980:, especially during the 19th century when the railways were at their peak. Also many warships are themselves named after attributes that suggest power, speed and strength, which make such names very suitable for locomotives. The London & North Western Railway's Renown Class were nearly all named for British warships, as were British Rail's Warship Class diesel locomotives (TOPS classes 41-43) and, after refurbishment, the Class 50. In the 21st century the
24:
1212:
Similar to the
British Empire names (see above), war and battle-related names were popular in the early 20th century as a demonstration of patriotism. The Crimean, Boer and First World wars in particular provided inspiration and the Southern Railway used the Battle of Britain as inspiration for some
413:
Railway companies, anxious to underline their patriotism and also seeking to add a dash of the exotic to their service, found the Empire to be an endless source of good locomotive names. The names of countries, Dominions, regions, colonies and cities in the Empire were all adopted. This trend was at
560:
In the 1980s, naming of rolling stock started to occur more frequently after some thirty years out of fashion. Unfortunately, many of the names applied since then have been commercial or promotional in nature, and thus rather temporary; some names only being carried for a matter of months. These
282:
Important people like to be flattered, and what better way than to name a locomotive after them. It also gave the railways a bit of grandeur. Hence, locomotives were named after Earls, Lords & Ladies, Prime
Ministers and other senior political figures amongst others (see also 'Royalty').
672:
As imposing natural sights - and often intriguing names - the application of names of mountains, hills, bens and glens to locomotives has become long-standing. British Rail's Class 44 locos were all named after various UK hills and mountains, giving rise to the nickname for the type of
904:
days, this has extended to marking the employment or retirement of long-serving staff, including some relatively low-ranking staff. Both
Hunslet-Barclay and GB Railfreight named locomotives operated by them after female members of staff (see also 'Girls' names').
899:
In the past, the senior directors of railway companies often found their names on the sides of their most prestigious locomotives. Later, staff who had been awarded a medal for bravery either in military or civilian life were honoured and, since late
928:
With the upsurge in locomotive naming from the mid-1980s, the staff at many railway depots sought to have one of their fleet named after their depot. In some cases, such a naming celebrated an important anniversary for the depot, its achievement of
852:
named a whole class of locos after the Kings of
Britain and England working backwards from the then current monarch, King George V. Monarchs of other countries were also honoured, though often generically (e.g. The Belgian Monarch).
147:, and the principal themes are set out in the table below, together with some examples of locomotive classes where all or a large proportion carried such names. Two other types of thematic naming of locomotive classes have occurred:
759:
Mythology has proved to be a rich source of exotic and impressive names for locomotives, particularly during the
Victorian era. In more recent times, only the more familiar of the mythological figures have been commemorated, e.g.
1099:, which was owned and operated by the Southern Railway. The class was designed during the Second World War and so the naming scheme was also an appropriate tribute to the companies involved in the
1255:
provided a source of distinctive names for steam locomotives built before World War I, and again for the post-war LNER-designed Class A1; both characters and locations in the novels being used.
1447:
1130:
The railway may have put them out of business, but it was not averse to using the names applied to old stagecoaches to its new locomotives, especially in the early days of the railways.
848:
Railway companies have often sought to gain publicity by naming one of their latest locomotives after the reigning monarch. Historic kings and queens were also remembered. Indeed, the
41:
1161:
named all its locomotives in this way. Such names fell out of favour because passengers could sometimes confuse the name of the locomotive with the destination of the train. The
482:
Principal cities, counties and regions, usually but not always those served by the railway concerned, have been honoured (see also 'British Empire' and 'Towns on Route').
151:
Each name, though drawn from a variety of different people and things, was strongly connected to the locality through which the owning railway operated. For example the
235:, the world's fastest steam locomotive). However, the most unusual animal names applied were those given to the LNER's Class B1 locos; those of varieties of antelope.
1157:
Whether for promotional reasons, civic pride, or some other reason, many companies in the early 20th century named locomotives after the towns that they served. The
367:
in its early days. Stars suggest regularity and permanence, planets suggest size or strength while comets and other astronomical bodies carry connotations of speed.
247:
was more noteworthy! A particular use of this theme was the use of names of fish and other aquatic animals to classify wagons used for maintenance purposes, such as
414:
its peak in the early 20th century, but in the 1960s, as Empire shrank, these names disappeared entirely together with the steam locomotives that had carried them.
