Railway Ministry Explains Why The Last Coach Of Most Trains Have The Big 'X' Symbol

While travelling by train, one gets curious about a lot that goes on en route. The people, the customs, and the vibe of a train are surely distinct from any other transport. One of these days, while waiting for your train to arrive, your eyes might have lingered on a curious ¡®X¡¯ symbol behind the trains passing by.

Reason Behind Trains Having "X" On Last Coach Explained

Wikimedia Commons

The large ¡®X¡¯ has kept many wondering. Now, to clear up these age-old doubts, the Ministry of Railways' official Twitter account is stepping up. Taking to the microblogging platform, the Railway Ministry explained the simple yet essential function of the symbol.

Their tweet explained how the symbol is a confirmation for the railway employees that the train with the ¡®X¡¯ mark has passed without leaving any coaches behind, hence signifying the last coach of the train. They wrote in a tweet, ¡°The letter ¡®X¡¯ on the last coach of the train denotes that the train has passed without any coaches being left behind.¡±

Check out the post below:

Did you Know?

The letter ¡®X¡¯ on the last coach of the train denotes that the train has passed without any coaches being left behind. pic.twitter.com/oVwUqrVfhE

¡ª Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) March 5, 2023

Internet Also Points Out The Meaning Behind The 'LV' Sign On Trains

Wikimedia Commons

Many people online had no idea that the symbol was used as a signifier among railway employees. Adding to the ministry¡¯s PSA, people on the internet also explained to the novice how the ¡®LV¡¯ sign too is used in a similar way. The letters signify that the coach bearing the sign is the "last vehicle" of the train, thus marking the last coach of a passenger train.

One user explained, "The LV ie Last Vehicle board in the day time and a flickering tail lamp at night mean that the train has arrived fully. It is the duty of the Guard to put up the LV board during day time and the tail lamp at night. This is true for both passenger carrying train or Freight train."

The LV ie Last Vehicle board in the day time and a flickering tail lamp at night mean that the train has arrived fully. It is the duty of the Guard to put up the LV board during day time and the tail lamp at night. This is true for both passenger carrying train or Freight train

¡ª Rajiv Misra (@RajivMisra12) March 5, 2023

Another person mentioned how as a child they would always pick their minds to make sense of these symbols, "These symbols 'X' and 'LV' used to be on my mind from childhood. Thanks for providing the answer."

Also LV (Last vehicle).
These symbols 'X' and 'LV' used to be on my mind from childhood.
Thanks for providing the answer. ? pic.twitter.com/vaMOU53Tun

¡ª Rennie O Mathews (@Rennie_Mathews) March 5, 2023

While one added, ¡°also mention LV board that is last vehicle which is put on loco or coach or any carriage more important then X.¡±

also mention LV board that is last vehicle which is put on loco or coach or any carriage more important then X

¡ª Arpan Mitra (@arpan355) March 5, 2023

Some shared their personal deductions of these symbols, ¡°And I used to think it meant to denote an Express train. A lot of passenger trains don't have this symbol at the end... Hence, I deduced the above,¡± one shared.

?... And I used to think it meant to denote an Express train. A lot of passenger trains don't have this symbol at the end... Hence, I deduced the above.

¡ª GVS Swaroop (@GvsSwaroop) March 6, 2023

Another figured, ¡°I thought it's vector representation, when a vector comes towards you it's denoted by dot (train's headlight), and if a vector going away from you it is denoted by X.¡±

I thought it's vector representation, when a vector comes towards you it's denoted by dot (train's headlight), and if a vector going away from you it is denoted by X

¡ª Harshit K Soni, Ph.D (@harshitksoni) March 5, 2023