This page is a list of abbreviations and expressions used in this site and on the actual Southern Electric. The terms used for the unit and stock types are written as in official documentation only the first letter capitalised i.e. 4Rep and not 4REP. Some TOPS codes were also changed and here the most recent code is used and sub-classes are omitted.
| 3142 | preserved 4Cor unit owned by SEG |
| 10096 | trailer coach from Cor unit 3142 owned by SEG |
| 11161 | motor coach from Cor unit 3142 (originally in 3065) owned by SEG |
| 11179 | motor coach from Cor unit 3131 in National Railway Museum York |
| 11187 | trailer coach from Cor unit 3131 owned by SEG |
| 11201 | motor coach from Cor unit 3142 owned by SEG |
| 11825 | trailer coach from Cor unit 3142 (originally in 3135) owned by SEG |
| 12529 | trailer coach from Buf unit 3085 part of NRM collection |
| 27 way | SR designed multiple unit system of 27 wires |
| 2Bil | 1930s built two car semi-fast or outer suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 2EPB | 1950s built two car suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 2Hal | 1930s built two car semi-fast or outer suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 2Hap | 1950s built two car semi-fast or outer suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 2Nol | 1930s built two car suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 2Pan | two car parcels emu temporary conversion 1970s from 2Hal stock all withdrawn |
| 2Pep | 1970s built two car prototype high density emu (basis for Class 508) all withdrawn |
| 2Sap | 1950s built two car semi-fast or outer suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 2SL | 1920s built early two car suburban emu code South London all withdrawn |
| 2Wim | 1920s built early two car suburban emu code Wimbledon all withdrawn |
| 3Cep | three car express emu converted 1990s from 4Cep stock in service 1999 |
| 3Cop | three car express emu converted 1990s from 4Cig stock in service 1999 |
| 3Sub | 1920s built early three car suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 3TC | 1960s built three car express trailer set used with 4Rep all withdrawn |
| 4Bep | 1950s built four car express emu used with 4Cep heavily refurbished 1980s in service 1999 |
| 4Big | 1960s built four car express emu used with 4Cig in service 1999 |
| 4Buf | 1930s built four car express emu used with 4Cor all withdrawn |
| 4Cap | four car semi-fast unit 1980s two 2Hap permanently coupled all withdrawn |
| 4Cep | 1950s built four car express emu all units heavily refurbished 1980s in service 1999 |
| 4Cig | 1960s built four car express emu many units reformed 1980s and 1990s in service 1999 |
| 4COM | four car suburban emu 1980s recode of 4EPB all withdrawn |
| 4Cor | 1930s built four car express emu all withdrawn unit 3142 preserved by SEG |
| 4DD | 1940s built prototype four car double deck suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 4EPB | 1950s built four car suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 4Gri | 1930s built four car express emu all withdrawn |
| 4Lav | 1930s built four car semi-fast or outer suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 4Tep | 1990s temporary formation refurbished Cep stock with unrefurbished Bep buffet |
| 4Pep | 1970s built four car prototype suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 4Rep | 1960s built four car express Mk.1 based emu used with 4TC all withdrawn |
| 4Res | 1930s built four car express emu all withdrawn |
| 4SRKT | diesel engine model used in EDL Class 73 and demu Class 205 and 207 |
| 4Sub | 1940s built four car suburban emu all withdrawn |
| 4TC | 1960s built four car express MK.1 based trailer set used with 4Rep all withdrawn |
| 4Veg | four car semi-fast emu temporary 1970s 4Vep recode |
| 4Vep | 1960s built four car semi-fast or outer suburban MK.1 based emu in service 1999 |
| 4Vop | four car semi-fast emu 1990s conversion from 4Vep in service 1999 |
| 5Bel | 1930s built five car all Pullman express emu all withdrawn all cars survive 1999 |
| 5TCB | five car trailer set 1980s temporary 4TC reformation all withdrawn |
| 5Wes | 1980s built Mk.3 based five car express emu in service 1999 |
| 6Cit | 1930s built six car express unit reformed into 6Pul/6Pan all withdrawn |
