FAQ
These are some of the questions we often get asked..
What do you classify as a "departmental"?
This site deals specifically with departmental coaching stock (now often referred to as "service coaching stock" such as test train coaches and breakdown train vehicles) and internal user vehicles. Please see the sightings pages if you are unsure which number series' we are talking about. This is not primarily a wagon orientated site despite the fact there are a lot of internal users that are wagons. The site does not cover vehicles like ballast wagons that may sometimes fall under the broad title of "departmental" stock.
Please note than any vehicles covered already on the sister website (such as snowploughs) are classified as OTP.
When is a departmental not a departmental?
While compiling the site it has become clear that there is a lot of crossover when former departmental vehicles fall into preservation. As far as this site is concerned, a vehicle is still a departmental as long as it still carries its departmental number or carries the same livery. If we don't draw the line somewhere here then we will be delving too far into preserved vehicles which is not the main aim of the site. For example, a coach at a preserved railway may have had a departmental number many years ago but then since restored back to a passenger vehicle.
However - we would be interested in hearing about sightings of recent transfers (since the last book was published) no matter what the livery - but anything that goes back beyond that would normally fall outside the scope of this website.
We are aware this is a bit of a grey area and obviously the boundaries of the website are flexible!
What photographs are you interested in?
Basically any pictures of departmental vehicles across the network. These must be accompanied by a description or vehicle number, date and photographer's name so that it can be fully credited if chosen for the site.
Please keep the file sizes as small as possible without any loss of resolution!
Again, with regard to former departmentals that are now preserved, the photographs should ideally be of vehicles in their original departmental state - ie before restoration / repaint back to their previous use as a passenger coach etc. Again the boundaries here are flexible.
In submitting photos for the website you agree to the fact that we reserve the right to crop or resize pictures to make them suitable for website viewing.
Also, can I ask that emails are no bigger than 3Mb please.
Why are there gaps in the number series lists?
Some vehicles that are in service have probably simply not been seen yet.
Others are "missing" from our records at the moment. If you can help with disposals or vehicles at preservation sites please email details to us.
Other numbers were never issued. Listed below is a list of numbers where the conversion was cancelled or the numbers have not yet been allocated:
975011 / 015 / 016 / 026 / 044 / 045 / 048 / 095 / 115 / 116 / 119 / 120 / 126 / 159 / 180 / 189 / 190 / 192 / 193 / 196 / 206 / 207 / 270-75 / 285-7 / 474 / 541-44 / 755 / 756 / 760 / 764 / 768 / 772 / 835 / 859 / 860 / 870 / 950-55 / 958
977007 / 160 / 161 / 243 / 252 / 261-89 / 298 / 315 / 429 / 438-41 / 443-46 / 451 / 452 / 472-85 / 494 / 561-65 / 646-50 / 680-83 / 715 / 716 / 727 / 754 / 755 / 893 / 950-61
999603 (62482)
You are able to search for any numbers you are looking for by using the new search facility in the bar on the left.
Are you interested in private internal user wagons?
No.
By this I mean wagons at places such as Scunthorpe steelworks. These are not included because of the time involved, and again - this isn't primarily a wagons website.
Can I trace the history of a specific vehicle or location?
Yes.
In the sightings lists you are able to click on each number within the number series lists to take you to a page listing the last known locations of that particular vehicle. This also gives other information like the vehicle's previous identity. In the monthly lists you are able to click on the location for a list of vehicles that have been seen recently at that location.
Again you are able to search for any numbers / former numbers and locations you are looking for by using the new search facility in the bar on the left.
Do you have disposal details for internal user stock?
This is perhaps the area of the website which is difficult to update due to the lack of information available - especially with regard to recent disposals. Details will of course be added as they become available, but it is useful to hear about any IU vehicles that have arrived or been seen at preservation sites. Your help would be appreciated in making us aware of any errors, disposals or movements! Thanks.
Can you put a link to my website please?
We have a policy both on OTPnet and here on this site of giving priority to those who contribute something useful to the site.
Can I use your lists or photographs for my website?
Like any website, you may use the information on departmentals.com for your personal use ONLY. Permission may be granted to use images from the website if you contact us explaining where they are to be used. Photographs taken must be fully credited with the photographer\'s name and a URL link to our website. If it is discovered that information from departmentals.com is being published without our permission on another website or commercial publication then immediate action will be taken against the offender(s). We have put a lot of time and effort into this project. We would also like to draw your attention to the copyright page here
We would also draw your attention to this page here
Why don't all the photos appear on the photos page?
Only photos added within the last month appear on the main photos page. These latest pictures also now have thumbnails for easier viewing. After that you can find older photographs (for example the ones added at the website's launch in June 2002) through the side links categorised by number series and status.
How can I find out a vehicle's former number?
Clicking on the number in the Sightings pages or the Disposals / Preserved pages brings you to a "fact box" page that gives more information about that vehicle (including former number where known) as well as the last sightings of it (if applicable)
Again you are able to search for any numbers / former numbers and locations you are looking for by using the new search facility in the bar on the left.
Where can I get books on departmentals?
Please see the Books section. Click here for information about books that have been published over the years.
Why don\'t some pages load offline when I have visited the page before?
At departmentals.com we are constantly updating the lists and feeding the latest information onto the pages - not just when the main sightings are added but also in between times as well. As a result some pages may not be available from one visit to the next. We apologise for the inconvenience but it does mean the information will be more up to date!
Where did I put my keys?
They're behind your commemorative Wedgwood Queen Mother ornament.
How are babies made?
When Mummy and Daddy have special hugs, Mummy sometimes whispers a magic word to Daddy. When Daddy hears the magic word, he feels very happy and in a few seconds they will have ordered a baby, a bit like shopping on the internet.
Are departmentals bad for me?
No. As part of a balanced lifestyle departmentals pose no serious danger to health. Normally they also contain no trace of nuts.