Class 91 named "Darlington Hippodrome" by town Mayor

[AndrewNewens]

I happened to be at Bank Top station on Wednesday when the Mayor of Darlington named a Class 91 "Darlington Hippodrome" to celebrate the re-opening of the theatre today (17th Nov). It's had a multi-million pound refurb (the theatre, not the loco). The theatre is visible from trains heading north out of Darlington on Yarm Road. Is this the only locomotive named after a theatre which is can actually be seen from the loco itself?

 

[johnnychips]

Is it the only loco named after a theatre anyway?

 

[DarloRich]

Is that what used to be called the Civic Theatre?

It should be called Darlington Football Club.

 

[craig87034]

91126 if anyone wants to know which loco it was

 

[greyman42]

I do not see how this justifies the naming of a loco. It seems that these days loco's can be named after anything trivial.

 

[snowball]

I do not see how this justifies the naming of a loco. It seems that these days loco's can be named after anything trivial.

Why is Darlington Hippodrome more trivial than, say, a mallard?

 

[ainsworth74]

It should be called Darlington Football Club.

Are they even in the Football League anymore? Hardly worthy of a locomotive being named after them anyway.

 

[greyman42]

Referring to post 6. That is a fair point, but people living outside of Darlington would of heard of a Mallard.

 

[DarloRich]

Are they even in the Football League anymore? Hardly worthy of a locomotive being named after them anyway.

sponsored by Virgin Train East Coast..........................................

( plus most successful North East team this decade - after some slight unpleasantness!)

 

[AlterEgo]

I do not see how this justifies the naming of a loco. It seems that these days loco's can be named after anything trivial.

They always have been. Like inconsequential members of the landed aristocracy, or a bird.

There was even once called the Gay Crusader - would love to see Souter stick that one up his...I mean on one of his locos.

 

[alexl92]

Mallard was part of a class of which most were named after birds, thanks to the interest of their designer. Loco classes/fleets today, with the exception of the GWR sleeper 57s, have no logic or pattern to their naming - it’s all just commercial/PR opportunities.

 

[CosherB]

They always have been. Like inconsequential members of the landed aristocracy, or a bird.

There was even once called the Gay Crusader - would love to see Souter stick that one up his...I mean on one of his locos.

Another example of casual homophobia.

 

[Monty]

They always have been. Like inconsequential members of the landed aristocracy, or a bird.

There was even once called the Gay Crusader - would love to see Souter stick that one up his...I mean on one of his locos.

Which was named after a race horse of the time, it was neither trivial nor political.

 

[AlterEgo]

Which was named after a race horse of the time, it was neither trivial nor political.

So naming a train after a racehorse isn’t trivial but naming it after a theatre is?

Trains have always been named for PR purposes. It’s just that PR looks different now in less patriarchal times in that castles or aristocrats or animals don’t necessarily convey the image the railway wants. Locomotives weren’t - and aren’t now - named on a whim, but for a specific purpose.

 

[AlterEgo]

Another example of casual homophobia.

Wasn’t my intention there though I can see where you’re coming from. My bad.

 

[Monty]

So naming a train after a racehorse isn’t trivial but naming it after a theatre is?

Trains have always been named for PR purposes. It’s just that PR looks different now in less patriarchal times in that castles or aristocrats or animals don’t necessarily convey the image the railway wants. Locomotives weren’t - and aren’t now - named on a whim, but for a specific purpose.

Never said it was, just responding to the comment that locomotives were named after 'trivial' things.

 

[Darandio]

Can't see an issue myself, the Civic Theatre is crucial to the town and has been closed for quite some time for refurbishment. If it raises awareness to get people into the town then good, it sure as hell needs it.

 

[greyman42]

Another example of casual homophobia.

It's called having a sense of humour. Chill out mate.