DICK Turpin, John Barry, George Hudson, Emperor Constantine, Dame Judi Dench...

These are only five of the many suggestions put forward by readers of The Press after we offered a unique opportunity to name a train locomotive to represent the city of York.

The tradition of naming locomotives on the route from Edinburgh to London is being revived by rail operator East Coast, which wants readers to come up with ideas for a name with particular relevance to York.

Managing director Karen Boswell said many passengers had argued passionately and persuasively to bring train-naming back and, judging by the flood of emails and letters we have received so far, she is right.

Phil Fowler was one of several suggesting notorious highwayman Dick Turpin, who was hanged in York, saying: “There is a precedent here because the LNER so named one of its many A3 Pacifics in the 1920s. Most of them were named after racehorses but one of the exceptions was apparently made so as to accommodate another famous, although perhaps not justifiably so, galloper!”

Several, including Lisa Reinhard, suggested another notorious guy with strong York connections: Gunpowder plotter Guy Fawkes, while Alan Gebbie suggested someone with a more obvious train connection: Railway King George Hudson, the businessman who made York part of the rail network but later resigned over corruption allegations.

Actors and others from the film world also feature strongly among the suggestions. Peter Vaughan was one of several suggesting York-born Oscar winning actress Dame Judi Dench, along with York-born composer John Barry, who died recently.

Annie Ellis also suggested Mr Barry, claiming: “His music has delighted many people globally and I would hazard a guess that he has probably had a greater cinematic impact than Dame Judi Dench, who is regularly honoured. I think this posthumous honour would be most fitting.”

Other suggestions include: the Roman Emperor Constantine, Eboracum, Knavesmire, York Minster, Snickleways, Monk Bar, Viking Voyager, Heart of Yorkshire, Frankie Howerd, Mark Addy and Seebohm Rowntree.

Suggestions need to be in by the end of April. A panel will then draw up a shortlist, and readers will then be invited to vote for the winner.

• Anyone with more suggestions should email mike.laycock@thepress.co.uk or write to Mike Laycock, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.