Infobox locomotive image captions
editFollowing a May 2024 discussion at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject UK Railways/Archive 57#Infobox_image_captions, the following guidelines are suggested for images of locomotives in infoboxes covered by Wikiproject UK Railways. This does not affect any other captions in such articles.
Readers always have the option to click through to the image description page, where more detail can be supplied. This guideline is for the information given directly to readers without having to browse away from the article.
Nothing in this guideline should diverge from the general guidelines at WP:CAPTION and (specifically for infobox images) MOS:CAPLENGTH.
Identity
editUnless the caption specifies otherwise, it may be assumed that the image illustrates the subject of the article, and this title is normally repeated at the top of the infobox immediately above the image. Identify the individual locomotive, without repeating any information that is in the article title. Therefore, if the article is about a company, identify the locomotive by class, number, and name (if any), whereas if the article is about the locomotive class, then just use the number and name. (Note: if the article is about a specific locomotive, then the name or number may be repeated in the caption for readability, see for example Locomotion No. 1.)
Date
editSince locomotives may be modified throughout their lives, give the year of the image. If a precise year is not known, at least indicate whether the locomotive is shown before or after major rebuilds or preservation.
Location
editThe location should not be given, unless it is significant to the locomotive in question, such as participation in a noteworthy event.