The LNER Encyclopedia

I just got in this afternoon from my daily 4 mile walk and was just flicking through the tv channels prior to countdown starting !!! when I came across a lady on Dickinson's Real Deal wanting to sell a winner's silver cup and a painting of a pigeon.She said the pigeon was called Batchelors Button and the painting had been done to commemorate the bird winning a famous race in 1911.
Is this the bird after which 60537 was named ?-not quite as glamorous as a racehorse.

RCTS Volume 2a gives:-

Bachelors Button winner of 1905 Doncaster Cup

so I think the racehorse came first (if you will forgive the pun!)

Batchelors Button at the end of her days dumped at Bathgate shed in February 1964 waiting the torch. Irish Elegance alongside.

Race horse names are often carefully chosen references to their parents, but in this case the Sire was WINKFIELD and the dam MILADY and I cannot see any readily contrived name from those.

He won the 1904 and 1905 Doncaster Cup and the 1906 Ascot Gold Cup with many other minor wins. His main challenger seems to have been PRETTY POLLY.

Please note: the loco's name is Bachelors Button (no apostrophe, no 't').

2512silverfox wrote: ↑Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:21 am Race horse names are often carefully chosen references to their parents, but in this case the Sire was WINKFIELD and the dam MILADY and I cannot see any readily contrived name from those...

It may have to do with the owner. The use of such a button was a signal that a bachelor he intended to remain.