Wagon lettering is subject to many variations of style, size and placing. This sheet provides a very wide range of typical examples, but we can give here only brief general information on their use. Photographs should be consulted wherever possible - a good selection can be found in "A Pictorial Record of LNER Wagons", by Peter Tatlow, (published by OPC). Letters NE are provided in 18", 14” 12" 9", 4" & X' sizes and numbers in 5" 4” 3½ and 3” sizes, in two style/thickness varieties.

Period 1923-36
Letters NE as large as space permits. On open wagons the capacity (10 TONS) etc.) below the N. and running number in 5" figures below the E in the bottom plank of the side. The number on vans usually somewhat higher, often on the door of sliding-door vans, with special markings (e.g., VENTILATED, etc.) at the same height below the N. Tare weight shown as e.g. 7-19-1, sometimes preceded by TARE, in 3½” figures on solebar above left side of right-hand wheel (usually) The quarters figure often omitted Wheelbase on fitted stock, (e.g. WB 9'0') at right-hand end of solebar. From 1926 non-common user indicated by 4" high N. both ends at bottom of side. Cattle wagons had LARGE OF MEDIUM (to left) and number (to right) in the top plank of the lower side with capacity at left usually half-way down. Non-passenger coaching stock markings thus; MCK. 4-wh. CCT; LCK long 4 wh, CCT; XCK, 6-wh, CCT; BCK, bogie CCT; CK, carriage truck; SC. special cattle. Ends of some fitted stock branded thus: Vac, braked, VB; vac.piped only, VP; dual braked, VBWH pre-1932, DB post-1932. Stars on solebar for Vac, brake release. letter E is suffix to Engineers' Department vehicle numbers for the first few years after 1923.

Period 1937-48 (as painted - earlier style found in service for many years)
Bottom left-hand corner of vehicle side marked as in this example: NE (4" letters) 10T (3” capacity) 123456 (4" running no.) Spaces vertically between items W. Tare in 3” figures e.g. 8-15 (sometimes with quarters) at first.) at bottom right of side. A few wartime new vehicles had sizes reduced to 3” and 2”. Special codes and markings unchanged from earlier period. Non-passenger coaching stock retained 5” numerals. From about 1938, wheelbase markings were put above tare figures - if over 1Oft, letters XP were added over wheelbase. Black insignia (both periods) are for white bodies of refrigerator vans.

M&GN and Cheshire Lines
Traffic wagons and vans on these lines were split between the LNER and LMS (M&GN in 1936, CL in 1930) and probably were repainted fairly quickly, but brake vans and service stock retained their joint line markings. On the CL the serif style is earlier - typical examples are given as this style varied a good deal in size and shape.