Medallion commemorating Nottingham Central Station opening, Great Central Railway

maker:
Great Central Railway

Commemorative medallion, Great Central Railway, alloy, commemorating the opening of Nottingham Central Station on Queen Victoria's birthday, 24 May 1900, Dimensions: 45mm dia.

This medallion was issued by the Great Central Railway to commemorate the opening of Nottingham Central railway station on 24 May 1900. The Great Central Railway managed the station alongside its competitor, the Great Northern Railway, through the Nottingham Joint Station Committee.

The Great Central Railway, which ran from Manchester to London's Marylebone station, was the last main line railway built in Britain for over one hundred years, until the High Speed 1 Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2003. Nottingham Central station was built on the site of over 1300 houses and a church, demolished to make way for the railway. The two railway companies which operated the site couldn't agree on a name, until they decided to name it Nottingham Victoria, as it was due to open on the Queen's birthday.

The medallion incorporates elements of the Great Central Railway's coat of arms, including a locomotive, wings and the company motto, "Forward". The reverse celebrates Queen Victoria's final visit to Ireland in April 1900 and her role in welcoming soldiers and sailors returning from the Second Boer War in South Africa.

The medallion, struck in alloy, was made by the Nottingham department store, Jessop & Son.

Nottingham Victoria station closed in September 1967 and was demolished to make way for a shopping complex.

Details

Category:
Coins and Medals
Object Number:
1984-7092
type:
medallion
credit:
British Rail, York