Tablet Catchers

Welcome to scot-rail.co.uk, Scotland's online railway community. The group is for any rail enthusiast interested in the railways and trains of Scotland. It not only consists of the wiki that you're reading now, but a busy online forum and mailing list, which was accessible to registered users. From April 2024 the forum has closed, with a replacement started on Groups.io.

Breadcrumb navigation

Editing menu

The term Tablet Catcher usually refers to automatic token exchange apparatus fitted to the cab sides of locomotives that operate on single line railways. The term can also apply to the lineside equipment for both automatic and manual token exchanges.

Mansons Tablet Catcher on preserved GNSR No.49, Gordon Highlander Photo by Dysgraphyk


  • There were three main types of Automatic exchange apparatus in use on Britain's Railways
    • Manson's Apparatus (GNoS/LNER/BR, HR/LMS/BR, CR/LMS/BR ; NBR/LNER)
    • Bryson's Apparatus (GSWR/LMS/BR)
    • Whitaker's Apparatus (not used in Scotland)


  • James Manson, at the time Locomotive Superintendent of Great North of Scotland Railway, had experimented unsuccessfully with a means of avoiding hand exchanges by a device resembling that used in the exchange of mail bags. Only after discussions with John Duncan, a blacksmith with experience of cotton weaving machinery was the apparatus for exchanging tablets accorded the former's name successfully developed. This was introduced on the Coast Line and Fraserburgh branch of the GNSR in May 1889. It was then extended to the main line (only to be removed when doubled) to Keith, the Craigellachie route to Elgin, Speyside and Deeside branch lines. The GNSR lines that used the apparatus saw the introduction of diesel locomotives in the early 1960s, but had closed by May 1968.


  • The Highland Railway: From 1899, Manson's Apparatus was introduced to the Highland main line from Perth to Inverness, via both the Direct and Dava routes; the lines further north to Wick and west from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh; and east from Inverness to Keith. 163 exchange posts were installed along 340 route miles. Diesel Traction was introduced onto these routes in the 1960s. The Highland Main Line was converted to Tokenless block during 1968/69. The apparatus on the lines north of Inverness fell out of use by 1971 as tablet catchers were removed from the locomotives. The apparatus on the line to Keith saw use until 1981 while the Inverness to Aberdeen route was operated by specially fitted Class 120 DMUs.

  • The Caledonian Railway: In 1903 Manson's Apparatus was adopted on 78 miles of the Callander & Oban line, which had 38 exchange posts. The Manson's apparatus fell out of use in the early 1940s. Despite this it was still listed in the 1960 BR Sectional appendix.

  • The Portpatrick & Wigtownshire Joint: Castle Douglas to Stranraer. Operated by the Caledonian & G&SWR. Brought into use for Down trains in 1901, and Up trains from 1904. (The Manson's equipment was out of use from 1924, and replaced by the Bryson system during World War 2.)

  • North British Railway: Manson's Apparatus brought into use from 1911 on the single line stretch between Inverkeilor and Hillside (north of Montrose) on the Dundee to Aberdeen route. Between 1928 and 1932 double track had been extended to leave only Usan to Montrose South as Single line. The Manson's apparatus fell out of use in the early 1940s.


Locomotives equipped with Manson Tablet catchers

  • Apparatus on the locomotive can be grouped into two distinct styles:
    • Those that slide out horizontally from the cab to make an token exchange. These also had a detachable head that was only fitted on duties that required its use.
    • The hinged/folding type that were lowered to make the token exchange, and raised afterwards. The design of the hinged type was improved by LMS St Rollox works in the 1940s to allow a degree of vertical adjustment.

  • The apparatus was only fitted to the driver's side of the cab, with the exception of a few special purpose tank engines.


