How are passenger coaches and coaching stock in general classified by IR?

Coaching stock in general is divided into two categories, Passenger Coaching Vehicles (PCV) (sometimes 'Passenger Carrying Vehicles') which are coaches that carry passengers, and Other Coaching Vehicles (OCV), which include service coaches such as pantry cars, parcel vans, mail vans, etc.

Coaching stock is classified using the codes shown below. Note that these codes are according to the structural features and used for rolling stock management. Separate codes are used for indicating the types of accommodations available in PCV coaches for ticketing and reservation purposes, etc. Those coach designations and class indications are explained in the section on travel.

ये भी पढ़े - खाने की टेबल पर रखे कांटे और चम्मच का क्या है इस्तेमाल

Prefixes W : (prefix) Vestibuled Y : (prefix) Suburban G : Self-generating (lighting by axle generators) (omitted) E : 4-wheeled stock L : (prefix) LHB coaches The 'W' prefix for BG is omitted in many cases (e.g., the new LHB coaches) since almost all new stock is now BG. The 'G' code to indicate a self-generating coach is omitted for the new LHB coaches, which get a '/SG' suffix. It is also omitted in other cases. Classes of accomodation F : First Class S : Second Class T : Third Class (obsolete) M : Military Type of coach CN : 3-tier sleeper coach CW : 2-tier sleeper coach CZ : Chair car CD : Dining Car CB : Pantry/kitchen car/buffet car CL : Kitchen car CR : State saloon CT : Tourist car (first class) (includes bathrooms, kitchen, and sitting and sleeping compartments) CTS : Tourist car (second class) (includes bathrooms, kitchen, and sitting and sleeping compartments) C : (except as above) With Coupe D : Double-decker (?) Y : (not as prefix) With Ladies' compartment (usually 6-berth compartment with locking door) AC : Air-conditioned Parcel vans, etc. L : Luggage van or luggage cubicle (suburban: motorman's cabin + luggage space) R : Brake van / guard van RA : Inspection carriage (administrative) RB : Inspection carriage (divisional officers), also Rail Bus RC : Inspection carriage (?) D : (suburban) Motorman's cabin (EMU/DMU) EN : Power supplied by end-on generator V : Brake van, ordinary goods VM : Brake van, medium goods VH : Brake van, heavy goods VP : Parcel van (8-wheeled) VPH : High-capacity parcel van VPAC : Air-cooled parcel van VK : Motor van (8-wheeled) VPU : Parcel van / motor car carrier composite (old, 8-wheeled)) VF : Fruit van VE : Fish van VG : Poultry van VR : Refrigerated parcel / fish van VV : Milk van BV : Brake van (also BVG : brake van, goods; BVZI : extra-long brake van) Postal facilities PP : Postal Car (RMS/mail van) PPS : Full postal van PPT : Three-quarter postal van PPH : Half postal van PPQ : Quarter postal van P : Full postal unit: RMS coach -- mail carried, letters can be posted on the train (less common now -- see PP codes above) See the section on train services for more on RMS and postal vans. Newer full postal vans have arrangements for some mail sorting, package sealing, etc. Miscellaneous, less common codes A : Articulated coach D : Vendor's compartment (non-suburban) FF : Upper class (obsolete) HH : Horse box (rare) J : Ice compartment JJ : Refrigerator compartment K : Kitchen (obsolete) LL : Combined Luggage van and Lavatory (rare) M : (suffix) Equipped with generator N : Self-generating with diesel generator N : Non-vegetarian restaurant car (pre-1960's) Q : Attendants' compartment R : Restaurant, western style (pre-1960's) RQ : Staff van (training van) RR : (in combination) End-on Generator car for Rajdhanis, etc. RR : (by itself) Train crew rest van RZ : (by itself) Track recording car RU : (by itself) OHE inspection car S : Food stall on train (pre-1960's), also Special U : Kitchen car V : Vegetarian restaurant car (pre-1960's) W : Waiting Room (pre-1960's) ZZ : Self-powered: EMU, DMU, or Steam or Motor Rail car LHB Coach suffixes /SG : Self-generating /EOG : Non-self-generating, requiring EOG for hotel power. Codes may be aggregated to indicate composite coaches, E.g. FCS is a composite coach with first-class with coupe (FC) and second-class (S). For suburban EMU stock, YSYL indicates a composite second-class coach (YS) and a motorman's cabin / luggage coach (YL).

A gauge indication code (Y for MG, Z for NG) may be prefixed; it is usually omitted. Examples :

MEMU stock doesn't fit into this scheme. An MEMU trailer coach, for instance, may simply have the indication 'MEMU/TC' on it. 'GSDMU' is a code often seen on DMU cars with General (GS) accommodation.

Source - IFRCA.org