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Locomotive named after Preston North End FC

Sumaiya MotaraNorth West, Preston
BBC David Moyes, who has white wavy hair, stands with his hand on the side of the engine under the plaque which says Preston North End in gold capitals in an arch over blue and white stripes. The engine is navy blue with the number 66303 in yellow under the plaqueBBC
The nameplate on the freight engine was unveiled at Preston Railway Station by the club's former manager, David Moyes

A new locomotive has been named after Preston North End FC.

The nameplate on the freight engine was unveiled at Preston Railway Station by the club's former player and manager, David Moyes, who said it was "an honour" to be involved and to be back in the city.

The engine is part of GB Railfreight and will be used on trains across the country.

The company has previously named a number of locomotives after football clubs, including Sunderland, Ipswich and Huddersfield.

The engine at the station. It has a bright yellow cab with a navy blue roof and says "GB Railfreight" under the driver's side window. The first carriage is navy blue with the number 66303 in yellow under the plaque
The engine is part of GB Railfreight and will be used on trains across the country

Moyes said he was glad to be back in the city where his career had started.

"I worked under great people who gave me a great opportunity in management, so I've got a lot to thank Preston North End for," he said.

"So I'm down here today to help Preston North End, but also to show everybody it's a really famous football club with a big name and we've now got it on a locomotive."

GB Railfreight chief executive John Smith said it was "a little bit of a tradition" to name locomotives after football clubs.

Smith said that when he became a trustee of the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust, the chair, Bryan Gray, had previously been chair of Preston North End, "and we thought, 'what a great link to name the locomotive Preston North End'".

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