Locomotive renamed Institution of Mechanical Engineers in honour of our members

We are delighted to see a locomotive renamed “The Institution of Mechanical Engineers“ to recognise the huge contribution of our members to the railway industry.

Andrew Skinner, Head of Engineering at Great Western Railway and Immediate Past Chair of the Railway Division, said:

“We are very grateful to Jonathan Rawlinson and the team at Locomotive Services Group for putting "our" name back on the locomotive. This was all the more special as we approach the 200th anniversary of the railways next year with George Stephenson (the "father" of the railways) being our first President.”

A group from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Railway Division Board and centre committees were guests of Locomotive Services Group in Crewe and were treated to a guided tour of their facilities as well as travelling behind the immaculate, newly named locomotive on a circular trip from Crewe.

Amongst the group were eight past Chairs of the Division.

The renamed locomotive carries the number 57311 today. It previously carried the name Institution of Mechanical Engineers as a Class 47, 47817 until its conversion to a class 57 in 2003.