LNER locomotive nameplates expected to fetch up to £5,000

Seven nameplates from LNER locomotives retired from east coast main line service are to be auctioned for charity on Saturday.

Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland at the National Railway Museum in York with some of the nameplates to be auctioned online. Picture: LNER/Charlotte Graham

One of them, Highland Chieftain, is expected to sell for more than £5,000 and others could reach several thousand pounds each.

The nameplates are from veteran diesel “High Speed Trains” which have operated between Aberdeen, Inverness and London for some 40 years before being replaced by Azumas last year.

Highland Chieftain, from locomotive number 43308, is also the name of the daily Inverness-London service.

The Highland Chieftain nameplate is expected to attract the highest bids. Picture: LNER/Charlotte Graham

The others going under the hammer in the online auction are:

43300 Craigentinny along with a crest

43238 National Railway Museum 40 Years 1975-2015

43208 Lincolnshire Echo

43257 Bounds Green

43274 Spirit of Sunderland

43290 MTU Fascination of Power

The proceeds will go to LNER’s partner charity, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), which works to prevent suicide.

LNER managing director David Horne said: “We hope these pieces of our proud past, that celebrate the heritage of LNER’s route, will now support our communities as well.

“Our partner charity CALM has seen record levels of demand for its helpline services during the coronavirus pandemic, which makes the proceeds of this auction even more important.

“Funds raised from the auction will be added to the £230,000 we have already raised for CALM through fundraising activities and customers donating Delay Repay claims, further aiding the charity to help save lives and be there for those who need the support.”

GW Railwayana Auctions said it has seen significant interest in advance of the sale.

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