A train running on one of the world’s shortest branch lines has been officially named “The Stourbridge Lion” following a community competition run by West Midlands Railway.

The name commemorates an early steam train built in the Black Country town in 1829, which became the first locomotive to run in America.

The newly-named train is the second on the route to receive a feline-inspired name, following the earlier naming of the shuttle “George The Station Cat” in honour of the well-loved ginger tom who lives at Stourbridge Junction station.

Jonny Wiseman, WMR Customer Experience Director, said: “We are proud to be at the heart of our communities and this new name for our popular Stourbridge Shuttle reflects the long-standing connection between the Black Country and the railway. We're almost coming to the end of Railway 200, a year-long celebration of two centuries of the modern railway, so we felt this name suggestion was a particularly timely reminder of Stourbridge's industrial history.”

This year marks 200 years of Britain’s railway following the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825.

A name plate for The Stourbridge Lion was affixed to unit 139001 earlier this month, following the naming of 139002 after George in August. The two trains have been running on the line since 2009 and are maintained and operated by Pre Metro Operations Ltd on behalf of West Midlands Railway.

The new names will be seen daily by hundreds of passengers travelling the short three-minute journey between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction, one of the world’s shortest branch lines.

Following a public call for suggestions, the winning name “The Stourbridge Lion” was submitted by a customer and selected by a West Midlands Railway judging panel.

As part of the competition, WMR also received requests to honour Ian Clee, a long-serving member of staff at Stourbridge Junction ticket office who died last year following a short battle with cancer. A memorial plaque in Ian’s memory was installed at the station earlier this month, next to the ticket office.

Image: West Midlands Railway