Unfortunately-named locomotives?

[341o2]

The list of narrow gauge locos built by Hunslet have yielded three more candidates, Cackler, Lady Madcap and Torpedo

 

[Merthyr Imp]

Had modern day marketing people been around back in the 1950s, might one of them seen 45735 Comet and thought, OK how about 45736 Dasher, 45737 Dancer, 45738 Prancer, 45739 Vixen, 457340 Cupid, 45741 Donner, 45742 Blitzen

The Great Western had broad gauge engines named Vixen and Cupid. Don't know about the rest though.

 

[Calthrop]

The list of narrow gauge locos built by Hunslet have yielded three more candidates, Cackler, Lady Madcap and Torpedo

Dinorwic Quarries locos, I believe -- as mentioned by me upthread -- yet more, which mined from the IMO splendid racehorse-names seam.

The Great Western had broad gauge engines named Vixen and Cupid. Don't know about the rest though.

I understand that Rudolph & co. were invented well post-1892 .

 

[tbtc]

I had a Scottish uncle who did Highland dancing. I'm very familiar with "Jimmy Shand and his Band"!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Shand

Ah, memories of long car journeys a generation ago, coming back from an away match, listening to BBC Radio Scotland's football coverage, which finished at six o'clock, at which stage we were always invited to "Take The Floor" with Robbie Shepherd, who always seemed to have some Jimmy Shand... << great name for a loco running around the Highlands IMHO.

when I worked at Paddington RHQ in the '80s I often saw a class 50 named 'RODNEY' I thought at the time this would be more likely to remind the passer-by of Only Fools and Horses and one of the catch-phrases of that programme, rather than the dignity of one of H.M.'s warships...

That always confused me (since I knew of Only Fools And Horses, but little about historic ships).

Same with 47 703 - St Mungo - I was aware of St Andrew and the other Scottish references on the 47/7s (Greyfriars Bobby etc) but as I'm not from the west coast I wasn't aware of the significance of St Mungo - it sounded like a bit of a rude/naughty word that you wouldn't be allowed to say nowadays - rather than a noble name of a historic figure.

 

[341o2]

Dinorwic Quarries locos, I believe -- as mentioned by me upthread -- yet more, which mined from the IMO splendid racehorse-names seam.



I understand that Rudolph & co. were invented well post-1892 .

Torpedo is in Austraila, while the first mention of Santa having reindeer was in 1821, they are named in the poem "Was the night before Christmas" by W. Clement Moore 1823, it was Rudolph who came much later. All very far removed from the Norse legend that in winter, Odin would ride across the snowy wastes bringing presents, or the Romans giving presents during Saturnalia

 

[43096]

Dinorwic Quarries locos, I believe -- as mentioned by me upthread -- yet more, which mined from the IMO splendid racehorse-names seam.

I see what you did there!

 

[edwin_m]

Torpedo is in Austraila, while the first mention of Santa having reindeer was in 1821, they are named in the poem "Was the night before Christmas" by W. Clement Moore 1823, it was Rudolph who came much later. All very far removed from the Norse legend that in winter, Odin would ride across the snowy wastes bringing presents, or the Romans giving presents during Saturnalia

They can't have a loco called Rudolph anyway, as they aren't allowed to carry red lights at the front.

I see what you did there!

Really dig that one?

 

[Steamysandy]

Ah, memories of long car journeys a generation ago, coming back from an away match, listening to BBC Radio Scotland's football coverage, which finished at six o'clock, at which stage we were always invited to "Take The Floor" with Robbie Shepherd, who always seemed to have some Jimmy Shand... << great name for a loco running around the Highlands IMHO.



That always confused me (since I knew of Only Fools And Horses, but little about historic ships).

Same with 47 703 - St Mungo - I was aware of St Andrew and the other Scottish references on the 47/7s (Greyfriars Bobby etc) but as I'm not from the west coast I wasn't aware of the significance of St Mungo - it sounded like a bit of a rude/naughty word that you wouldn't be allowed to say nowadays - rather than a noble name of a historic figure.

St Mungo is associated with Glasgow but Mungoswells lies just west of Drem on the south side of the East Coast MainLine in East Lothian!

 

[70014IronDuke]

Agree 100%. One evening my mum had taken me to London for some reason that I have forgotten - I guess I was about six or seven years old. We left Kings Cross on the 17:00 to Hertford North - the same booked time as the down "Talisman". Both left on time. Our N2 (as I imagine it was) with 6 or so up out-accelerated the Talisman, so at some point in the depths of Gasworks Tunnel our carriage window came alongside 60055 "Woolwinder" in all her green paint and glory - I just remember the name and the great 6 ft 8in driving wheels going round, right outside the window. I was hooked - on A3s, Woolwinder in particular and railways in general!!

Wonderful story! These days a kid would probably not even notice it, he'd be tied up on his mobile ap.
And coincidental that it should involve Woolwinder. A few weeks ago, I was wondering as to which A3 was the first I'd ever seen, and I simply had no idea. (I remember my first A2 - Dante - and my first A1 - Pommern, and I have a memory of the sightings.) Now you mention it, I'm kind of 85% sure it was Woolwinder, although I don't actually remember the event. It was at Sandy, probably around February-March 1961.) I think it was an early withdrawal, so I only saw it the once.

