First to Last - Naming

Any plans that LMR had of putting nameplates only on new locomotives were scuppered by the naming of the first production series Peak, D100  at Derby Midland station on 23/09/1961. The loco was over four months old, and had a chequered start, with several visits to Works and under 20,000 miles on the clock. Neither was it chosen to celebrate any centenary of the regiment, which was formed in 1861 by the amalgamation of the 45th Foot (Nottinghamshire Regiment) and the 95th Foot(Derbyshire Regiment). These had been formed in 1741 and 1823 respectively.

The nameplate was fitted in Derby Works on 18/09/1961 and then the loco was painted up ready for the ceremony, at which the headcode blinds were wound up as "45" and "95" in homage to the two regiments. Royal Scot loco 46112 SHERWOOD FORESTER was also present.

Photo's of the original green backed nameplate have been impossible to source, so here is the replica fitted to the loco at preservation.

photo Roger Smith.

By 21/04/1976 both crests had disappeared, and these were not found or re made when the nameplates became blue after overhaul in 1979.

photo Paul Barlow 13/04/1978.

SHERWOOD FORESTER continued to run without its crests until the secondman's side plate went missing entirely in late 1981/early 1982. This was followed by the remaining plate sometime in July 1985. By 25/10/1985 Toton had fitted makeshift red plates for the remaining weeks of service which ended in December 1985, the loco still carrying these plates when sitting in the "scraplines".

photo Dicky Campbell.

So, why was just one class 46 named? It is a question that probably passed every diesel enthusiast's lips at some stage. The regiment was formed in 1957, an amalgamation of the two Yeomanry that had both been formed in 1794. Patriot steam engine 5509 had carried DERBYSHIRE YEOMANRY, and the regiment wanted this to be the name carried, however the new name was the one chosen. Presumably, both regiment and LMR wanted the name on a new diesel and with a naming ceremony arranged for 14/04/1962 at Derby Midland, the choice was probably just a case of the next off the production line at Derby Works. With the final batches of what would become class 45 production moved away to Crewe, this meant that the loco would be from those with Brush Electrical equipment. D162 was going to enter traffic too early on 09/04, so the nameplate was fitted to D163 on 05/04/1962. 

 Photo's of the original green backed nameplate have been impossible to source, so here is the replica fitted D123 (45 125) at preservation.

photo Roger Smith. 

The loco ran fully attired with nameplates and crests until late 1982(between 22/11 and 01/12), when one plate was lost. Gateshead TMD removed the other plate to create a template for a new plate and both were fitted for a re inauguration on 27/03/1983 at the depot. No further mishaps happened for the remaining twenty months of service.

photo Dicky Campbell.

With just a handful of locos left to be completed at Derby Works, all destined for North Eastern Region, meant that LMR could no longer name a loco before entering traffic. The next best thing, was fifteen day old D56, the last of, what would become, class 45 to enter traffic. It is unknown if the loco worked in traffic, or was sent from Crewe Works to Derby Works for "safe keeping" until the big day on 08/12/1962.

The naming ceremony took place at Bedford Midland Road. 

The regiment was formed in 1688 and went through a host of names before settling on this name. The regiment disappeared in 1958 after amalgamation with the Essex Regiment to form the 3rd East Anglian Regiment. However, the name was adopted by The Territorial Army and thus the bracketed addition on the nameplate. The plates and crests remained intact until removed by Toton TMD in March 1986, to avoid theft. The current whereabouts of the nameplates is unknown, although it is known that the regiment bought one at auction in 1990, but on closure of the Wardown Park Museum, Luton for refurb in 2016, the regiment is currently unable to locate it!!

photo David Hills.

click here for link to further information courtesy Steve Dexter. 

Class 45/1 Preservation Society.

Like its three predecessors, D58 was given a ceremony for its naming THE KING'S OWN ROYAL BORDER REGIMENT. This took place at Carlisle Citadel on 01/05/1963. The regiment could trace roots back to 1680, but the Regiment only aqquired the current name in 1959 when the The Border Regiment and the King's Own Royal Regiment were amalgamated. A steam loco had carried THE BORDER REGIMENT, but D58 was given the new name. The nameplate was of the same design as those that had already been named, but was of a deeper shade of red. This remained the case until late in life, when it was spruced up in the brighter red found on 45 137 etc. The loco was withdrawn as 45 043 on 12/09/1984 with nameplates still in place, albeit with the driver's side crest missing. One of the nameplates was restored and resides in the Cumbria Museum of Military Life.

photo David Hills.

click here for link to further information courtesy Steve Dexter. 

Class 45/1 Preservation Society.

The fifth production series Peak to be named was D52, again from the last batch built. Named in a ceremony on 31/10/1963 at Manchester Piccadilly the name THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIER was a direct lift from 46119, the steam loco of the same name. The nameplate was green with a white backing for the crest. This continued to be the case until late 1977 when both crests disappeared. 

photo Dicky Campbell.

click here for link to further information courtesy Steve Dexter. Class 45/1 Preservation Society.

 After an overhaul in August 1978, THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIER appeared with red nameplates but still no crests, and the loco remained thus until early 1986 when Toton removed the nameplates for good. One is held by the Regiment in its Bury Museum.

photo Dicky Campbell.

click here for link to further information courtesy Steve Dexter. 