217:
Hardly an animal type has been passed over as a source of names. Birds, dogs, fish, mammals, molluscs, pre-historic, and fictional animals have all featured. The
1192:
1027:
An extension of the
Monarchs theme, members of the extended Royal Family have also been honoured, including Princes & Princesses and Dukes & Duchesses.
984:
Class 68 mixed-traffic locomotives carry names shared with Royal Navy ships past and present (with the exception of the first of the class, named 'Evolution').
960:
876:
after famous racehorses (the implied connection is obvious) and such names were carried by a locomotives in a succession of steam, diesel and electric types.
387:
Railways have often recognised popular attractions on their route, not least because it might help their business. From geographical attractions (such as
152:
88:
1166:
794:
Companies wishing to show a sense of history and pride, have often applied names that recall historic railway companies and famous old locomotives.
60:
1452:
455:
Abbeys, cathedrals and minsters have been popular names (see also 'Attractions on Route'), as have the names of
Christian saints and churchmen.
295:
Both historic knights and contemporary regiments and their commanders have been honoured by locomotive naming (see also 'Wars & Battles').
67:
1064:
The names of prominent engineers, especially railway and locomotive engineers, scientists and noted figures in industry have inspired names.
1007:
999:
1158:
1103:. In peacetime the Merchant Navy class were the SR's main express engine and the engines were commonly used on the company's prestigious
74:
1221:
locomotive). Wars could also lead to de-naming; many locomotives with German-sounding names were de-named in the early months of the
1213:
of its 1940s steam locomotives (see 'Royal Air Force'). Some companies also used a locomotive as their war memorial, hence the name
107:
56:
561:
names celebrate contracts to move coal and other freight (including a series of engines named after shells to mark the link with
222:
945:
The aircraft, airfields, squadrons and their commanders that played an important role in World War II were commemorated by the
879:
45:
715:
544:
120:
Since the invention of the very first railway steam locomotive in 1804, railway companies have applied names to their
81:
1091:
The most famous example is the
Southern Railway's Merchant Navy class, where each engine was named after one of the
680:
443:
657:
has revived an example set by the LNER of naming some of its locomotives after principal
English football clubs.
1270:
1034:
883:
801:
711:
501:
143:
Locomotive names have been inspired by a variety of topics over the two centuries of railway operation in the
677:. Many of BR's Class 60 locomotives were also given these names, although sadly most have now been removed.
34:
1114:
1100:
340:
Locomotives have been named after notable actors, artists, composers and singers (see also 'Literature').
270:
565:), one-off events (like the Commonwealth Games), or publicity tie-ins with radio stations or newspapers.
1218:
1200:
1170:
1118:
1079:
1075:
1015:
1011:
1003:
950:
946:
916:
887:
849:
836:
832:
813:
809:
782:
778:
692:
688:
684:
650:
597:
584:
580:
576:
572:
568:
521:
517:
513:
509:
470:
398:
364:
347:
343:
314:
310:
306:
218:
183:
175:
163:
133:
1096:
1038:
987:
981:
873:
797:
497:
302:
187:
1228:
828:
805:
744:
719:
548:
538:
1258:
1071:
1067:
1052:
351:
1188:
1196:
1176:
995:
991:
562:
421:
298:
231:
226:
140:
locomotives (though numbers were given to such locomotives that it inherited from elsewhere).
825:
Authors, poets and sometimes their fictional creations as well (see also 'Waverley Novels').
1248:
1252:
1222:
1162:
707:
731:
The speed and power of fast winds have a clear symbolic link to that of the locomotive.
155:
built in the 1920s carried the names of famous and fictional
Londoners of varying types.
1262:
1184:
1180:
1145:
1030:
977:
956:
860:
856:
660:
654:
637:
623:
619:
615:
611:
607:
603:
600:
in particular mined this source heavily for hundreds of its mixed traffic locomotives.
505:
493:
489:
485:
466:
462:
458:
439:
417:
407:
374:
370:
328:
262:
144:
1441:
1266:
1232:
1092:
912:
908:
772:
425:
266:
171:
129:
1142:
A notable exponent was the naming of many of the LNER's Class D49 after fox hunts.
1108:
901:
534:
159:
775:, the more powerful engines carrying female names, and the other class male ones.
1236:
768:. Such names were used for the electric passenger train locomotives used on the
137:
23:
872:
It became a tradition to name the principal express locomotives working on the
1104:
973:
121:
1217:, carried by a succession of engines in honour of the war dead (and now on a
747:
or, latterly, private tour operators have carried contemporary girls' names.
