A PUBLIC vote to decide the new name for a purple-liveried steam locomotive to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee is now open. 

The Severn Valley Railway will rename the 34027 Taw Valley, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of HM Queen Elizabeth II becoming monarch, and will be giving the steamer a royal makeover. 

The railway has received almost 1,200 name suggestions, and with the help of the locomotive’s owners, it has whittled these down to four options - Elizabeth II, Gloriana, Severn Majesty and Valley Monarch.

The name that receives the most votes will be cast onto authentic nameplates and affixed to the engine in readiness for the VIP ceremony on Thursday, June 2, the start of the extended Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate the Jubilee.

When people vote at www.svr.co.uk/namealoco , they’ll also have the chance to enter into a prize draw to win a family travel ticket for the SVR.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The name change and repaint will only be temporary.

Head of visitor experience at the railway Michael Dunn said: “We’re very excited about unveiling our unique locomotive later this year.”

“From the reaction we’ve had so far we think it’s going to prove a huge draw over the summer.

"We’re going all out this year to celebrate both The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the 2022 Commonwealth Games which are being held in Birmingham.

"There’ll be a limited time period when people can visit the SVR to see this very special locomotive, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone.”

When the plan to repaint the locomotive was revealed last week, it caused a sensation on social media, with the initial Facebook post attracting 7,200 interactions from across the world, and being shared more than 300 times.