An iconic Black Country shuttle train, which runs on Britain’s shortest branch line, has been named “The Stourbridge Lion.”
The quirky machine goes back and forth along the 0.8-mile route between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction stations. The trip takes just three minutes.
Until now it has been known as the “Stourbridge Shuttle.” It was renamed following a community competition by West Midlands Railway (WMR).
The winning name, “The Stourbridge Lion,” was suggested by a customer and chosen by a WMR judging panel.
“The Stourbridge Lion” commemorates an early steam train built in the Black Country town in 1829, which became the first locomotive to run in America.
Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “We are proud to be at the heart of our communities and this new name for our popular Stourbridge Shuttle reflects the long-standing connection between the Black Country and the railway.
200 years since the start of modern railways in Britain
“We’re almost coming to the end of Railway 200, a year-long celebration of two centuries of the modern railway, so we felt this name suggestion was a particularly timely reminder of Stourbridge’s industrial history.”
This year, Britain’s railway has been celebrating its 200th anniversary following the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825.
A name plate for The Stourbridge Lion was affixed to unit 139001 earlier this month. The train is operated by Pre Metro Operations Ltd on behalf of West Midlands Railway.
Ian Clee remembered
As part of the competition, WMR received a number of requests to honour the life of Ian Clee, a long-serving member of staff at Stourbridge Junction ticket office who died last year following a short battle with cancer. A memorial plaque in Ian’s memory was installed at the station earlier this month, next to the ticket office.
