No AC loco in Classes 81 to 85 received names and the Class 86 locos remained un-named until a change of policy 13 years into their existence. The first 86 to receive a nameplate was 86101. It became "Sir William A Stanier F.R.S" in a ceremony at Liverpool Lime Street on 22nd October 1978. It is still so-named as it remains operational and is owned by the AC Loco Group. It was a year (all but four days) later that 86259 received its first name.
Euston station 23rd October 1979.
6-year-old Ian Hull points at the nameplate he has just unveiled on 86259, then described as a London Midland Region Inter-City loco. Ian is accompanied by his mates whose flares give away that it is definitely the 70s.
He chose "Peter Pan" in a name-a-loco competition for under 16-year-olds. 1979 was the 'Year of the Child' and so "Peter Pan" was entirely appropriate.
Ian Hull came from Crewe, so it is no surprise that he went on to work in the railway industry. He is in his late 30s now - GET IN TOUCH, IAN.
In June 1995, 15½ years after receiving its first name and at the same time as the 'swallow' emblem was added to the Intercity livery, the background of the 'Peter Pan' nameplate changed from red to black. It was to last only four months before removal, ready to receive its second name.
Manchester Piccadilly station, 15th October 1995.
Elizabeth Jeffreys, Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Visitor and Convention Bureau, and Patrick NcGrath of Cross Country Trains performing the unveiling of the second name which 86259 was to carry. It was nearly a 'less than clean' naming ceremony when, just 2 days beforehand, North West Water had imposed a ban on commercial wahing at Longsight depot.
A rather dirty 86259 had arrived at the depot after making its last journey as "Peter Pan", working the 09:05 Paddington to Manchester service after the washing ban had been imposed.
The problem was solved by running the loco 'light engine' all the way to Oxley depot, Wolverhampton, for an urgent scrub down and then straight back to Manchester, looking immaculate for the naming.
Birmingham International, 27th September 2002.
No unveiling ceremony for the nameplate this time! The "Les Ross" plates were affixed at Oxley depot the previous day, and were already on view on the loco sides, when 86259 rolled into Birmingham International on the 08:55 to Euston. Pictured is a shocked broadcaster, in the final moments of his last (after 26 years) breakfast show on BRMB radio. The loco naming was a surprise 'goodbye' present - it most certainly was!
A close-up of the inscription plaque, underneath the presentation nameplate.
At the end of 2006, after the restoration process was completed at Tyseley, 86259 was repainted into the original electric blue. The 'Les Ross' nameplate was re-attached but now with a red background.