Australian railway telegraphic codes were devised to reduce the size of

telegraph Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas p ...

ic messages, though some survived into the

telephone A telephone is a telecommunications device that permits two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are too far apart to be easily heard directly. A telephone converts sound, typically and most efficiently the human voice, into e ...

era. They were used in

telegrams Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas p ...

between various parts of the railway system, such as offices, stations, locomotive depots and goods yards. There is a distinction between the telegraphic codes, and ''telegraphic code addresses''. Many businesses of all kinds identified their

telegraphic address A telegraphic address or cable address was a unique identifier code for a recipient of telegraph messages. Operators of telegraph services regulated the use of telegraphic addresses to prevent duplication. Rather like a uniform resource locator ( ...

, as well as their telephone number, on their stationery. In some states, railway operations would have offices with abbreviated addresses.

Structure

The codes consisted of four-letter "words", in two syllables, with a two-letter difference from any other code. They stood for phrases, thereby saving time and reducing the likelihood of errors in the message. However, a number of codes required additional words and/or numbers to fully explain what was being communicated. Contrary to popular belief, the four letters were not abbreviations of any four-word phrase. Each state had its own codes, which were updated over time, although some code "words" were common to all states. The codes were listed either on a large

poster A poster is a large sheet that is placed either on a public space to promote something or on a wall as decoration. Typically, posters include both typography, textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or w ...

or in a telegraph code book.

New South Wales

The New South Wales telegraphic code library consisted of 404 four-letter code words, which eliminated the need to transmit 3703 normal words as sentences on a telegraph. An example of how one code word replaced many normal words, the longest code message in the telegraphic

lexicon A lexicon is the vocabulary of a language or branch of knowledge (such as nautical or medical). In linguistics, a lexicon is a language's inventory of lexemes. The word ''lexicon'' derives from Koine Greek language, Greek word (), neuter of () ...

was Ryzy, which, with the addition of a number and location, translates as follows: In this example, one code word replaces 90 others. The New South Wales code word "Wolo", meaning that there were speed restrictions due to high temperatures affecting rails and/or overhead wiring, has now come to be used as shorthand on other Australian rail systems.

Victoria

A small selection of codes from the 1972 Victorian Railways Telegraph Code Book: * Amex 1234 6789 = Trains 1234 and 6789 will not run (i.e. are cancelled) * Azor = Arrange to provide assistant locomotive * Boxo = Air-conditioned accommodation fully booked * Hebe = If on hand at your station, send by first train * Pajo = Arrange for joint enquiry to be held at ....... into ....... * Waxy = give matter special attention * Zebu = arrange and advise all concerned

Western Australia

In Western Australia a code book (''Uniform and Supplementary Telegraph Code'') was issued as late as 1967 by the

Western Australian Government Railways Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) was the operator of railway services in the state of Western Australia between October 1890 and June 2003. Owned by the state government, it was renamed a number of times to reflect extra responsi ...

, with a preface that included the wording:

This Telegraph Code has been agreed to by the Railway Commissioners of Government Railways of the Commonwealth of Australia, and applied to the Western Australian Railways

As well as the indication of

The code words printed in capitals are applicable throughout the Railways of the Commonwealth; those printed small type apply to the Western Australian Railways only

The phrase codes related to the categories: * Train Working * Motive Power (all local usage) * Train Arrangements ** 1. Passengers ** 2. Goods ** 3. Rolling Stock * Traffic Arrangements – goods, parcels and luggage * Correspondence

References

Railway signalling in Australia Telegraphy {{Australia-rail-transport-stub

Structure

New South Wales

Victoria

Western Australia

See also

References