This list contains the UIC classification of goods wagons and their meanings. The description is made up of a category letter (in capitals) and usually several index letters (in lower case).
Contents
The international system for the classification of goods wagons was agreed by the UIC in 1965 and subsequently introduced into member countries. For example it was adopted in Germany on 1 January 1968 replacing their previous classification system which originated as early as 1905. The UIC classification has been amended several times since it began.
Not all wagons are given UIC designations. In Germany the few remaining guards vans and narrow gauge goods wagons have retained their original classifications.
Category letters
The following table contains the complete list of standard category letters. Letters A, B, C, D, P and W are reserved for coaches. However, also S is used for coaches and this doubles a goods wagons class. These are covered in detail in the article on UIC classification of railway coaches. Each goods wagons type is given a type number, whose first digit forms the fifth digit of the 12-digit UIC wagon number.
International index letters
*11 In the version of the classification scheme valid up to 1979 a meant bogie wagon, aa was not applicable to classes E,F,G,H,T,U,Z.
*12 In version of the classification scheme valid up to 1979 there was also a load limit 40 t.
*13 The index letter was not part of the original 1966 version and was not introduced until later.
*14 In the DR the definition was initially just "length under …m", which referred to the length over buffers. As a result numerous wagons were given the wrong classification with the m missing.
*15 In the original 1965 version m was only intended for classes E,G,I,K,O,R.
*16 In the original 1965 version mm was only intended for classes K,O,R.
*17 The index letter could be dropped in 1980, but was sometimes displayed beyond that date.
*18 The index letter was introduced later than 1980.
*19 Up to 1979 both wagons with metered as well as those with loose gravity discharge were designated with a d.