British Rail Class 99 facts for kids

The British Rail Class 99 was a special group of 14 ships, mostly owned by a company called Sealink. These ships were like floating bridges, designed to carry entire trains across the sea between Britain and mainland Europe. They were given the "Class 99" name when British Rail, the main railway company in Britain at the time, started using a new computer system called TOPS to keep track of all its trains and equipment. Even though they were ships, they were counted as a type of locomotive (a train engine) in this system. This clever trick helped British Rail manage their railway vehicles more easily.

What Were the Class 99 Ships?

The Class 99 wasn't a type of train, but rather a fleet of 14 ferries. A ferry is a ship that carries passengers, vehicles, or goods across a body of water. These particular ferries were unique because they had railway tracks built right onto their decks. This allowed whole trains, including their wagons and sometimes even locomotives, to roll directly onto the ship. Once on board, the trains would be secured, and the ship would sail to its destination. When it arrived, the trains would simply roll off and continue their journey on land.

Why Were Rail Ferries Needed?

In the past, if you wanted to send a train from Britain to countries like France or Belgium, you couldn't just drive it across the English Channel. There was no tunnel like the Channel Tunnel back then. So, rail ferries were the perfect solution. They allowed goods and even passengers to travel by train from one country to another without having to unload everything and reload it onto a different train or ship. This made international trade and travel much smoother and faster.

How Did They Work?

Imagine a train pulling up to a special dock. Instead of stopping at a station, it would slowly roll onto the deck of a large ship. The ship's deck had tracks that lined up perfectly with the tracks on land. Once the train was safely on board, the ship would sail across the sea. When it reached the other side, the process would reverse, and the train would roll off the ship and continue its journey on the railway lines of the new country. This was a very efficient way to move railway vehicles across water.

The TOPS System and Class 99

The reason these ships were given a "Class 99" number was because of a computer system called TOPS.

What is TOPS?

TOPS stands for Total Operating Processing System. It was a very important computer system that British Rail started using in the 1970s. Its main job was to keep track of every single locomotive, wagon, and piece of railway equipment. It helped British Rail know where everything was, what it was doing, and when it needed maintenance. It was like a giant digital inventory and tracking system for the entire railway network.

Why Were Ships Classified as Locomotives?

The TOPS system was designed primarily for things that moved on railway tracks. It had rules and categories for different types of locomotives and wagons. However, the system had a small problem: it wasn't set up to easily track railway vehicles that were being carried by ships. To get around this limitation, British Rail came up with a clever idea. They decided to classify the ferries themselves as a type of "locomotive" within the TOPS system.

By calling the ferries "Class 99 locomotives," the system could then "see" and track the railway vehicles that were on board these ships. It was as if the "Class 99 locomotive" was "hauling" the railway wagons across the water, just like a regular locomotive would haul a train on land. This allowed British Rail to keep a complete record of all their railway assets, even when they were at sea. It was a smart way to make the computer system work for their unique needs.

The End of an Era

The Class 99 ferries played an important role in connecting Britain's railways with those of mainland Europe for many years. However, as technology advanced, new ways of crossing the English Channel emerged. The most significant change was the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994. This underwater tunnel allowed trains to travel directly between Britain and France without needing to go on a ship. With the tunnel providing a faster and more direct route, the need for rail ferries like the Class 99 ships gradually disappeared. Many of these ships were eventually sold or repurposed for other uses.