769:
125:
259:(track-laying flat wagon with cranes fitted). (See also 'Racehorses'.)
225:
were also fond of birds for their fast express locomotives, given that
704:
Rivers, lakes, and other bodies have water have featured regularly.
1360:
1358:
1356:
1354:
1341:
1339:
1337:
1335:
1333:
1331:
1318:
1316:
1314:
1312:
1310:
1297:
1295:
1293:
158:
Each name commenced with the same word or letters. For example,
17:
166:
engines each carried a two-word name, the first of which was
132:. Numbers have usually been applied too, but not always; the
1173:
removed all such names on its locomotives during 1927-1930.
229:, their principal designer, was a keen ornithologist (note
395:), all types of attraction have been promoted in this way.
1165:
denamed all the LTS locos when it took over in 1912, the
363:
A popular theme with many companies, but especially the
197:
48:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1412:
1400:
1388:
1376:
1364:
1345:
1322:
1301:
1448:British Rail numbering and classification systems
1429:Marsden & Ford, Colin J & Darren (1998).
533:The theme of Scottish clans was renewed in late
221:had an entire class named after birds, and the
976:has long been an important institution in the
743:Carriages, particularly those operated by the
8:
153:Metropolitan Railway's electric locomotives
668:Geographical features - Hills & Dales
108:Learn how and when to remove this message
57:"Naming of British railway rolling stock"
1167:London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
1289:
190:had names commencing with the letters
1431:Encyclopedia of Modern Traction Names
933:quality status, or even its closure.
895:Railway Company Directors & Staff
7:
1159:London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
968:Royal Navy (Admirals & Warships)
46:adding citations to reliable sources
790:Historic Railways & Locomotives
755:Greek, Roman & Norse Mythology
14:
223:London and North Eastern Railway
22:
33:needs additional citations for
1453:Rolling stock of Great Britain
541:carriages based in Scotland.
136:only applied names to its own
1:
1016:Direct Rail Services Class 68
727:Geographical features - Winds
700:Geographical features - Water
556:Commercial & Promotional
255:(3-way ballast hopper), and
182:as the first word, and the
1469:
1087:Ships & Shipping Lines
1046:Schools & Universities
961:SR Battle of Britain Class
278:Aristocracy & Politics
243:might not be unusual, but
1060:Science & Engineering
537:days for a number of its
1433:. Channel AV Publishing.
1035:LMS Princess Royal Class
712:SECR K and SR K1 classes
1413:Marsden & Ford 1998
1401:Marsden & Ford 1998
1389:Marsden & Ford 1998
1377:Marsden & Ford 1998
1365:Marsden & Ford 1998
1346:Marsden & Ford 1998
1323:Marsden & Ford 1998
1302:Marsden & Ford 1998
693:National Power Class 59
1115:SR Merchant Navy class
1101:Battle of the Atlantic
178:engines similarly had
1193:SR West Country Class
1171:Great Western Railway
1169:around 1906, and the
1119:British Rail Class 40
1080:British Rail Class 86
1076:British Rail Class 60
951:Great Western Railway
931:British Standard 5750
917:British Rail Class 86
888:British Rail Class 55
850:Great Western Railway
814:British Rail Class 86
810:British Rail Class 47
689:British Rail Class 60
685:British Rail Class 44
598:Great Western Railway
478:Cities & Counties
471:British Rail Class 91
399:British Rail Class 91
365:Great Western Railway
315:British Rail Class 86
311:British Rail Class 55
307:British Rail Class 45
219:Great Western Railway
134:Great Western Railway
1039:LMS Coronation Class
988:SR Lord Nelson Class
982:Direct Rail Services
874:East Coast Main Line
798:LMS Royal Scot Class
498:LMS Coronation Class
383:Attractions on Route
303:LMS Royal Scot Class
188:Rail Express Systems
186:engines operated by
42:improve this article
1229:GWR Iron Duke Class
1189:LB&SCR A1 Class
745:Pullman Car Company
638:GWR Badminton Class
612:Modified Hall Class
391:) to museums (e.g.