  • Highland Railway Section - hinged type of apparatus on loco cab sides.
    • Sheds: Inverness, Perth
  • Most HR Classes
  • LMS Black 5 (4-6-0), Crab (2-6-0), 8F (2-8-0), 4F (0-6-0)

  • GNoSR Section, locos fitted at Inverurie Works, slide style apparatus.
    • Sheds: Kittybrewster, Keith
  • LNER classes
    • D40, D41, D42, B12, B1

  • NBR/LNER locos fitted at Cowlairs Works - slide style, mostly tender mounted (some locos swapped tenders)
    • Sheds: Dundee/Aberdeen/also Haymarket & St Margarets

Class Exchanger Type Loco Numbers (*later removed) Photo link
LNER A1/A3
(4-6-2)
 Manson (NBR slide) cabside LNER 2563/65/66/67/68, 2796/97 (BR 60064/66/67/68/100/101) SmugMug – 2797
LNER P2
(2-8-2)
 Manson (NBR slide) tender LNER 2001-06 (later A2/1 BR 60501-06) SmugMug – 2003
LNER V2
(2-6-2)
 Manson (NBR slide) cabside LNER 3664/81, 4775/87/90/93, 4805/09/11/15/22 (60804*/16/19/22*/34*/38/40*/44*/51/937/969) Flickr – 60851
LNER C11 / NBR H
(4-4-2)
 Manson (NBR slide) tender LNER 9901-5, 9509, 9868-81 SmugMug – 9509
LNER D49
(4-4-0)
 Manson (NBR slide) cabside LNER 246/49/64/66/70, 307/09/10, 2753 (BR 62704*/06*/08*/12/13/16/17/18*/28) Flickr – 307
LNER D25 / NBR N
(4-4-0)
 Manson (NBR slide) tender NBR 598 (LNER 9598) Ebay – 9598
LNER D26 / NBR J
(4-4-0)
 Manson (NBR slide) tender NBR 318/20/22/24/27 (LNER 9318/22/24/27) Flickr – 327
LNER D29 / NBR J
(4-4-0)
 Manson (NBR slide) tender NBR 245, 338/9/40/59/60/62, 895/96/99 (LNER 2400/01/08/10/11/12/13/15) Flickr – 9340
LNER D30 / NBR J
(4-4-0)
 Manson (NBR slide) tender LNER 9413*/5/9/20/1*/2/3/5/6/7/8 (BR 62418/24/28/29/31/32/34/35/36/37/38/39/40) Flickr – 413
LNER D34 / NBR K
(4-4-0)
 Manson (NBR slide) tender NBR 291 (LNER 9221/42/91/98, 9407) (BR 62468/75/78/79) SmugMug – 62478
LNER D11/2
(4-4-0)
 Manson (NBR slide) tender LNER 6386/93-96 (BR 62679/86-89) Flickr – 6393
LNER B12
(4-6-0)
 Manson (GNSR slide) cabside LNER 8500 (BR 61500) SMugMug – 8500
LNER B12
(4-6-0)
 Manson (GNSR slide) tender LNER 8501-05/07/08/11/13/21/24/26/28/29/31/32/36/39/43/48/51/52/60/63 (BR 615xx) TransportTreasury – 61526
LNER B1
(4-6-0)
 Manson (GNSR slide) tender BR 61064/67/132-4/146-8/242/277/294, 61307/8/23/24/43/45-53, 61400/1 Flickr – 61346
LNER B1
(4-6-0)
 Manson (St Rollox) cabside BR 61292* TransportLibrary – 61292
BR Standard 5MT
(4-6-0)
 Manson (St Rollox) cabside BR 73005*/06*/07*/08*/09* Flickr – 73007
BR Standard 4MTT    
(2-6-4T)
 Manson (St Rollox) cabside BR 80004/05*/20/21/28/29, 80111/12/13*/14/15/21/22 SmugMug – 80113
Diesel Traction
EE / BR Class 20
(Bo-Bo)
 Manson (St Rollox) cabside D8028-D8034 Flickr – D8034
NBL / BR Class 21
(Bo-Bo)
 Manson (St Rollox) cabside D6138-D6157 Flickr – D6154
BR Class 24
(Bo-Bo)
 Manson (St Rollox) cabside D5114-D5132 Flickr – 5132
BRCW / BR Class 26
(Bo-Bo)
 Manson (St Rollox) cabside D5319-D5346 Flickr – D5344
DMU BR Class 120
DMBC/DMBF
 Manson (St Rollox) van doors SC51781-SC51787 Flickr – SC51782




See Also



External Links


Photo Links
Created by Dysgraphyk and last modified by him at 01:56, 10 of May 2026.