Area Datum Note
AC Line A (Jervis-Tallaght/Saggart) north of The Point masts in centre of formation; this section counts upwards towards Belgard giving a false zero way beyond The Point, possibly start defined as 10km?
AI Line A (Jervis-Tallaght/Saggart) north of The Point masts on inbound side of formation; this section counts upwards towards Belgard giving a false zero way beyond The Point, possibly start defined as 10km?
AO Line A (Jervis-Tallaght/Saggart) north of The Point masts on outbound side of formation; this section counts upwards towards Belgard giving a false zero way beyond The Point, possibly start defined as 10km?
BC Line B (St Stephens Green-Brides Glen) St Stephens Green defined as 10km masts in centre of formation
BI Line B (St Stephens Green-Brides Glen) St Stephens Green defined as 10km masts on inbound side of formation
BO Line B (St Stephens Green-Brides Glen) St Stephens Green defined as 10km masts on outbound side of formation
CC Line C (Jervis-Connolly/The Point) near Kylemore this section appears to count upwards towards The Point giving a false zero near Kylemore, possibly start defined as 8km?
CI C-I Line C (Jervis-Connolly/The Point) near Kylemore this section appears to count upwards towards The Point giving a false zero near Kylemore, possibly start defined as 8km?
C1-I Line C (Jervis-Connolly/The Point) near Kylemore this section appears to count upwards towards The Point giving a false zero near Kylemore, possibly start defined as 8km?
CO C-O Line C (Jervis-Connolly/The Point) near Kylemore this section appears to count upwards towards The Point giving a false zero near Kylemore, possibly start defined as 8km?
LCC N Line D (St Stephens Green-Broombridge) St Stephens Green masts on northbound side of formation
LCC S Line D (St Stephens Green-Broombridge) St Stephens Green masts on southbound side of formation

Line A, C and C1 form the Red Line and Line B and D form the Green Line.

Manchester Metrolink

Code Area Unit Datum Note
AI Ashton-under-Lyne route km City centre delta masts on inbound side of formation
AS Ashton-under-Lyne route km City centre delta masts in centre of formation
AU Ashton-under-Lyne route km City centre delta masts on outbound side of formation
AC Used near Cornbrook Masts are given unique numbers unrelated to distance from any datum
BC Crumpsall station bay platform km Bury
BV Bury-Victoria km Bury
CC City Centre Masts are given unique numbers counting from Victoria but unrelated to distance Piccadilly to G-Mex and beyond (but not displayed Piccadilly Gardens to St Peters Square) and Piccadilly to Victoria; now partially given over to CD sequence
CD City Centre Masts are given unique numbers unrelated to distance from any datum Near G-Mex to Victoria via Exchange Square; took over part of CC sequence
CG Cornbrook-GMex miles Cornbrook Junction
CY Victoria area Masts are given unique numbers counting from Victoria but unrelated to distance
EI Eccles route km City centre delta masts on inbound side of formation
ES Eccles route km City centre delta masts in centre of formation
EU Eccles route km City centre delta masts on outbound side of formation
LI Oldham town centre route km City centre delta masts on inbound side of formation
LS Oldham town centre route km City centre delta masts in centre of formation
LU Oldham town centre route km City centre delta masts on outbound side of formation
MA Altrincham route miles Manchester Oxford Road masts reused from BR
MA2 Altrincham route miles Manchester Oxford Road actually sequence MA but mile figure displayed on same line as prefix
MCI MediaCity UK route both sides of triangle km City centre delta masts on inbound side of formation
MCS MediaCity UK route both sides of triangle km City centre delta masts in centre of formation
MCU MediaCity UK route both sides of triangle km City centre delta masts on outbound side of formation
MH used near Cornbrook km Cornbrook? full details unknown at present, possibly MA noted in error
PI Trafford Centre route km City centre delta masts on inbound side of formation
PS Trafford Centre route km City centre delta masts in centre of formation
PU Trafford Centre route km City centre delta masts on outbound side of formation
QD Queens Road depot Masts are given unique numbers unrelated to distance from any datum
R Rochdale route km City centre delta masts on single track section
RI Rochdale route km City centre delta masts on inbound side of formation
RS Rochdale route km City centre delta masts in centre of formation
RU Rochdale route km City centre delta masts on outbound side of formation
SI St Werbergh's Road route km City centre delta masts on inbound side of formation
SS St Werbergh's Road route km City centre delta masts in centre of formation
SU St Werbergh's Road route km City centre delta masts on outbound side of formation
TD Trafford Bar depot Masts are given unique numbers unrelated to distance from any datum
TS Trafford Bar depot sidings Masts are given unique numbers unrelated to distance from any datum
WI Manchester Airport route km City centre delta masts on inbound side of formation
WS Manchester Airport route km City centre delta masts in centre of formation
WU Manchester Airport route km City centre delta masts on outbound side of formation

Manx Electric Railway

Masts do not carry a prefix. They are numbered sequentially from zero at Derby Castle (Douglas) to 903 at Ramsey, with some additional masts suffixed A, B or C where necessary.

