- The public submitted more than 1,300 individual nominations
- They were narrowed down by a panel of judges, including presenter Tim Dunn.
- Which name is YOUR favorite? Vote in the MailOnline poll below
- But don’t forget to vote in the official Network Rail poll. Link at the bottom…
- READ MORE: I’m a train expert: here are seven of the best sleeper services in Europe
The public have been submitting nominations to name one of Network Rail’s leafbreaker trains, and now a shortlist of four names has been revealed.
In alphabetical order, they are: Ctrl Alt De-leaf, Leaf-Fall Weapon, Pulp Friction, and The Autumn Avenger.
Who will win will now be put to a public vote.
More than 1,300 individual nominations were submitted by the public before being narrowed down by a panel of judges: railway historian, presenter and author Tim Dunn, Minister of State for Railways Lord Peter Hendy and Network Rail’s head of seasonal deliveries, Lisa Angus.
Network Rail said: ‘A variety of fantastic name suggestions, including: “Britney Clears”, “Buster Grimes”, “Don’t Stop De-Leafing” and “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Anti-Leaf Machiney” all failed to make the cut. on the final list, which shows how tough the competition was.
The public have been submitting nominations to name one of Network Rail’s leafbreaker trains, and now a shortlist of four names has been revealed.
Tim Dunn said: “Who needs Leafy McLeafFace when we have this short list of fantastic, and actually very appropriate, names to bestow on one of these legendary leaf-buster giants?”
‘I knew Britain wouldn’t let us down: entries ranged from witty, clever and even heartwarming, to absolutely cheeky dad-style puns.
‘It has been a pleasure to be part of the evaluation process to name a leaf breaker. My fellow judges and I found it difficult to narrow down all the brilliant entries to just four names.
Network Rail said: “Although often seen as a figure of fun, leaves pose a serious threat to the railways not just in Britain, but in countries around the world.”
“So a big thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a name; Now it’s your turn, the British public. Head to the Network Rail website now to vote for your preferred name for one of these mulch-loved machines.
Lisa Angus said: “Although this competition is just one way to bring a bit of joy this autumn, it has been fantastic to see a growing awareness of the serious problems that leaves on the line can pose to the railway.”
Network Rail added: “Although often seen as a figure of fun, leaves pose a serious threat to the railways not only in Britain, but in countries around the world.”
‘When trains pass over the sheets, especially during periods of wet weather, the heat and weight of the trains bake them into a thin, slippery layer on the rail, similar to black ice on roads.
‘This mulch can also interfere with signaling systems, forming a barrier between train wheels and electrical parts of the track that helps us identify where trains are and cause problems with trains accelerating and braking.
Voting is now open in www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/can-you-help-name-one-of-our-leaf-busting-trainsclosing at midnight on Friday, October 11.