A MAN named after a steam train will finally meet his namesake when it rolls on the East Lancashire Railway later this month.

Leander William Pomfret, 23, was named after the ex LMS steam locomotive Leander by his railway enthusiast parents Alan Pomfret and Wendy Sampson.

His middle name, William, is in honour of the locomotive designer, William Stainer.

Leander, from Intack and who works as a chef at The Postal Order in Blackburn, said: "It's an embrassing name because it's not common.

"People ask me all the time where it comes from, but if they look like they're going to be a bit threatening, I tell them I'm named after the warship Leander or the Greek God.

"I suppose I feel quite special to have a name like this though."

Mrs Sampson, 48, from Darwen, said: "I used to be interested in trains and we travelled extensively when we were a family.

"I chose the name because it sounded nice. I had to do some research first though, to check if it was a girl's name or a boy's."

Leander is about to become a father himself when his partner Kim gives birth to their first child in February.

He said: "I won't be naming my child after a train - my partner won't allow it!"

Wendy added: "I'm not surprised he won't name the child after a train with all the ribbing he's has because of it.

"He has shortened it to Lee in the past, but I named him Leander and won't call him Lee."

Leander's sister Sharon, 17, is also named after a train - her middle name Elizabeth is in honour of the train the Princess Elizabeth.

When he was younger Leander travelled around Europe with his father looking at trains, but has since downscaled his enthusiasm.

He said: "I started getting bullied when I was about 16 because trainspotting isn't cool. I still take an interest though and I'm glad I went with my dad when I was younger - how many other children get to go to places like Luxembourg, Belguim, France, the Czech Republic?"

Leander the train will be at The East Lancs Railway in Bolton Street, Bury on September 29, travelling along the line to Ramsbottom and Rossendale.

Leander said: "I can't wait. It's a big day when Leander meets Leander.

"It's the first time I've seen it in action. When I was a child I went to see it in Loughborough when it was a wreck.

"Somone from the East Lancashire Railway rescued it and brought it up to British Railway standards."

Leander was built at Crewe in March 1936 and named Leander after HMS Leander, which in turn was named after the Greek hero Leander.

She has the Jubilee Class No. 5690 (BR No. 45690) and was used for running express passenger trains between London and Scotland.

After nationalisation in 1948, she was renumbered 45690 by British Railways.

After being withdrawn in 1964, Leander was rescued from Woodham's Scrapyard in Barry, South Wales and is now preserved at the East Lancashire Railway .