Naming Update
The period under review has seen two of GB Railfreight’s Class 69s named. The first was freshly-repainted maroon 69009, which has been painted into a livery reminiscent of the colour scheme originally applied to the Western Region Class 52 Western diesel-hydraulic locomotives. The distinctive-looking 69009 emerged from Arlington Fleet Services Eastleigh Works facility on February 23.
For further authenticity, the locomotive has also received cast numberplates beneath the driver’s cabside windows, and it now carries the name Western Consort, which was originally carried by Western D1065 and a personal favourite of GBRF chief executive officer John Smith.
GBRF also named 69008 Richard Howe after a respected and popular Network Rail controller. A ceremony was attended by family, friends and colleagues of Mr Howe on Platform 1 at London Victoria station on February 28.
Chiltern Railways celebrated London Marylebone station’s 125th anniversary with local residents and industry stakeholders on March 15, with the naming of 168215 as Marylebone Station 125 Years as part of the celebrations. The vinyl stickers, attached to each end corner of the train alongside the cab window, was unveiled by Chiltern managing director Richard Allan, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Coun Patricia Mcallister, and Penny Alexander, the chief executive officer of Baker Street Quarter Partnership, alongside pupils from St Edward’s Primary School.
As mentioned in Coaching Stock News, Mk.2f FO 3313 has been repainted into the umber and cream livery for its inclusion into West Coast
Railways Northern Belle set, receiving the name Warwick on the bodysides in the same style as the other named Northern Belle coaches.
Off-lease former Great Western Railway high-speed train power car 43029 had its Caldicot Castle nameplates removed before it was removed from Laria depot on March 6 and moved to the Eastern Railway Services site at Vauxhall Carriage Sidings in Great Yarmouth.