Locomotive Names

Locomotives have carried names for well over a century, and the tradition endures because it gives each engine a sense of identity, character and story that a number alone can’t provide. Names help people form a connection with the machine whether honouring places, industries, events or individuals, they turn a working vehicle into something with personality and heritage. On the Gunpowder Railway, this tradition has been shaped around the people who have made the project possible.

Each named locomotive recognises someone whose contribution has been central to the railway’s development founders, long‑standing volunteers, and individuals whose skills, support or generosity have left a lasting mark on the site. By naming engines after key people, the railway not only celebrates its own community but also embeds their stories into the daily life of the line, ensuring that every working day pays quiet tribute to the individuals who helped build, restore and sustain it.