| 6Cor | six car express unit 1960s temporary Pan/Cor stock all withdrawn |
| 6Pan | 1930s built six car express unit used with 6Pul all withdrawn |
| 6Pul | 1930s built six car express unit used with 6Pan all withdrawn |
| 6TC | 1930s built six car push-pull test set withdrawn |
| 6YJXL | diesel engine model used in Class 74 electro-diesel now withdrawn |
| 8Dig | eight car express emu temporary 1990s Cig/Big reformations |
| 8LDA | diesel engine model used in Class 33 diesel locomotive now withdrawn |
| 8Mig | eight car express emu temporary 1980s Cig reformations |
| 8Vab | eight car express emu temporary 1970s Vep reformation |
| A | Ampere unit measure of electrical current |
| A60 | LU train type used on East London line in Southern Electric area |
| AC | alternating current |
| Adtranz | train manufacturer 1999 |
| Alstom | train manufacturer 1999 |
| Angel | a ROSCO 1999 |
| AWS | Automatic Warning System advising driver of status of certain signal types |
| Bel | stock type Brighton Belle |
| Bep | stock type Buffet electro-pneumatic (Kent Coast stock) BR Mk.1 body style with buffet |
| Big | stock type Buffet Brighton (1960s) BR Mk.1 body style with buffet |
| Bil | stock type bi-lavatory (1930s semi fast) |
| BoBo | electric or diesel locomotive with two powered two axle bogies |
| BR | British Rail brand name for British Railways |
| BR | British Railways nationalised railway from SR LMSR GWR LNER |
| BR SR | British Railways Southern Region 1948 successor to Southern Railway |
| Brighton Belle | all Pullman express train between Brighton and London |
| Brush | electric traction equipment supplier |
| BTC | British Transport Commission 1950s body overseeing BR |
| BTH | British Thomson Houston electric traction equipment supplier |
| Buf | stock type Buffet (1930s express) |
| C69 | LU train type used on District Line in Southern Electric area |
| Cap | Coastway Hap stock |
| CCE | Chief Civil Engineer |
| CD | Central Division (of BR SR) |
| Cep | Corridor electro-pneumatic (Kent Coast stock) BR Mk.1 body style |
| Cig | stock type Corridor Brighton (1960s) BR Mk.1 body style |
| Cit | stock type City (1930s express) |
| Class 33 | TOPS code 1960s built BoBo BR SR specified diesel electric locomotive all withdrawn |
| Class 37 | TOPS code 1960s built CoCo BR diesel electric freight and infrastructure locomotive in service 1999 |
| Class 47 | TOPS code 1960s built CoCo BR diesel electric general purpose locomotive in service 1999 |
| Class 50 | TOPS code 1960s built CoCo diesel electric locomotive used on Waterloo-Exeter service all withdrawn |
| Class 66 | TOPS code EWS specified 1990s built CoCo freight diesel locomotive in service 1999 |
| Class 70 | TOPS code SR built 1940s electric locomotive all withdrawn |
| Class 71 | TOPS code BR SR specified 1950s Kent Coast electric locomotive all withdrawn |
| Class 73 | TOPS code BR SR specified 1960s electro-diesel locomotive in service 1999 |
| Class 74 | TOPS code 1960s rebuild of Class 71 into electro-diesel locomotive all withdrawn |
| Class 92 | TOPS code EWS operated 1990s built dual voltage CoCo electric locomotive for Channel Tunnel freight in service 1999 |
| Class 159 | TOPS code 1990s built three car semi-fast diesel unit used on Waterloo Exeter in service 1999 |
| Class 201 | TOPS code 1950s built 6S six car demu short underframe narrow body for Hastings line all withdrawn |
| Class 202 | TOPS code 1950s built 6L six car demu long underframe narrow body for Hastings line all withdrawn |
| Class 205 | TOPS code 1950s built 3H three car demu in service 1999 |
| Class 207 | TOPS code 1960s built 2D/3D two/three car demu in service 1999 |
| Class 313 | TOPS code 1970s three car high density unit on West London line in Southern Electric area in service 1999 |
| Class 319 | TOPS code 1990s built Mk.3 based four car outer suburban dual voltage Thameslink unit in service 1999 |
| Class 325 | TOPS code 1990s built four car Royal Mail dual voltage postal unit in service 1999 |
| Class 332 | TOPS code 1990s built four car express unit used on Heathrow Express in service 1999 |
| Class 365 | TOPS code 1990s built four car outer suburban dual voltage Networker unit in service 1999 |
| Class 373 | TOPS code 1990s built Eurostar set for Channel Tunnel passenger services |
