GWR train to be named after Captain Tom Moore

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Devon Live

Train operator Great Western Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) is to name a train in honour captain Tom Moore, who has raised more than £29m for the NHS, to mark his 100 th birthday.

GWR Intercity Express Train 800025 will pay tribute to the World War Two veteran and his remarkable fundraising achievements during the COVID-19 crisis.

It is being named in response to requests from both GWR colleagues and members of the public, re-entering service this Thursday - the same day as Captain Tom’s 100 th birthday.

World War Two veteran Captain Tom, from Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire but stationed in Cornwall during his career, has extended his challenge to 200 laps after he completed the first 100 laps 14 days ahead of schedule.

His initial £1,000 fundraising target was broken in about 24 hours and he has now raised more than £29m for NHS Charities Together.

GWR interim managing director Matthew Golton said: “With his indomitable spirit, what Captain Tom has achieved is truly inspirational and an example to us all.

“We at Great Western have a long history of naming trains after Great Westerners, the past and present heroes from across our network, and I am honoured that today we can respond to requests to have a train named after captain Tom Moore.”

From Bristol 24/7

He set out to raise £1,000. Now close to raising £30m for the NHS to mark his 100th birthday, Captain Tom Moore has captured the heart of the nation during the coronavirus crisis.

On Friday, his duet with Michael Ball topped the singles chart; this week, Royal Mail have introduced a special birthday postmark; and now, GWR have revealed that they are naming a train after the veteran.

[Cava]

Well deserved, sir

I believe they are considering this as an alternative to the "driving force" statues at Melksham station, although a single has apparently been ruled out for now.

[grahame]

Well deserved, sir

Indeed

I believe they are considering this as an alternative to the "driving force" statues at Melksham station, although a single has apparently been ruled out for now.

Let's not mix the topics?  Further comment on Melksham Station to follow in the next couple of hours

[bobm]

[JayMac]

Just been featured on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points West.

Well done Captain Tom. Fully deserved. Well done GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

[JayMac]

GB^▸ (Great Britain) Railfreight have also named a Class 66 in honour of Captain Tom Moore.

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/gb-railfreight-thanks-captain-tom-moore-for-his-nhs-fundraising-with-locomotive-naming

Captain Tom has also been given an honorary promotion to the rank of Colonel.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-52472132

[grahame]

Captain Tom has also been given an honorary promotion to the rank of Colonel.

Damn it - that's name plates and vinyls to be changed  - the class 66 out of Eastleigh has proper cast plates - production has been happening / rushed over the last week; Neil was very excited about it when I spoke with him (at appropriate social distance, of course) a few days back and there's a real excitement there.

[JayMac]

A true hero. A shining light in days of darkness. Stand down Sir, your duty is done. RIP Captain Sir Thomas Moore. 

[TaplowGreen]

Another of the dwindling band of the finest generation we ever had - probably never so good before, and certainly never as good after - RIP.

[onthecushions]

Not sure I agree.

The WW1 generation made a greater sacrifice of life and the present youngsters in the NHS have shown matchless bravery at their posts, with c300 dead. Their achievement has also been in caring rather than (necessarily) killing. At least you could hate your enemy rather than have to share in patients' continual suffering, enforced isolation and death. So many NHS victims are also BAME, showing the same  selfless loyalty and identity with Britain that their forebears had in the Empire's Colonial days, a rebuke to the activists that decry our history.

I would like to see a COVID medal awarded to these people who have defended us just as much as did Nelson's sailors at Trafalgar.

OTC

[PhilWakely]

I would like to see a COVID medal awarded to these people who have defended us just as much as did Nelson's sailors at Trafalgar.

They already have been awarded a 'medal'.  Matt Hancock offered every NHS front line worker a pin badge or a snackbox as a 'Thank You' 

[CyclingSid]

They already have been awarded a 'medal'.  Matt Hancock offered every NHS front line worker a pin badge or a snackbox as a 'Thank You'

Cheaper than giving them a pay rise.