h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think that a lot of the trouble with the rail network today can be resolved by putting a bit of ooooomph and grunt back into the naming of the trains themselves.

As a person who has grown up with the names 'Flying Scotsman' 'Pendennis Castle' and 'Mallard' evoking a (rose tinteted )era of fast, powerful and punctual train travel, I was astounded to see some of the present engine names on First Great Western.
'First transforming travel' 'TravelWatch SouthWest' and 'Dartington International Summer School' hardly inspire do they?
I know they do some charitable ones too (I thought 'The Emphysema Express' a step too far however), but surely there is room for some really inspirational names?

Suggestions?

You cast light on the darkening shadows of memories
from brighter times. We used to name our 'regular routes'
here in Canada regardless of the locomotives used in the
service on a day to day basis. The Transcontinental, The
Ocean Limited...

But yeah, the last new great railway name I can recall was
Grand Funk Railroad, a rock band and 40 years ago.
http://youtu.be/sSQOeQakExU


~jwf~

And, let us not forget Thomas the Tank Engine.

Or the Little Engine That Could.


~jwf~

To give them their due, First Great Western still carry on the tradition you noted of inspiring sound routes for their trains.

The Cornish Riviera , The Night Riviera , and the Royal Duchy all evoke a bit of the old glory.

Not to forget Ivor the engine

The Orient Express was an entire train on a specific route was it not?
More than one locomotive, named or unnamed would have served?
Though I feel I've seen the name painted on locos in films. Or perhaps
there were dedicated Orient Express carriages on those trains.

Would it have been called the Orient Express in both directions?
Eastbound and Westbound?

You may be interested to know that Samson was the name of
our oldest locomotive in Nova Scotia and that it survives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson_(locomotive)


~jwf~

How about:-

Sir Nigel Gresley?
City of Truro?
Tornado?

THOSE would be great names.

PP.

Thank you.

I have just had a look and Bittern is running through Hitchin this morning. I'm going to go and have a look at it passing through.

PP.

Bittern approaching Hitchin at about 9 this morning.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25054226@N08/9163247011/lightbox/

I'm turning into a nerd or a geek. Not sure which.

PP.

Oh dear.

This opportunity arose today on my way to work.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25054226@N08/9199082743/lightbox/

Tornado approaching Hitchin.

PP.

You have an excellent journey to work if that's the view PP.

I can almost smell the steam.

Give Me Steam !

Suggestions for engines :

...The Sir Michael Jagger...

...The Wrong Trousers...

...The Douglas Adams...

...Cloudbuster...

A Grand Day Out.

PP.

Coo-choo.


~jwf~

A grand day out

Now that would be a bright red engine with a very determined, but friendly, whistle

.......And Cloudbuster is inspired

Perhaps, if we get some great ideas like that, I may just send off a missive to FGW with our suggestions.