| Class 375 | TOPS code CSE specified 1990s built four car outer suburban unit to enter service 1999 |
| Class 401 | TOPS code 2Bil |
| Class 404 | TOPS code 4Cor |
| Class 405 | TOPS code 4Sub |
| Class 410 | TOPS code 4Bep unrefurbished |
| Class 411 | TOPS code 4Cep unrefurbished and refurbished; 3Cep; in service 1999 |
| Class 412 | TOPS code 4Bep refurbished; in service 1999 |
| Class 413 | TOPS code 4Cap |
| Class 415 | TOPS code 4EPB |
| Class 416 | TOPS code 2EPB |
| Class 418 | TOPS code 2Sap |
| Class 419 | TOPS code MLV |
| Class 420 | TOPS code 4Big original configurations |
| Class 421 | TOPS code 4Cig; 3Com; in service 1999 |
| Class 422 | TOPS code 4Big reformed configurations in service 1999 |
| Class 423 | TOPS code 4Vep; 4Vop; in service 1999 |
| Class 424 | TOPS code projected Networker Classic rebuilding programme |
| Class 430 | TOPS code 4Rep before rebuild |
| Class 431 | TOPS code 4Rep after rebuild without buffet car |
| Class 438 | TOPS code 4TC |
| Class 442 | TOPS code 5Wes in service 1999 in service 1999 |
| Class 455 | TOPS code BR SR specified 1980s built Mk.3 based four car high density suburban unit in service 1999 |
| Class 456 | TOPS code BR SR specified 1980s built MK.3 based two car high density suburban unit in service 1999 |
| Class 458 | TOPS code SWT specified outer suburban four car unit to be delivered 1999 |
| Class 460 | TOPS code GEx specified eight car express unit to be delivered 1999 |
| Class 465 | TOPS code NSE specified 1990s built four car Networker suburban unit in service 1999 |
| Class 466 | TOPS code NSE specified 1990s built two car Networker suburban unit in service 1999 |
| Class 488 | TOPS code BR Mk.2 1970s built express trailer 1980s Gatwick Express stock in service 1999 |
| Class 489 | TOPS code GLV converted from Hap stock for 1980s Gatwick Express in service 1999 |
| Class 508 | TOPS code BR specified 1970s four car high density suburban unit in service 1999 |
| Class 930 | TOPS code departmental unit in service 1999 |
| Class 931 | TOPS code departmental unit in service 1999 |
| Class 932 | TOPS code departmental unit in service 1999 |
| CMEE | Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer |
| CoCo | electric or diesel locomotive with two powered three axle bogies |
| COM | 4EPB unit with all compartment vehicles |
| Connex South Central | TOC based on the former BR SR CD |
| Connex South East | TOC based on the former BR SR SED |
| Cop | Coastway open plan Cig conversion in service 1999 |
| Cor | Corridor (1930s express) |
| CP | Crompton Parkinson electric traction equipment supplier |
| CSC | Connex South Central |
| CSE | Connex South East |
| D78 | LU train type used in Southern Electric area on District line |
| DC | direct current |
| DD | Double Decker stock |
| de-icing | departmental unit used for removing ice and snow from third rail during adverse weather conditions |
| DEMU | diesel electric multiple unit |
| Dig | Dedicated Brighton temporary formation |
| District Railway | predecessor of LU District Line |
| DL | diesel locomotive |
| Down | running line direction in general running away from London |
| E5001 | Preserved Class 71 electric locomotive owned by National Railway Museum York |
| EDL | electro-diesel or dual powered locomotive |
| EE | English Electric supplier of most SR and BR SR electric traction equipment |
| EE507 | standard type of Southern electric traction motor made by English Electric |
| EE546 | alternate type of traction motor used in 1960s |
| electro-diesel | dual powered electric or diesel electric locomotive |
| Electrostar | catalogue name of emu produced by Alsthom |
| emu | electric multiple unit |
| EMU | electric multiple unit |
| English Electric | Supplier of most SR and BR SR electric traction equipment |
| Ep | electro-pneumatic braking system |
| EPB | electro pneumatic braking system |
| EPB | stock type Electro Pneumatic Brake |
| ER | Eastern Region (of British Railways) |
| EH | electric (train) heating |
| Eversholt | a ROSCO 1999 |
| FL | Fast Line (track designation of higher speed line on multiple track route) |
| G315BZ | traction motor type supplied by GEC |
| GE | General Electric company of US (not connected with GEC of UK) |
| GEC | General Electric Company of UK (not connected with GE of US) |
