Naming Update

Network Rail’s 97303 was named Dave Berry in a ceremony at Shrewsbury Coleham depot on December 17. Mr Berry, who died in April 2021, had worked on the railway since the early 1970s and was latterly employed as a project manager at Shrewsbury.

The naming was carried out in the presence of Mr Berry’s family and a number of his colleagues. It means that all three of Network Rail’s operational Class 97/3s now carry names, with 97302 named Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and 97304 John Tiley.

The fourth Class 97/3 is unnamed 97301, although this locomotive has been out of service since 2018 and is currently stored at Loram’s site at Derby.

97303 is the second locomotive to be named Dave Berry, with 73202 also previously carrying the name, although that locomotive was named after a long-standing fitter from Stewarts Lane of the same name.

Two GWR HST power cars have received names during January, with 43005 being named St Michael’s Mount and 43187 christened Cardiff Castle. Both of these namings are in line with GWR’S theme of naming its ‘Castle’ set Class 43s after castles and landmarks in and around its operating area. The nameplates were applied without ceremony at Plymouth Laira depot.

20303 has lost its Max Joule 19581999 nameplates in readiness for the locomotive to be handed over to its new owner following its recent sale by Direct Rail Services. The nameplates were originally carried by 20301, but were transferred to 20303 after 20301 was taken out of service. Nemesis Rail’s 47640 has been shorn of its University of Strathclyde

nameplates prior to leaving its base for the past 18 years at Shackerstone on The Battlefield Line.

Tim Rogers ABOVE: Network Rail’s 97303 has been named Dave Berry after one of its project managers at Shrewsbury, who passed away in April 2021. 97303 works 3Q15 Coleham to Coleham test train south through Neston on January 11, 2022.