As with so very much in subjects of one's personal "fancy": it comes down to personal opinion / sentiment and "de gustibus" -- nobody's objectively right or wrong ! I'm very much with @70014IronDuke on this particular question -- as I think I've made clear in this thread, I love the whole thing of racehorse names for locos, finding in it an element of mad, surreal poetry; but others feel otherwise -- and total freedom of opinion, "as should be".

Honourable mention should also be given to some A1s. I think we can forget Archibald Sturrock, but Hal'o the Wynd was definitely up there with the very best in surreal madness, even though I'm not at all sure to what Hal was or wasn't. Silurian not bad, either.

 

[Blinkbonny]

Not forgetting Auld Reekie!

 

[Calthrop]

Dinorwic Quarries locos, I believe -- as mentioned by me upthread -- yet more, which mined from the IMO splendid racehorse-names seam.

@43096 writes: "I see what you did there ! "

I assure you with total sincerity, that it was completely unintended...

Self (Calthrop):

I understand that Rudolph & co. were invented well post-1892 .

...the first mention of Santa having reindeer was in 1821, they are named in the poem "Was the night before Christmas" by W. Clement Moore 1823, it was Rudolph who came much later.

Shows how much I know ! So except for Rudy, they in fact all but pre-date railways...

Honourable mention should also be given to some A1s. I think we can forget Archibald Sturrock, but Hal'o the Wynd was definitely up there with the very best in surreal madness, even though I'm not at all sure to what Hal was or wasn't. Silurian not bad, either.

Google tells me that Hal o' the Wynd was named after yet another Walter Scott character. HO'TW is a nickname for one Henry Gow, who features in the novel The Fair Maid of Perth. He's a skilled smith and armour-maker, plus a fierce fighting badass in his own right. (The "Wynd" part refers not to that which blows; but to the Scotish word "Wynd", pronounced like "wined", meaning a back-street or alley.) The railways seem to have found Sir Walter's creations, a wonderful source of names. Has me feeling that some of the old fellow's novels might actually be worth reading -- I did in fact read a few, many years ago, and reckoned them -- well, "all right".

 

[Lucan]

The railways seem to have found Sir Walter's creations, a wonderful source of names. Has me feeling that some of the old fellow's novels might actually be worth reading

I'm currently reading Waverley and the name of the station should last longer than the name on any locomotive. Very good writing in a slow old-fashioned style. Tongue-in cheek a lot of the time, and surprisingly sarky and stereotypical about the Scots themselves in places. The first time Waverley (an Englishman) finds himself in the company of Scotsmen, they get blind drunk. Here is an extract that hints at what was worn or not under the kilt :

Aunt Rachel's farewell was brief and affectionate. She only cautioned her dear Edward [Waverley] ... against the fascination of Scottish beauty. She allowed that the northern part of the island contained some ancient families, but they were all Whigs and Presbyterians except the Highlanders; and respecting them she must needs say, there could be no great delicacy among the ladies, where the gentlemen's usual attire was, as she had been assured, to say the least, very singular, and not at all decorous.

 

[Merthyr Imp]

Google tells me that Hal o' the Wynd was named after yet another Walter Scott character. HO'TW is a nickname for one Henry Gow, .

Any relation to Neil Gow (60082)?

 

[Steamysandy]

I don't think so.Neil Gow was a noted fiddle ( violin) player and composer in I think the 18th century.After a crop failure he wrote Neil Gows Farewell to Whisky!
The Jimmy Shand of his day!!

 

[Merthyr Imp]

I don't think so.Neil Gow was a noted fiddle ( violin) player and composer in I think the 18th century.
The Jimmy Shand of his day!!

And had a racehorse named after him!

 

[Calthrop]

I don't think so.Neil Gow was a noted fiddle ( violin) player and composer in I think the 18th century.After a crop failure he wrote Neil Gows Farewell to Whisky!
The Jimmy Shand of his day!!

A further "Gow" item: the Wiki article on the loco concerned -- as well as briefly outlining who "Hal" was in Scott's legendarium -- mentions that the surname "Gow" is an equivalent of "Smith"; the word -- rhyming with "cow" -- being derived from the Scottish Gaelic word (no doubt spelt differently in Gaelic) for a metal-smith: appropriate to the profession of the character in the novel.

 

[Jim Jehosofat]

I got told off for suggesting that 90005 had the correct name, Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson, as he was a cripple and died in service.

 

[mcatts]

That class 90 - The Big Dish!

 

[Cowley]

That class 90 - The Big Dish!

I didn’t realise I had a loco named after me...

 

[DPWH]

A famous historic destroyer that took part in the Battle of the River Plate in 1939.

Actually a Leander Class light cruiser rather than a destroyer.

Most of the class 50s were given names of battleships, battlecruisers and aircraft carriers rather than mere cruisers. Oddly, one wasn't called Nelson.