After thousands of imaginative entries from passengers and young adventurers, Great Western Railway’s (GWR) newest legendary travel companion finally has a name.
The limited-edition plushie dragon, inspired by the train operator’s current Famous Five ‘Dragon Quest’ campaign, has officially been named Brunella.
The winning moniker was chosen by railway historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn following a fiercely contested social media competition. Entries poured in from across the network, with suggestions ranging from the fiery and fearsome to the magical and marvellous.
Now christened, Brunella is ready to accompany families on adventures across the GWR network — from seaside escapes in Cornwall to city breaks in Cardiff, and stops closer to home here in Berkshire.
Broadcaster and railway historian Tim Dunn said: “Choosing just one winner was incredibly difficult. There were so many inventive and imaginative entries.
“Brunella stood out as a name perfectly suited to this dragon. Referencing Brunel, one of the legendary figures of GWR’s past, perhaps it’ll introduce curious young minds to the extraordinary stories of Brunella’s namesake too. It’s an absolutely ace name for a little dragon who’s destined for many great adventures.”
GWR head of marketing, Helen da Costa, added: “We were blown away by the response to our competition. The creativity, imagination and enthusiasm shown was fantastic and it was wonderful to see so many people getting involved.
“There were lots of brilliant suggestions and we’re delighted to officially welcome Brunella into the GWR family. We look forward to our young adventurers capturing pictures of Brunella at some of the fantastic destinations on our network.”
The limited-edition Brunella plushie is available now from the GWR Souvenir Shop, priced at £32.
