Headmarks

[marknewton]

I know that the circular/disc-shaped boards carried on locos and used to denote the names of trains are called headmarks, but what about the roller blinds that serve the same function on the limited express stock such as the 489 and 583 series EMUs? And the boards used on the older "bonnet" 485s and Kiha 82 and 181 DMUs - are these also called headmarks?

 

I'm also wondering if there's a webpage that might show these headmarks and list the train names in English?

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

[SuRoNeFu 25-501]

The roller blinds on front end is sometimes also called as "headmark", but strictly though, it is not the same with a regular headmark. So many people called it as "trainmark" instead of "headmark" for narrower sense...

 

And unfortunately, the website that introduces the headmark is only provided in Japanese...

 

But this news would be interesting for fans of headmarks and trainmarks

[marknewton]

That's still a great website though, thanks for the link, and the link to the book!

 

All the best,

 

Mark.

[bikkuri bahn]

Mark, the rollsigns used on the later JNR limited express types are generally still called headmarks, given their identical purpose to the former affixed types, but the mechanism itself is called a "houkoumaku" (literally, a destination banner/curtain).  The term is also used for the (smaller) displays on the upper sides of rolling stock, as well as on buses.

[miyakoji]

I noticed that book on Tetsudou Fan News a few nights ago.  Looks cool, and only 648 yen.

[marknewton]

Thanks bb, that's useful to know as well.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.