News
Monday 19 July 2010Magnox North has chosen to name a locomotive after the nuclear pioneer, Lord Christopher Hinton
Direct rail Services (DRS) provide Magnox North with specialist rail transport services, essential for transferring spent nuclear fuel from its reactors to Sellafield in Cumbria for reprocessing. DRS gave Magnox North the opportunity to name one of its newly refurbished locomotives recently, by running a competition for employees to suggest an appropriate name for the engine.
Locomotive number 37409 was named ‘Lord Hinton’ at DRS’ annual open day at its Gresty Bridge depot, Crewe, on the 10th July 2010. Lord Christopher Hinton is widely recognised as the father of the civil nuclear industry in the UK and was the supervisor during the construction of Calder Hall, the world’s first large-scale commercial nuclear power station. Magnox North continues to safely operate the world’s oldest nuclear power stations, which are very similar in design to Calder Hall.
Magnox North’s Bill Westall suggested the name of Lord Hinton as part of the competition (which was run in support of Magnox North’s chosen charity of the year - Winston’s Wish) and was at the open day to unveil the name plate alongside Lord Hinton’s grandson, Richard Mole. Bill Said: “It was a very special opportunity to be able to recognise the work of Christopher Hinton and to unveil the nameplate alongside his grandson.”
