| Re: 'Battery Bill': UK's first electric quarry loco named by pupil Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:52, 29th April 2026 |     |
Hmm.
While I obviously commend Cillian Gallagher on his success, I'm not sure this isn't taking things a bit too far:
From the BBC:
Minimum age to be a train driver lowered to 18
Eighteen-year-olds will be allowed to drive trains after the minimum age was lowered from 20 in a bid to tackle driver shortages.
(BBC article continues)
Eighteen-year-olds will be allowed to drive trains after the minimum age was lowered from 20 in a bid to tackle driver shortages.
(BBC article continues)
He's a five-year-old!
| Re: 'Battery Bill': UK's first electric quarry loco named by pupil Posted by Oxonhutch at 22:23, 29th April 2026 | |
Glad to see that the original spoon and notch handles have been retained. Always nice to make an 08 go and stop. At least the start-up faff is now obviated. I wonder if the loco still has old corks capping the coupling-rod oil reservoirs and a large BSW? spanner to undo the underside nut to let the rainwater out of the same?
08s are still steam engines below the waist
| 'Battery Bill': UK's first electric quarry loco named by pupil Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:53, 29th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Boy names UK's first electric quarry locomotive
Battery Bill is the first electric locomotive to operate at a UK quarry - Image © Neil Phillips
A schoolboy has named the UK's first electric quarry locomotive Battery Bill.
Five-year-old Cillian Gallagher, from Bishop Henderson Primary School in Radstock, Somerset, won a competition among local schools to pick a name.
The machine will be used at Whatley Quarry, in Frome, which has been in operation since the 1930s and supplies limestone aggregate for rail construction projects.
Cillian's mother Sherree said: "We are so proud of Cillian and his chosen name for the locomotive at Whatley Quarry." She explained that the name Battery Bill came to Cillian's mind "straightaway".
She said: "He chose the name Bill to give the train its own identity and a friendly personality. Perhaps one day there might be a second locomotive to join Bill on the tracks, maybe Battery Ben - a catchy pair, like Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men."
The Class 08e electric locomotive was converted from diesel by Positive Traction and runs on six battery packs.
The quarry's rail logistics manager Daniel Welch said: "Commissioning the first electric shunting locomotive to operate at a UK quarry is a significant milestone for the industry."
Welch said converting the locomotive was a sustainable solution which supported "decarbonisation goals and demonstrates that zero-emission rail operations are achievable".
During the machine's naming ceremony, Cillian was able to go inside the locomotive.
Director of Positive Traction Polly Bycroft Gregory said: "We are delighted to provide Heidelberg Materials with its first zero-emission shunting locomotive which will contribute to reducing both noise and emissions from rail-related operations at Whatley Quarry."
Battery Bill is the first electric locomotive to operate at a UK quarry - Image © Neil Phillips
A schoolboy has named the UK's first electric quarry locomotive Battery Bill.
Five-year-old Cillian Gallagher, from Bishop Henderson Primary School in Radstock, Somerset, won a competition among local schools to pick a name.
The machine will be used at Whatley Quarry, in Frome, which has been in operation since the 1930s and supplies limestone aggregate for rail construction projects.
Cillian's mother Sherree said: "We are so proud of Cillian and his chosen name for the locomotive at Whatley Quarry." She explained that the name Battery Bill came to Cillian's mind "straightaway".
She said: "He chose the name Bill to give the train its own identity and a friendly personality. Perhaps one day there might be a second locomotive to join Bill on the tracks, maybe Battery Ben - a catchy pair, like Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men."
The Class 08e electric locomotive was converted from diesel by Positive Traction and runs on six battery packs.
The quarry's rail logistics manager Daniel Welch said: "Commissioning the first electric shunting locomotive to operate at a UK quarry is a significant milestone for the industry."
Welch said converting the locomotive was a sustainable solution which supported "decarbonisation goals and demonstrates that zero-emission rail operations are achievable".
During the machine's naming ceremony, Cillian was able to go inside the locomotive.
Director of Positive Traction Polly Bycroft Gregory said: "We are delighted to provide Heidelberg Materials with its first zero-emission shunting locomotive which will contribute to reducing both noise and emissions from rail-related operations at Whatley Quarry."
