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Hey Carl,
The way I like to think of it, is this;
TOPS is a computer system, and the system used to keep track of trains in the UK.
Every different type of train is allocated a TOPS number, so for example,
A Class 08 is a shunter, assigned to Class 08 in tops.
A Class 66 is a freight locomotive, you might see a lot of these days.
A Class 150 is a DMU you probably also see a lot of.
There are lots of different classes, basically every different type of train will have its own class. You can tell which class it is because the first two or three numbers on the front of the train give it away, normally these numbers are on the yellow warning panel.
Each locomotive has a unique number after it's class number to identify it, so the first loco of Class 66 would have on the front;
66 001
then 66 002 and so on
The TOPS computer system can keep track of every train, where it's going, coming from, it's history, etc.
There are also "subclasses", so if a Class 66 loco has modifications made to it, it could become "Class 66/1", so it's number will now be
66 101
66 102
etc.
Wikipedia is a pretty good source for this, so clicking around on their, reading about TOPS, and checking out the different classes is not only educational but a fun read!
Danny
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