Class 45/1 Preservation Society.

 Following on quickly after D52 was named, was D54, named THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS at St Pancras on 14/11/1963. The name was directly lifted from steam loco 45506. The black nameplate, which it kept for the rest of its career, was unveiled at 2 5pm, before the loco worked 1H32 3 25pm to Manchester Central. 

Unfortunately, sometime between July 1983 and June 1984, one of the crests was lost, but the fully intact nameplate and crest were sent to Wolverton Works for restoration after withdrawal, and presented to the Regiment in 1985.

photo David Hills.

click here for link to further information courtesy Steve Dexter. 

Class 45/1 Preservation Society.

Next up to be named was D60, without ceremony, at Derby Works on 01/05/1964. Again the loco came from the final 18 constructed. Inexplicably, the name given was LYTHAM ST. ANNES; the only connection being that Patriot steam loco 45548 had carried the name. The simple nameplate without crest was of the same style as those before, and remained red throughout the life of the loco.

D59 was named THE ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE FUSILIERS at Birmingham Snow Hill station on Friday 22nd May 1964. 

 By the late 1970s, both crests had gone missing, but the loco ran with both nameplate until the middle of 1984 when one plate was stolen. 

The loco then entered Derby Works in February 1985 for a light overhaul, where the remaining nameplate was removed. 45104 was then released back into service on 18th June 1985 with no nameplates fitted. Presumably the plate removed at Derby was the one that was repainted and presented to the regiment on 22nd September 1987…

The regiment is still in possession of the plate, although it is not currently on public display. 

In May 1986, 45104 was fitted with makeshift wooden nameplates at Toton depot. These were mounted on the body sides, nearer to the No.2 end cab than the originals and in September 1986 Toton also added painted regimental crests above the names.

One day after the naming of D59, another of the 18 Crewe loco's, D65, was selected to be named GRENADIER GUARDSMAN at Derby Works without ceremony on 23/05/1964. The loco ran with everything intact until late 1976 or early 1977, and certainly by 09/04/77

45 111 ran with everything intact until late 1976 or early 1977, and certainly by 09/04/77, both crests had disappeared and so the loco ran until between 24/08/86 and 03/09/86, when it was the last loco to carry official plates. 

In late September 1964, D53 entered Derby Works and, at some point in this visit, black ROYAL TANK REGIMENT nameplates were affixed. The loco would run with these plates for all its days until they were removed in late 1986.

 "It was a usual Friday night late session during July or August 1978 in one of Nottingham CAMRA’s favourite haunts, with local members and the Landlord discussing the merits of Home BreweryAle and Sulzer class 45 Peaks.  The side room was adorned with railway memorabilia, including smokebox numberplates, shedplates, lamps and signs.  The landlord, an ardent railfan, joking, said that he would like to see a locomotive carrying his  name around the countryside. The challenge was set and discussions continued amongst the gathered group without the knowledge of the landlord. It was decided that a single nameplate would be made from a wooden base, with individual letters pinned to it. It was to be of the correct size & painted in  the correct colours with silver lettering. About four weeks later, around 0930 on  Sunday 24th September1978, a party from the Nottinghamshire Constabulary arrived at my office in Nottingham Holding Sidings with a long wrapped parcel, quick drying wood filler and model paintpots. A quick check of the locos in the sidings, revealed only dirty examples available, but fortunately loco 45130 which had recently been outshopped from Derby Works was on its way from Toton TMD. In my capacity as Rolling Stock Supervisor, I requested the locomotive to be placed in the maintenance shed on arrival and the team attached the nameplate to No2 end drivers side. The driver taking the loco back out of the shed commented that he had not noticed the nameplate when he drove it in!! This was to be one of my last “duties” at Nottingham HS, as two weeks later I was promoted to Leicester TMD as Traction Maintenance Supervisor. The story does not end there. During my first week at Leicester, I received a letter from the Depot Engineer, at Toton TMD, advising me of the unauthorised fitting of a nameplate to 45130. The loco was scheduled a B exam at Leicester and I was to personally supervise the removal  of the nameplate!! Fortunately the loco did not arrive as scheduled, the exam being carried out at Cricklewood, which meant the nameplate remained fitted for a while longer. The loco was photographed at Sheffield, minus nameplate on March 3 1979. The plate eventually arrived at Toton and spent some time on the windowsill of the Depot Engineers Office at Toton TMD, before being raffled off at the Toton TMD Open Day, Saturday June 9th 1979. I am told that the nameplate was won by a Toton Rolling Stock Inspector who had no interest in it. Whilst walking across the boarded crossing at the end of the depot he was approached by an enthusiast and promptly sold it to him. That is where the story ends, unless you know the whereabouts of the nameplate.  A large framed photograph of 45130 NEWMARKETEER was proudly displayed in the side bar of the Newmarket Inn, Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham. for many years, until landlord Tony moved on." 

Nameplate photo.

In late 1978, 45 019 was fitted with a CITY OF SHEFFIELD nameplate. We are yet to find a picture of this, and it is unknown when the nameplate was fitted or removed.