| GEx | Gatwick Express |
| GLV | single car parcels and luggage emu used on Gatwick Express in service 1999 |
| Golden Arrow | Pullman service between Victoria and Folkestone |
| Gri | Griddle catering stock (1930s express) |
| GWR | Great Westerrn Railway |
| HA | CMEE drawing code of E5000 electric locomotive later Class 71 |
| HB | CMEE drawing code of E6100 electric locomotive later Class 74 |
| HEx | Heathrow Express |
| hp | horsepower unit (imperial) measure of power |
| Hz | Hertz unit measure of frequency |
| IC | Inter City |
| JA | CMEE drawing code of E6000 electric locomotive later Class 73/0 |
| JB | CMEE drawing code of E6000 electric locomotive later Class 73/1 |
| Juniper | total train supply concept by Alstom |
| KA | CMEE drawing code of D6500 electric locomotive later Class 33/0 |
| KB | CMEE drawing code of D6500 electric locomotive later Class 33/1 |
| kW | kilowatt unit (metric) measure of power |
| L&SWR | London & South Western Railway |
| Lav | Lavatory fitted stock |
| LB&SCR | London Brighton & South Coast Railway |
| LBSCR | London Brighton & South Coast Railway |
| LGW | London Heathrow airport code |
| LHR | London Gatwick airport code |
| live rail | electric traction power supply contact rail |
| Live Rail | magazine of SEG |
| LL | Local Line defunct LSWR term for SL |
| LMR | London Midland Region (of British Railways) |
| LMSR | London Midland & Scottish Railway |
| LNER | London & North Eastern Railway |
| LSWR | London & South Western Railway |
| LT | London Transport |
| LU | London Underground |
| Mk.1 | 1950s BR standard passenger coach design with separate underframe and body |
| Mk.2 | 1960s BR standard passenger coach design of integral structure |
| Mk.3 | 1970s BR standard passenger coach design of integral structure and modular construction |
| ML | Main Line defunct WR term for FL |
| MLV | single car parcels and luggage emu (Kent Coast stock) |
| MR | Metropolitan Railway |
| MV | Metropolitan Vickers electric traction equipment supplier |
| MV339 | MV supplied traction motor type |
| Networker | High technology suburban train specified by NSE in service 1999 |
| Night Ferry | one time boat train conveying through coaches to Continent withdraw 1970s |
| Nol | No Lavatory stock |
| NRM | National Railway Museum York |
| NSE | Network South East |
| ONIX | Adtranz traction drive package |
| Pan | Pantry car stock |
| Pep | Prototype electro pneumatic stock |
| Porterbrook | a ROSCO 1999 |
| Pul | Pullman car stock |
| Railtrack | organisation supporting infrastructure used by TOCs |
| Rep | Restaurant electro pneumatic stock |
| Res | Restaurant stock |
| RL | Relief Line defunct WR term for SL |
| ROSCO | rolling stock leasing company |
| sandite | substance sprayed on running rails to improve adhesion during falling leaves season |
| Sap | Second class only Hap stock |
| Sarah Siddons | name of 1920s ex-MR electric locomotive in LU service 1999 |
| SE&CR | South Eastern & Chatham Railway |
| SECR | South Eastern & Chatham Railway |
| SED | South Eastern Division (of BR SR) |
| SEG | Southern Electric Group |
| Silverlink | TOC |
| SL | Slow Line (track designation of lower speed line on multiple track route) |
| SL | South London stock |
| South West Trains | TOC based on former BR SR SWD |
| SR | Southern Railway 1923 merger of LSWR SECR LBSCR |
| SR | Southern Region (of British Railways) |
| Sub | Suburban stock |
| SWD | South Western Division (of BR SR) |
| SWT | South West Trains |
| TC | Trailer carriages |
| TCB | Trailer carriages with buffet |
| Thameslink | TOC |
| third rail | electric traction power supply contact rail |
| TL | Through Line defunct LSWR term for FL |
| Tm | traction motor |
| TOC | train operating company (privatised franchise) |
| TOPS | Total Operations Processing System operations central computer system |
| TOU | train operating unit (BR pre-privatisation) |
| Up | running line direction in general running towards London |
| V | Volt unit measure of electrical potential |
| Veg | Vep Gatwick stock |
| Vep | Vestibule electro pneumatic stock in service 1999 |
| Vop | Vep open plan stock in service 1999 |
| Wes | Wessex stock in service 1999 |
| Wim | Wimbledon stock |
| WR | Western Region (of British Railways) |
