390045 Renamed

[Gizmogle]

I seem to be turning into Pendo veg at the moment ad:
Anyway...

Taken from The Railway Centre

RAF VC10 in Pendolino salute

The naming of a Virgin Pendolino was marked with a flypast by an aircraft from the Royal Air Force's 101 Squadron, based at Brize Norton.

The VC-10, which also carried some Virgin Trains people, 'dipped' its wings as it flew over the Virgin tilting train in Northamptonshire, less than an hour after the train Pendolino set No. 390045 was officially named 101 Squadron by RAF 101 Squadron Wing Commander Tim O'Brien at Birmingham International railway station.

The naming of a state-of-the-art Pendolino train maintains a tradition which goes back to 1997, when Virgin first took over the West Coast and CrossCountry train services. A mutual exchange group has been formed between railway staff and 101 Squadron and the relationship is currently led by Virgin's Wolverhampton-based instructor driver Bob Dunn.

In the following year one of the 'original' West Coast trains was named 101 Squadron. Now, in Virgin Train's 10th Birthday year, the opportunity has been taken to transfer the name to a modern tilting Pendolino train.

Virgin West Coast Managing Director Charles Belcher said: "I am delighted that Virgin Trains people, led by those from Wolverhampton depot and now joined by others from across the Virgin Trains network, have continued the close relationship with 101 Squadron. I know that over the last 10 years there have been many exchange visits and I am happy to support further visits in the coming years."

In naming the train, RAF 101 Squadron Wing Commander Tim O'Brien said: "It is an absolute delight and a very real honour to be invited to Birmingham International today for the naming of a Virgin Pendolino train. Our links with Virgin Trains are very strong indeed and this serves to make them still stronger. On behalf of all of 101 Squadron, I would like to express how proud we are of our association with Virgin Trains and we are very much looking forward to welcoming Virgin Trains back to Brize Norton in the near future, to return your very kind hospitality."

The honour of being Train Manager on special Birmingham - London Euston train fell to Brian Pugh, who is approaching his retirement and will work his last train with Virgin later this month. Brian will have completed over 44 years railway service when he officially retires on 24 September.

 

[Callufrax]

At least it's a better name than 'Virgin Valiant'!

 

[Gizmogle]

Definately. Seems to be the odd one out now though with the weird name.
At least they're naming them for decent reasons now though.

 

[Callufrax]

Definately. Seems to be the odd one out now though with the weird name.
At least they're naming them for decent reasons now though.

Would like to see one named after 'The Railway Children', to replace one of their 43's.

 

[westcoaster]

iirc wasn't that the name on 82101?

 

[Callufrax]

43098 was named 'The Railway Children'.

 

[westcoaster]

sorry i meant 101 squadron.

 

[merseytrains]

My grandad would like that as he used to be the RAF at Brize Norton. Shame then that he's currently recovering from a stroke in hospital.

 

[Max]

Bit off topic, but surely all the Voyagers are going to have to be renamed pretty quickly after Arriva take over? They're all named 'Virgin...' at the moment.

 

[Coxster]

Bit off topic, but surely all the Voyagers are going to have to be renamed pretty quickly after Arriva take over? They're all named 'Virgin...' at the moment.

No they're not. Class 220s are mostly "Area Voyager" and Class 221s are all explorers. It's Pendolinos that are mostly "Virgin Whatever"

 

[Guinness]

I've read somewhere that "Virgin Voyager" or "Voyager" on Class 220/1 are copyrighted to Virgin and cannot be reused on other models or anything else without Virgin's permission.

I think it was SEMG.

 

[Max]

No they're not. Class 220s are mostly "Area Voyager" and Class 221s are all explorers. It's Pendolinos that are mostly "Virgin Whatever"

Ohhh, sorry, stupid comment there from me :roll:

I've read somewhere that "Virgin Voyager" or "Voyager" on Class 220/1 are copyrighted to Virgin and cannot be reused on other models or anything else without Virgin's permission.

I think it was SEMG.

I have also read this, but have also read replies which state this is actually false. Would be useful to know what is actually correct!

 

[Mojo]

I looked this up on the UK Intellectual Property Office website when it was first asked and found that no Virgin company has trademarked the name Voyager.

 

[Techniquest]

Maybe they should do?

Nice to hear this 390 has a decent name at last. Will seem strange to not refer to 82101, a Virgin DVT, as '101 Squadron' now mind!