Example: C 62 3 (C62 class 4-6-4 tender locomotive)
C = Wheel arrangement (see table below)
62 = Locomotive class (see table below)
3 = Individual locomotive number
Letter indicates the number of driven axles (not the overall wheel arrangement)
| Letter | B | C | D | E |
| No. of driven axles | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Locomotive class
First digit indicates whether tank or tender configuration.
| 10 - 49 | Tank locomotives |
| 50 - 99 | Tender locomotives |
Example: EF 65 1118 (EF65 class Bo-Bo-Bo DC electric locomotive)
E = Electric locomotive
F = Wheel arrangement (see table below)
65 = Locomotive class (see table below)
1118 = Individual locomotive number
Wheel arrangement
Letter indicates the number of driven axles (not the overall wheel arrangement)
| Letter | B | C | D | F | H |
| No. of driven axles | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
Locomotive class
First digit indicates type.
| 10 - 29 | DC | Max. speed below 85km/h |
| 30 - 39 | AC/DC | |
| 40 - 49 | AC | |
| 50 - 69 | DC | Max. speed over 85km/h |
| 70 - 79 | AC | |
| 80 - 89 | AC/DC | |
| 90 - 99 | Prototypes | |
| 200 - | DC | Post-1989 classes (separated from locomotive number by hyphen) |
| 500 - | AC/DC | |
Example: DD 51 1140 (DD51 class B-2-B diesel-hydraulic locomotive)
D = Diesel locomotive
D = Wheel arrangement (see table below)
51 = Locomotive class (see table below)
1140 = Individual locomotive number
Wheel arrangement
Letter indicates the number of driven axles (not the overall wheel arrangement)
| Letter | B | C | D | E | F |
| No. of driven axles | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Locomotive class
First digit indicates type.
| 10 - 49 | Max. speed below 85km/h |
| 50 - 89 | Max. speed over 85km/h |
| 90 - 99 | Prototypes |
| 200 - | Post-1989 classes (separated from locomotive number by hyphen) |