Nottingham Express Transit

Masts for the original network (phase 1, Station Street and northwards) are labelled according to the nearest stop. Phase 2 routes (south of Station Street) originally had their own labelling system but were relabelled in the earlier convention.

Code Area
BA Basford
BE Beeston Centre
BF Bulwell Forest
BH Butlers Hill
BL Bramcote Lane
BS Beaconsfield Street
BU Bulwell Forest
CA Compton Acres
CC Clifton Centre (believed used)
CC High Road - Central College
CF Clifton Centre
CI Cinderhill
CL Cator Lane
CR Chilwell Road
CS Clifton South
DL David Lane
DP Depot
ED Eskdale Drive
FO The Forest
GS Gregory Street
HG Hyson Green Market
HS High School
HT Holy Trinity
HU Hucknall
HV Highbury Vale
IR Inham Road
LM Lace Market
MB Moor Bridge
ME Meadows Embankment
MS Middle Street
MW Meadows Way West
NG NG2
NS Noel Street
OM Old Market Square
PP Phoenix Park
QM Queens Medical Centre
QW Queens Walk
RC Royal Centre
RG Rivergreen
RL Ruddington Lane
RR Radford Road
RS Nottingham station area (exact definition unknown)
SD Southchurch Drive North
SL Summerwood Lane
SS Shipstone Street
ST Station Street
TL Toton Lane
TU Nottingham Trent University
UB University Boulevard
UN University Of Nottingham
WS Wilkinson Street
WF Wilford Fields (? - not a stop)
WL Wilford Lane
WV Wilford Village

The numbering system counts in km and metres from Hucknall to Station Street. The Cinderhill branch has a false zero at Highbury Vale defined as 30km. This was originally to allow future extensions to continue the numbering sequence, but an alternative system was used instead. The Clifton South route is measured from a false zero at the junction with the Toton route defined as 50km. Prefix RS has masts measured from both datum points.

The phase 2 lines were originally numbered in the same fashion as the main line railway with prefix, km marker and individual mast number. By 2019 masts had been relabelled based on the nearby stop (as phase 1).

Code Area Datum
B Toton Lane route from Station Street✖Includes small section of Clifton South route near junction Start of new line defined as 1km
C Clifton South route Start of new line defined as 1km

Seaton Tramway

Many masts appear unlabelled. Those that are (Axmouth loop to Tyne Lane loop observed) use the form 5 A, 5 B, etc.

Sheffield Supertram

Masts are labelled according to the nearest stop (except for the Network Rail-owned portion, see National Rail page).

Code Area
ARR Arbourthorne Road
ARS Arena/Don Valley Stadium
ATT Attercliffe
BAS Bamford Street
BDH Beighton/Drake House Lane
BIL Birley Lane
BMR Birley Moor Road
CAR Carbrook and Valley Centertainment
CAS Castle Square
CAT Cathedral
CIH City Hall
CIR Cricket Inn Road
COM Commercial Road✖Later FIS
CRP Crystal Peaks
DOW Donetsk Way
FIS Fitzallan Square/Ponds Forge✖Formerly COM
GLT Gleadless Townend
GRR Granville Road/Sheffield District College, and Park Grange Croft
HAC Hackenthorpe
HAL Halfway
HB Hillsborough✖Couple of masts on a side road
HEP Herdings Park
HIL Hillsborough
HIP Hillsborough Park
HLR Herdings/Leighton Road
HOL Hollinsend
HYP Hyde Park
INR Infirmary Road
LEL Leppings Lane
LPV Langsett/Primrose View
MAB Malin Bridge
MID Middlewood
MEI Meadowhall Interchange
MOW Moss Way
MTE Manor Top/Elm Tree
NCS Nunnery Crew Stop later Nunnery Square Park & Ride
NDP Nunnery Depot✖Numbers from south end of depot
NER Netherthorpe Road
PAG Park Grange, and Park Grange Croft
POLE Single mast in city centre triangle (numbered 0000)
SHA Shalesmoor
SHS Sheffield Station/Sheffield Hallam University
SPL Spring Lane
TIN Meadowhall South/Tinsley
TP Tinsley-Parkgate✖Supertram element of Tram-Train route counting from TP0001 at Tinsley junction to TP0010 at Network Rail boundary, continuing as TP 00 11 under the Network Rail numbering system
UOS University of Sheffield
WAT Waterthorpe
WED Westfield
WES West Street
WHL White Lane
WOR Woodburn Road

The numbering system counts up from the Delta ('POLE') starting at 1001 to Meadowhall, 2001 to Middlewood and 3001 to Halfway. The Malin Bridge branch also begins at 3001 at Hillsborough going to about 3023. The Herdings Park line begins at 5001 at Gleadless Townend. Finally, Nunnery Depot poles count from the city centre to pole 75. All anchoring points (poles or on buildings) follow this numbering sequence and points that hold the same span wire have the same number but with 'A' and 'B' added. Poles have a painted on panel whereas building anchors have small panels glued to the pavement.