1259:GWR Waverley Class
1208:Wars & Battles
1138:Traditional Events
1107:expresses serving
1072:GWR Victoria Class
1068:GWR Hawthorn Class
1053:SR V Schools class
829:BR Britannia Class
806:BR Britannia Class
720:BR Britannia Class
352:Eurotunnel Class 9
251:(ballast hopper),
1276:
1275:
1197:LMS Patriot Class
1177:GWR Swindon Class
1097:Southampton docks
996:LMS Jubilee Class
992:LNWR Renown Class
422:LMS Jubilee Class
418:GWR Bulldog Class
299:LMS Patriot Class
263:GWR Bulldog Class
232:LNER 4468 Mallard
227:Sir Nigel Gresley
118:
117:
110:
92:
1460:
1434:
1416:
1410:
1404:
1398:
1392:
1386:
1380:
1374:
1368:
1362:
1349:
1343:
1326:
1320:
1305:
1299:
1249:Sir Walter Scott
1111:at Southampton.
957:GWR Castle Class
947:Southern Railway
616:GWR Grange Class
490:GWR first County
440:GWR Castle Class
322:Arthurian Legend
198:
113:
106:
102:
99:
93:
91:
50:
26:
18:
1468:
1467:
1463:
1462:
1461:
1459:
1458:
1457:
1438:
1437:
1428:
1425:
1420:
1419:
1411:
1407:
1399:
1395:
1387:
1383:
1375:
1371:
1363:
1352:
1344:
1329:
1321:
1308:
1300:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1263:GWR Saint Class
1253:Waverley Novels
1244:Waverley Novels
1223:First World War
1163:Midland Railway
941:Royal Air Force
708:GWR River Class
620:GWR Manor Class
604:GWR Saint Class
459:GWR Saint Class
444:HR Castle Class
393:Royal Armouries
114:
103:
97:
94:
51:
49:
39:
27:
12:
11:
5:
1466:
1464:
1456:
1455:
1450:
1440:
1439:
1436:
1435:
1424:
1421:
1418:
1417:
1405:
1393:
1391:, p. 2-3.
1381:
1379:, p. 6-7.
1369:
1350:
1327:
1306:
1288:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1274:
1273:
1256:
1246:
1240:
1239:
1226:
1210:
1204:
1203:
1174:
1155:
1153:Towns on Route
1149:
1148:
1146:LNER Class D49
1143:
1140:
1134:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1122:
1121:
1112:
1093:shipping lines
1089:
1083:
1082:
1065:
1062:
1056:
1055:
1050:
1048:
1042:
1041:
1031:GWR Star Class
1028:
1025:
1019:
1018:
985:
978:United Kingdom
970:
964:
963:
954:
943:
937:
936:
934:
926:
924:Railway Depots
920:
919:
906:
897:
891:
890:
877:
870:
864:
863:
861:GWR King Class
857:GWR Star Class
854:
846:
840:
839:
826:
823:
817:
816:
795:
792:
786:
785:
776:
757:
751:
750:
748:
741:
735:
734:
732:
729:
723:
722:
705:
702:
696:
695:
678:
670:
664:
663:
661:LNER Class B17
658:
655:GB Railfreight
647:
645:Football Clubs
641:
640:
635:
633:
627:
626:
624:LNER Class B17
601:
594:
592:Country Houses
588:
587:
566:
558:
552:
551:
542:
531:
525:
524:
506:LNER Class D49
486:GWR City Class
483:
480:
474:
473:
463:GWR Star Class
456:
453:
447:
446:
437:
435:
429:
428:
415:
411:
408:British Empire
402:
401:
396:
385:
379:
378:
371:GWR first Star
368:
361:
355:
354:
341:
338:
332:
331:
329:LSWR N15 Class
326:
324:
318:
317:
296:
293:
287:
286:
284:
280:
274:
273:
260:
215:
209:
208:
205:
202:
196:
195:
156:
145:United Kingdom
130:multiple units
116:
115:
30:
28:
21:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1465:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1446:
1445:
1443:
1432:
1427:
1426:
1422:
1414:
1409:
1406:
1402:
1397:
1394:
1390:
1385:
1382:
1378:
1373:
1370:
1366:
1361:
1359:
1357:
1355:
1351:
1347:
1342:
1340:
1338:
1336:
1334:
1332:
1328:
1324:
1319:
1317:
1315:
1313:
1311:
1307:
1303:
1298:
1296:
1294:
1290:
1283:
1278:
1272:
1271:LNER Class A1
1268:
1267:GCR Class 11F
1264:
1260:
1257:
1254:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1241:
1238:
1234:
1233:GCR Class 11F
1230:
1227:
1224:
1220:
1216:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1205:
1202:
1198:
1194:
1190:
1186:
1185:Bulldog Class
1182:
1178:
1175:
1172:
1168:
1164:
1160:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1150:
1147:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1135:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1123:
1120:
1116:
1113:
1110:
1106:
1102:
1098:
1094:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1084:
1081:
1077:
1073:
1069:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1057:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1043:
1040:
1036:
1032:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1020:
1017:
1013:
1009:
1005:
1001:
997:
993:
989:
986:
983:
979:
975:
971:
969:
966:
965:
962:
958:
955:
952:
948:
944:
942:
939:
938:
935:
932:
927:
925:
922:
921:
918:
914:
913:LNER Class A4
910:
909:GCR Class 11E
907:
903:
898:
896:
893:
892:
889:
885:
884:LNER Class A2
881:
880:LNER Class A3
878:
875:
871:
869:
866:
865:
862:
858:
855:
851:
847:
845:
842:
841:
838:
834:
830:
827:
824:
822:
819:
818:
815:
811:
807:
803:
802:LNER Class A1
799:
796:
793:
791:
788:
787:
784:
780:
777:
774:
773:Woodhead Line
771:
770:trans-Pennine
767:
763:
758:
756:
753:
752:
749:
746:
742:
740:
737:
736:
733:
730:
728:
725:
724:
721:
717:
716:HR Loch Class
713:
709:
706:
703:
701:
698:
697:
694:
690:
686:
682:
679:
676:
671:
669:
666:
665:
662:
659:
656:
653:locomotives,
652:
648:
646:
643:
642:
639:
636:
634:
632:
629:
628:
625:
621:
617:
613:
609:
605:
602:
599:
595:
593:
590:
589:
586:
582:
578:
574:
570:
567:
564:
559:
557:
554:
553:
550:
549:BR Clan Class
546:
545:HR Clan Class
543:
540:
536:
532:
530:
527:
526:
523:
519:
515:
511:
507:
503:
502:HR Duke Class
499:
495:
494:second County
491:
487:
484:
481:
479:
476:
475:
472:
468:
465:, rebuilt as
464:
460:
457:
454:
452:
449:
448:
445:
441:
438:
436:
434:
431:
430:
427:
426:LNER Class A4
423:
419:
416:
412:
410:
409:
404:
403:
400:
397:
394:
390:
386:
384:
381:
380:
376:
372:
369:
366:
362:
360:
357:
356:
353:
349:
345:
342:
339:
337:
334:
333:
330:
327:
325:
323:
320:
319:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
297:
294:
292:
289:
288:
285:
281:
279:
276:
275:
272:
271:LNER Class B1
268:
267:LNER Class A4
264:
261:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
233:
228:
224:
220:
216:
214:
211:
210:
206:
203:
200:
199:
193:
189:
185:
181:
177:
173:
172:Foster Yeoman
169:
165:
161:
157:
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31:This article
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1201:ARC Class 59
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1126:Stagecoaches
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1109:ocean liners
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739:Girls' names
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681:HR Ben Class
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451:Christianity
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204:Description
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40:Please help
35:verification
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1237:NBR C Class
1012:BR Class 50
1000:BR Class 41
833:BR Class 86
779:BR Class 76
569:BR Class 47
510:BR Class 86
375:second Star
344:BR Class 86
138:broad gauge
122:locomotives
1442:Categories
1423:References
1279:References
1105:boat train
1095:that used
974:Royal Navy
868:Racehorses
821:Literature
68:newspapers
563:Shell plc
496:classes;
359:Astronomy
237:Springbok
207:Examples
126:carriages
98:June 2008
1219:Class 66
1181:GWR Duke
1078: ;
1008:Class 43
1004:Class 42
844:Monarchs
837:Class 92
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651:Class 66
649:For its
608:GWR Hall
585:Class 90
581:Class 86
577:Class 58
573:Class 56
522:Class 91
518:Class 90
514:Class 87
377:classes
350: ;
348:Class 92
336:The Arts
291:The Army
249:Mackerel
184:Class 47
176:Class 59
164:Class 52
1023:Royalty
631:Flowers
433:Castles
389:Tor Bay
253:Dogfish
213:Animals
168:Western
82:scholar
1215:Valour
766:Vulcan
539:Mark 2
257:Salmon
201:Theme
180:Yeoman
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1284:Notes
675:Peaks
529:Clans
245:Bongo
89:JSTOR
75:books
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61:news
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241:Gnu
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