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Friday 30 May 2025

Royal Artillery honoured by the railway as locomotive rededicated

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail, South Western Railway and the Ministry of Defence gathered together in Salisbury for a rededication of the locomotive to the Royal Artillery following a major overhaul of the train.

The train, named Royal Artilleryman, was unveiled at Salisbury station, close to the Royal Artillery’s headquarters in Larkhill, with military personnel, notably battery personnel, Royal Artillery Association Members and the Honour Guard, in attendance alongside railway colleagues.

Senior regiment representatives arrived on the rededicated train, having boarded at Warminster, and were saluted on arrival at Salisbury.

The Dean of Salisbury Cathedral provided a blessing of the locomotive, owned by Locomotive Services Limited (LSL), before guests made a special journey on the train via Southampton and Eastleigh before returning to Salisbury.

This year marks 200 years of the modern-day railway and there has always been a strong relationship between the railway and the military. To mark the 80^th anniversary in Haslemere, Network Rail and South Western Railway held a service and unveiled a plaque to honour the 626 people who lost their lives during the war.

Network Rail signed the Armed Forces Covenant with the MoD in 2017 and is a Gold Award holder for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) which demonstrates our exemplary support and advocacy to the Armed Forces community. Approximately 10% of Network Rail staff come from a military background.

South Western Railway has also signed the Armed Forces Covenant and holds the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award and are now working towards the Gold Award. SWR has an active Armed Forces Network of colleagues who have served with a number present today. Last year, SWR partnered with charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers to support bereaved military children.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Director, said: “The railway has a proud history of supporting our Armed Forces community and I am delighted that this train has been rededicated to the Royal Artillery. Network Rail is honoured to have won the Gold Award as part of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and it is something we are determined to maintain for years to come. We will continue to work closely with South Western Railway to deliver a railway that honours the Armed Forces community and we pay homage to their service.”

Stuart Meek, Chief Operating Officer at South Western Railway, said: “Today’s rededication of the Royal Artilleryman train at Salisbury station marks another chapter in the special relationship between SWR and the Armed Forces. 

“The Salisbury area is one of the many military communities served by our network, and during Railway 200, it’s especially fitting to celebrate and deepen the connection between the us and the Royal Artillery.   

“Armed Forces veterans make a massive contribution to our industry, including SWR colleagues in our Armed Forces Network. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and are actively working towards achieving the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.” 

Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB DL, Master Gunner St James’s Park, said: “It gives the Royal Artillery enormous pleasure to see our locomotive restored to its full glory, with a level of care and attention to detail which is truly impressive. As she roams the National Rail Network, she will be a lasting memorial to the Gunner Family and a symbol of the British Army’s long relationship with the railway industry especially during the year of the Railway 200 birthday celebrations.”

Phil Swallow, a non-executive director of Locomotive Services (TOC) said:  “As the operators of ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ we are honoured and delighted to be able formally to re-dedicate this locomotive to the Royal Artillery.  We hope, as members of the public see it on the network, it will remind them of the service of previous and current Artillerymen in the defence of our country.  In the year of Rail 200, it also reminds us of the long history of locomotive naming starting with No1 “Locomotion” on the Stockton and Darlington railway 200 years ago!”

2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, a journey that changed the world forever.

Under the banner of Railway 200, nationwide celebrations are planned throughout the year, showcasing how the railway shaped Britain and the world and how its pioneering pedigree continues today and is shaping tomorrow.

Railway 200 encourages everyone to join in this once-in-a-generation opportunity, whether that’s by displaying the Railway 200 logo, organising events and activities, running competitions, or sharing rail stories.