West Midlands Railway honour Black Country history as second shuttle train car is named
One of Stourbridge's iconic shuttle train cars has been named following a public competition.
Led by West Midlands Railway, a public appeal has been led to name the second of the two train cars that operate on the line between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town - one of the world’s shortest branch lines.
After deliberation by a panel of judges, the train operator announced on Tuesday, October 28 that the second car has been named “The Stourbridge Lion."
The name commemorates an early steam train built in the town in 1829, which went on to become the first locomotive to run in America.
The public naming process comes two months after the first car was named 'George' in honour of the resident station cat at Stourbridge Junction on 'International Cat Day.'
A name plate for The Stourbridge Lion was fitted to unit 139001 earlier this month, following the naming of unit 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.
West Midlands Railway had received several to name the car after Ian Clee, a popular long-serving member of staff at Stourbridge Junction ticket office.
He passed away following a battle with cancer in 2024, and many hoped that he would be immortalised through the Stourbridge Shuttle.
In a statement, West Midlands Railway said: “As part of the competition, WMR received a number of requests to honour the life of 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.”
