The LNER Encyclopedia

Ive just noted the above loco in the middle of the Antelope names of the B1 class who was he?

52D: Ralph Assheton, 1901-84 Director of the LNER ,MP for the City of London 1945-50 and later Blackburn West. Later Baron Clitheroe and Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire 1971-76. No idea why he is in amongst the antelopes.

Thanks for the info i should really have googled it but you dont always get the right person. I was struck straight away about him being with the antelopes rather than with Grey and Runciman et al.

He was also Minister of Supply during 1942, so that may have something to do with it. Either that or he used to get down the local with ET - but that's pure speculation on my part.

I asked that question once on another group and some joker tried to tell us that 61036 was not named after a person, but after a species of deer or whatever - Ralph Assheton's Gazelle!

Bah Humbug! I know there were some animal species which were named after their discoverers but I don't think this was one of them. But how the LNER Director's name got into the early batch of B1s rather than into the group found in the 611XX and 612XX engines perhaps does merit an explanation. He must have been more important I suppose.

1036 was originally to be named Korrigum, and plates were cast for this.

Korrigum (Damaliscus korrigum korrigum), also known as Tiang, is a subspecies of the Topi.

Good ole Wiki!

Reminds me of the story of L.P.Parker, Running Superintendent, Southern Area who had a problem with B1 61005 'Bongo', which spent some time at Parkeston, stating that it should not be used on the Hook Continental boat train. He evidently thought the name inappropriate, lacking gravitas and that it conveyed the wrong impression to overseas visitors. No idea whether anyone took any notice of his edict ,though he could evidently be a somewhat terrifying figure.

I was a BONGO once.
One of the terms applied to new recruits in the Army pre passing out.

I have posted on the subject of B1 names before. ET could have sent the tea lad round to Regents Park to get some more antelope type names. Due to species being introduced to the UK and resident deer we could have had 61041 Muntjac, 61042 Pere Davids, 61043 Red Deer, 61044 Fallow Deer and if im completely out of order with sponsorship we could have had 61045 Reebok and 61046 Adidas.

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