UIC classification of goods wagons

This list contains the UIC classification of goods wagons and their meanings. The description is made up of a category letter and usually several index letters.
The international system for the classification of goods wagons was agreed by the Union internationale des chemins de fer in 1965 and subsequently introduced into member countries. For example it was adopted in Germany on 1 January 1968 replacing the previous German railway wagon classes that 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.

Class	Wagon type	1st digit of type no.
E	Ordinary open high-sided wagon	5
F	Special open high-sided wagon	6
G	Ordinary covered wagon	1
H	Special covered wagon	2
I	Refrigerated van	8
K	Ordinary flat wagon with separate axles	3
L	Special flat wagon with separate axles	4
O	Open multi-purpose wagon	3
R	Ordinary flat wagon with bogies	3
S	Special flat wagon with bogies	4
T	Goods wagon with opening roof	0
U	Special wagons	9
Z	Tank wagon	7

Index letters

International index letters

National index letters

Country code 50: DR

	Classes	Period	Meaning
t	Gbkl, Hkr	1968 to 1979	with special equipment for transporting personnel
u	E, G, K, R	1968 to 1979	not suitable for military use
v	E, T	1968 to 1979	not suitable for loading or unloading with a crane
v	G, H	1968 to 1993	With roof hatches
v	U	1980 to 1993	For cement
w	U	1968 to 1979	For liquid fuel
w	Z	1980 to 1993	For liquid fuel
x	Uc	1968 to 1993	For coal dust
x	E	1980 to 1993	With steel floor
y	Uc	1968 to 1979	Chemical container wagon
y	T, U, Z	1980 to 1993	With internal lining
z	K, L, R, S	1968 to 1979	Removable platform railings
z	G, I	1980 to 1993	With steam heating pipes
zz	F	1980 to 1993	With steam heating pipes and equipment

Country code 80: DB

	Classes	Meaning
t	H	Daberkow transport protection equipment
t	L	inside loading width at the ends under 2.45 m
tt	H	Lockable partitions
u	E, F, S	Hydraulic tipping system
u	G, H, I, K, L, T	Steam heating pipes
v	all	Electrical heating pipes for 1,000 or 1,500 volts
vv	all	Electrical heating pipes and heating equipment for 1,000 or 1,500 volts
w	G, H, S	Full spark protection covering
ww	all	Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543
x	E	With steel floor
z	F	Dumper wagon
z	H	Wagons for Leig-Einheit units
z	T	Wagons used as Td or Tdg
zz	Fb	Bucket wagon

Country code 85: SBB

	Classes	Meaning
t	all	line feeder
u	F	Electro-hydraulic dumping system
u	H	Cooling system
v	all	Electrical heating pipes 1000 V 16 ~
w	R, S, U	Movable handbrake railings and screw brake spindle
ww	H	Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543
x	H	2-axled drum brake
x	S, L	ACTS rotating frame
y	H	Insulated
y	F	Smaller loading area
y	R, S	Disc brakes
z	G, H	With 12-core UIC cable