P2 Locomotive Company and related matters

Not every loco has a name though, does it? I'd be saddened if support was dependent upon it bearing a name...

 

A name is a good marketing tool. For example, advertise "Flying Scotsman" is appearing at you local heritage line and the place will be awash with the general public. Advertise that an A3 is visiting and I'd wager numbers would be considerably lower.

 

You have a good point; so, how will the builders of 82045 &c. market their considerable efforts?

 

The obvious name for the V4 is the one they didn't use, Bantam Hen but definitely the V3 and K3 should be nameless

 

They don't have to it will just earn it's keep in SVR service

 

So if/when the V3 and K3 roam, unless in some future landscape the V3 becomes the shed shunter (!!) at Darlington, would they be sold to a line's visiting public, Hollywood-stylee as...

<fx: booming, gravelly voice>
"From the makers of Tornado and Prince Of Wales, we bring you ....<insert number here>!!"

 

Indeed and it would fit nicely with the ‘bantam’ naming tradition.

I would like to see a nod to LNER/NBR tradition by seeing a literary or ornithological name. Please not another military or royal connected name.

 

I think you are wrong. The best thing about Sheffield is the team that are restoring Hunslet 1215 and have just recently managed to get the new boiler fully certificated. If you want to know more see the War Office Loco Trust website. This is there third restoration and the have loco 4 already in their workshop.

 

Why do they need to? It will just be a solid dependable part of day-in, day-out operations on the SVR.

Tom

 

Toram Beg would work, in that case.

 

David Shepherd got it right when he named 92203 and 75029... far more marketing potential in "Black Prince" or "The Green Knight". ISTR the NYMR also named 75014 'Braveheart' after the film of the same name was partly filmed in their locality - again, smart marketing - and the name has been retained since said loco's move to the PDSR, as it fits in with their naming policy (and surely nobody could argue that 'Hercules' is not apposite for a GWR 2-8-0T!).

 

Yesterday's trip was uneventful, but my trip out to meet my mate afterwards in Grenoside was somewhat tempered by passing Hillsborough. I was listening to the match on a radio I was repairing as it all happened.

 

A good point also. I could be wrong but I wonder if 82045 etc. are being funded mostly by enthusiasts so no need for a name, whereas appeals for funding Tornado and Prince of Wales are aimed at a wider audience. I could be talking nonsense of course.

 

Wasn’t the N named after the publisher of some pornographic magazines? Hugh Heffner being dead is possibly a non-starter but I am pretty sure the former owner of the daily express and the current owner of West Ham are available. Although what with everything going online, maybe that is the way to go is naming it ‘xxxredhotvideos’. It would certainly be branching out to a new audience and with many hardcore spotters (in every sense) it would have a lot of brand recognition.

 

True, but at least the N was subtle, if you didn't know who he was, there was no clue, and if anyone asked, the answer would be "a generous benefactor to the railway"... and as this is supposed to be a family-friendly industry! That said, when the EOR was caught with its pants down (pun intended), the public reaction was a gigantic "so what!", and if anything the railway benefited from the exposure (pun unintended!)...

 

So what we need is a wealthy low key pornographer who no one has heard of

In terms of ridiculous names I think the whole ‘virgin blah blah’ is pretty stupid. Virgin invader sounds like someone who ought to be under arrest. Or the title of the sort of film they record at the eor.

 

We could both be talking nonsense...

 

Worse than Western <blah blah> as applied to the class 52s?

 

At the risk of being chased by burning pitchforks by men in anoraks, it is as bad.

 

I think you are right. "Tornado" works on a few different levels, but at the base level it is simply a word that evokes a thing of awesome power which is perfect brand recognition for a mainline steam locomotive. "Prince of Wales" will also have brand recognition because, like it or not, the Royal thing is part of the national psyche - although, for them to have maximised the potential for such a name choice, I think they are a generation or so too late!

"Flying Scotsman" has created its own legend I think, and the name is instantly recognisable - even my Missus knows that one! The "Flying" part is certainly very apt for an express steam locomotive in the same way that "Tornado" is. Does the "Scotsman" part resonate in Scotland? It certainly is catchy, and perfect for inspiring small children.