16.10.03

Porterbrook Leasing today joined Newcastle City Council and the Stephenson Locomotive Society in celebrating the Bicentenary of the birth of Robert Stephenson by unveiling a plaque on locomotive 87001 at Newcastle Central Station.

Pictured left to right are: Frazer Stirling from Porterbrook and Brian Lewis the chairman of the SLS

The locomotive, which is currently in service with Porterbrook customer Virgin Trains, had already been named "Stephenson" in honour of the Newcastle born engineer earlier this year.

The addition of a plaque marking the actual bicentenary of his birth today came about at the suggestion of Newcastle City Council and the Stephenson Locomotive Society

Rupert Brennan Brown, Head of Communications at Porterbrook said:

"There was no way on earth that our engineers would have allowed us to miss this opportunity to celebrate the birth of Robert Stephenson - a pioneer in locomotive engineering."

"But he was more than an engineer - he was a businessman and visionary. And it was this business acumen and vision that brought him to open the worlds first locomotive works in the City of Newcastle. For this reason we are delighted to join with the City of Newcastle Council and the Stephenson Locomotive Society in celebrating the anniversary of his birth two hundred years ago."

Robert Stephenson began his career by helping his father around Tyneside before co-founding the world's first purpose-built locomotive factory in Newcastle with his father George in 1833. This was the beginnings of steam locomotive development and birthplace of the world-famous Rocket.

For further information about Porterbrook contact Rupert Brennan Brown, Head of Communications on 01332 263251 (m: 07799 337052)