THE first Azuma train on the East Coast Main Line has been named to mark the centenary of the LNER.

At York station this morning, an unveiling ceremony took place evoking the days when named engines like Mallard, Flying Scotsman and Sir Nigel Gresley were the stars of the age.

“After much debate, discussions and a lot of deliberation, we decided the first named Azuma in LNER’s 100th year should be called “Century”,” said LNER managing director David Horne. “It celebrates 100 years of history and the transformation that LNER has been through, and naming it captures the moment so future generations can look back on this era as we look back on the days of Flying Scotsman.”

The Northern Echo: David Horne, managing director of LNER, with the Century engine behind him

David Horne, the LNER managing director, with the Century engine behind him

Not only does the Newton Aycliffe-built Azuma now have a name, but, down its side, it also features a new livery celebrating LNER’s history and featuring pictures of its staff, past and present. One of those pictures is of Joe Duddington, who was at the controls of Mallard on July 3, 1938, when it did a 126mph near Grantham, setting a world record which has never been beaten.

Among those watching as Century rolled into York from London King’s Cross at 8.45am was Joe’s great-grandson, Matthew Delaney.

“Everyone knows Lewis Hamilton drives fast cars, that Sir Donald Campbell drove the fastest boat but no one knows who drove the fastest train,” said Matthew. “It was just a guy called Joe Duddington, who was selected for the Mallard job by Sir Nigel Gresley because he was a bit of a maverick, and finished up working in a fish and chip ship and was buried in an unmarked grave.”

The Northern Echo: Welcoming the newly-named Century engine into York stationengine

The two sides of the Century engine feature different historic images. Joe Duddington, driver of Mallard, is in the N of Century on this side. Picture: LNER

In 2021, Joe’s grave was formally marked. “And now he’s on a train and back where he belongs,” said Matthew. “It is a very emotional day.”

The Northern Echo: Carolyn Sheard, who features on the livery of the newly-named Century engine

Carolyn Sheard (above), a Customer Experience Leader who works onboard LNER trains, is one of the three current employees to be featured on the livery. “I feel really honoured,” she said. “It is so exciting.”

The first London and North Eastern Railway was formed on January 1, 1923, when four large railway companies across the country were created to take control of numerous smaller private companies. LNER was based in York, and controlled all those lines which had previously been part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

Sir Nigel Gresley was its first chief mechanical engineer, and he had a reputation for building superfast express engines, culminating in Mallard.

The Northern Echo:

Sir Nigel Gresley and the 1930s streamline engine named after him. Picture: Science and Society Picture Library

It became part of British Rail in 1948 as part of nationalisation, but it was reborn in 2017 as a Government-owned company to take over operations on the ECML when the private Virgin enterprise collapsed.

“The first LNER was more about freight, carrying materials like coal traffic and steel and agricultural products whereas nowadays our main money comes from passengers, but it was always famous for running at speed on the ECML, competing with the airlines and the motor cars, which we are still doing now in a way that is greener and more sustainable,” said Mr Horne.

He said weekend passenger trains were now 40 per cent fuller than before the pandemic as railway use continues to switch away from freight to leisure. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, for the first time, major engineering work is being carried out on the ECML south of York which would traditionally have been weekend work but is now scheduled not to disrupt leisure passenger services.

The Northern Echo: TV railway historian Tim Dunn on York station

Helping launch Century was TV railway historian Tim Dunn (above). He said: “Ever since Locomotion No 1 here in the North East we have been naming engines because we love them. They are like real living, breathing things – even the Azumas of today have personalities like the steam trains of the past had personalities. Naming engines is one very splendid tactic to bring Britain back on track, and I look forward to naming more.”

Century will now run LNER services up and down the ECML.