Snaefell Mountain Railway

Masts do not carry a prefix. They are numbered sequentially from 1000 at Laxey to 1188 at Snaefell Summit. Some masts are shared with, and numbered according to, the Manx Electric Railway at Laxey.

Summerlee, Museum of Scottish Industrial Life Tramway

Masts do not carry any labels.

Tyne & Wear Metro

Tyne & Wear Metro masts (excluding the Network Rail-owned portion, see National Rail page) use a system whereby the masts act as distance markers from the datum point near South Gosforth Junction. Prefixes are based on electrical sections, the 'joining' mast carrying three letters. The electrical sections are related to substations, but Monument and Airport are track paralleling rooms, and South Shields and St James are fed from Chichester substation and Monument track paralleling room respectively. Section codes known at present are:

Known prefixes are:

Code Area
AK Airport-Kenton Bank Foot (eastbound)
BG Benton Square-Gosforth (westbound)
BGY Benton Square-Gosforth triangle (westbound)
BM Byker-Monument (westbound)
BP Byker-Percy Main (eastbound)
BPW Byker-Percy Main-Whitley Bay (eastbound)
BW Benton Square-Whitley Bay (eastbound)
BWP Benton Square-Whitley Bay-Percy Main (southbound)
CH Chichester-Hebburn (westbound)
CHO Chichester-Hebburn-Old Fold (westbound)
CS Chichester-South Shields (eastbound)
E South Gosforth depot east end
GB Gosforth-Benton Square (eastbound)
GBW Gosforth-Benton Square-Whitley Bay (eastbound)
GBX Benton sidings
GBY Gosforth-Benton triangle (eastbound)
GK Gosforth-Kenton Bank Foot (westbound)
GKX Kenton Bank Foot siding and British Rail single line connection
GM Gosforth-Monument (southbound)
GMX Manors-Jesmond link line (many masts do not carry their identification prefix)
GMY Gosforth-Monument triangle (westbound)
HC Hebburn-Chichester (eastbound)
HCS Hebburn-Chichester-South Shields (eastbound)
HD Howden depot independent labelling scheme
HO Hebburn-Old Fold (westbound)
HOM Hebburn-Old Fold-Monument
HOX Pelaw sidings
KA Kenton Bank Foot-Airport (westbound)
KG Kenton Bank Foot-Gosforth (eastbound)
KGY Kenton Bank Foot-Gosforth (depot area)
MB Monument-Byker (eastbound)
MBP Monument-Byker-Percy Main (eastbound)
MBX Stoddart Street sidings
MG Monument-Gosforth (northbound)
MGY Monument-Gosforth triangle (eastbound)
MO Monument-Old Fold (southbound)
MS Monument-St James (westbound)
OH Old Fold-Hebburn (eastbound)
OHC Old Fold-Hebburn-Chichester (eastbound)
OM Old Fold-Monument (northbound)
PB Percy Main-Byker (westbound)
PBM Percy Main-Byker-Monument (westbound)
PW Percy Main-Whitley Bay (northbound)
PWB Percy Main-Whitley Bay-Benton Square (northbound)
SC South Shields-Chichester (westbound)
SD South Shields depot
SCH South Shields-Chichester-Hebburn (westbound)
SM St James-Monument (eastbound)
W South Gosforth depot west end
WB Whitley Bay-Benton Square (westbound)
WBG Whitley Bay-Benton Square-Gosforth (westbound)
WP Whitley Bay-Percy Main (southbound)
WPB Whitley Bay-Percy Main-Byker (southbound)
WPX North Shields bay platform
X South Gosforth depot south side sidings

Other 'joining' mast codes can be inferred but were not seen on the editor's visit.

West Midlands Metro West Midlands

Masts on the original route are prefixed B for the Birmingham-bound track, and W for the Wolverhampton-bound track. Masts holding wiring for both tracks carry both labels, one on each side appropriate to the viewing direction. These masts also act as distance markers. It appears that the depot masts are not labelled. The Edgbaston extension uses traditional railway numbering protocols. Note however that electrification is not continuous; there is a short section on the Edgbaston extension with no wiring where trams run on battery power.

Code Area Unit Datum Note
E Edgbaston route km Wolverhampton St Georges? mast at Brindleyplace numbered at 21.869km
PI Wolverhampton extension km junction with original route near Wolverhampton St Georges mast on inbound side of formation
PO Wolverhampton extension km junction with original route near Wolverhampton St Georges mast on outbound side of formation
W Edgbaston route ('West Side extension'?) km Wolverhampton St Georges? mast near Five Ways numbered at 22.007km