What If - Racehorse Names

[Ormonde]

Time for a first post I think. I probably know a little more about horse racing than I do about railways!

I think the general public was more conscious of flat racing by comparison with National Hunt during the time of the LNER, and maybe if a series of names were being chosen now, horses famous from jump racing would resonate better with the public. On the other hand the focus of National Hunt racing is Cheltenham, very much on the border between Midland and Great Western territories and not strongly identified with either. I always assumed it was the association between the Great Northern and Doncaster which made the classic racehorse theme so relevant. Taking a one-off jump into National Hunt territory for a new P2 would seem a bit odd.

Most, if not all, of the names of more recent classic winners would be fine as members of a series. If I had to pick one out, I'd probably go for Never Say Die, winner of the 1954 St Leger by a record margin. It would sound suitably heroic and I don't think it was used on a Deltic. But I still don't think it's right for a P2, partly because there's no Scottish association.

[Postman Prat]

Hi

Following on from BBs idea of a horse.

My first wife came from a family were ALL the females were into riding, stables etc., They did not approve of my definition

Horse - 4 legged Manure Machine

[2002EarlMarischal]

Picking up on Ormonde's point, the races whose winners' names were selected were primarily at Doncaster, Epsom and Newmarket, so any new names should follow that tradition I suppose.

When I kicked off this thread I wasn't specifically thinking of the hoped-for new P2 because logically that should have a Scottish name.

It is interesting to contemplate what theme would have been adopted for new Gresley LNER classes (4-8-2 etc) had the war not intervened or had Gresley lived and served another 10 years in office.....

[52D]

Are Musselburgh/Kelso/Perth flat race courses or over the sticks, if its flat pick the premier race of the calendar then the list of previous winners, choose a suitable winner with a Scottish connection then place said name on new P2. All criteria filled.
Hows that for the Judgement of Solomon.

[strang steel]

Picking up on Ormonde's point, the races whose winners' names were selected were primarily at Doncaster, Epsom and Newmarket, so any new names should follow that tradition I suppose.

When I kicked off this thread I wasn't specifically thinking of the hoped-for new P2 because logically that should have a Scottish name.

It is interesting to contemplate what theme would have been adopted for new Gresley LNER classes (4-8-2 etc) had the war not intervened or had Gresley lived and served another 10 years in office.....

It certainly is, and the naming of the A3s was very clever thinking, with the thoroughbred racehorse theme, because in railway terms that is what they were at the time, and the ECML was their race track.

The A4s seemed to go a little astray, but given the initial Silver Jubilee theme I suppose that is understandable, and the "golden" theme follows on from that, but the locomotives were 'fliers' in the parlance of the era, and the bird names reflected this.

It would take a little lateral thinking to choose a clever theme for a class with a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement, and my first thought was energy which is derived from power.

Whether suitable locomotive names could be found with "energy" as the them is debatable though.

[Blink Bonny]

Hi

Following on from BBs idea of a horse.

My first wife came from a family were ALL the females were into riding, stables etc., They did not approve of my definition

Horse - 4 legged Manure Machine

I know two things about the horse

and one of those is rather coarse....

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up, Strang Steel!

The reason for the "Golden" series of names was for the use on the West Riding ie Golden Shuttle and Golden Fleece. T'others were from the Wild Bird series which I reckon suited 'em.

After all, it was a duck that broke the record!

[2002EarlMarischal]

Picking up on Strang Steel's "energy" idea of course, leads us to the power of nature etc.

I wonder if anyone will think of naming an engine "Tornado" for example.

Whirlwind, Cyclone, Thunder, Lightning, Typhoon, Hurricane, Mistral........

[52D]

Wash your mouth out EM, youve mentioned GWR locos.

[2002EarlMarischal]

I promise to wash my mouth out sir! Truth is I'm so ignorant of that "other" railway that I wouldn't know what names they used! Obviously any name would look better on an LNER machine anyway!

[strang steel]

Picking up on Strang Steel's "energy" idea of course, leads us to the power of nature etc.

I wonder if anyone will think of naming an engine "Tornado" for example.

Whirlwind, Cyclone, Thunder, Lightning, Typhoon, Hurricane, Mistral........

They are quite good names really, although Tornado was originally named because of the aircraft that had just been involved in Kuwait during the first Gulf War.

In fact, on the subject of Tornado, the original name was going to be something else which had something to do with the Dutch company that was originally going to sponsor the construction.

I cant remember now, but does anyone here know what the original name for 60163 was going to be?

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Not swearwords at all, since the LNWR had a habit of picking names such as these. So, EM - yer OK with me!

[Horsetan]

....the Dutch company that was originally going to sponsor the construction.

I cant remember now, but does anyone here know what the original name for 60163 was going to be?

Red Light District? Coffee Shop?

[jwealleans]

Ruud?

[52A Modeller]

How about "Alexander Gordon" the 4th Duke of Gordon, AKA Cock o' The North?