The encrypted tribute was placed on ‘Trainbow’ Intercity Express Train 800008, which was named after the wartime codebreaker and computing pioneer in 2022.
Earlier this summer, GWR challenged members of the public to crack the cypher ahead of the anniversary of Turing’s birthday on 23 June. After a series of clues were released, 24 people successfully solved the puzzle.
The hidden message was taken from the Royal Prerogative of Mercy granted to Alan Turing by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2013. It reads: “Now know ye that we in consideration of circumstances humbly represented unto us are graciously pleased to extend our grace and mercy unto the said Alan Mathison Turing and to grant him our free pardon posthumously in respect of the said convictions.”
The pardon formally recognised the injustice of Turing’s conviction under laws that criminalised homosexuality.
Turing was prosecuted in 1952 and subjected to chemical castration before his death two years later, aged 41. His posthumous pardon later led to the introduction of ‘Turing’s Law’ in 2017, which granted pardons to thousands of other men convicted under historic laws criminalising same-sex relationships.
Those taking part in the challenge first had to identify the correct sequence of letters before discovering the significance of the train’s palindromic number, 800008. A further clue encouraged participants to “make some SPACE” if they appeared to have too many Zs.
Solvers also uncovered a second hidden tribute within the code reading: “For his love of Christopher,” in honour of Turing’s close friend Christopher Morcom, whose death had a lasting impact on his life.
Dan Panes, GWR’s Head of External Communications, said:
“We knew we were setting people a proper challenge when we revealed there was a hidden message on the train, and we’ve been amazed by the determination, creativity and enthusiasm shown by everyone who took part.
“Using the posthumous royal pardon for the hidden message was our way of paying tribute to the part Turing played in the history of LGBTQ+ rights.”
Everyone who successfully cracked the code was entered into a prize draw to win one of five limited-edition commemorative coins produced to mark the naming of the train.
Turing is best known for leading the team at Bletchley Park that broke the German Naval Enigma code during the Second World War. His work helped lay the foundations for modern computing and artificial intelligence.
The Alan Turing train was named by members of his family at London Paddington in May 2022, when GWR also unveiled its rainbow-themed Trainbow livery celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. The train continues to appear at Pride events across the GWR network in support of LGBTQ+ colleagues, customers and communities.
