IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Victoria Centre, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 3PD

Standing on one of the through lines in the middle of the station is ex-GCR Robinson class 9N (LNER class A5/1) No. 69825, which was built just after Grouping in 4/23 as GCR No. 46, soon to be LNER No. 5046, renumbered 9825 in 1946, so BR No. 69825, withdrawn 11/59 - just eight months after this photograph.

View northward, towards Sheffield on the ex-Great Central main line, also Derby on the ex-Great Northern. The Up iron ore empties train is probably from Stanton Ironworks and heading for the ironfields south of Grantham: the locomotive is a Thompson O4/8 2-8-0 No. 63873. On the right is a local for Grantham with a Stanier 2-6-4T.

An element of the large shopping complex of 1965-72 by Arthur Swift & Partners was flats, the profile of the blocks rather resembling a ziggurat. The towers are the climax.

View southward at the south end, to Parliament Street Bridge and Tunnel. A Down Class E freight (a Woodford Halse - Annesley 'Runner') pounds out on the Down Through, headed by BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92011, while on the Up line new English-Electric Type 3 Co-Co Diesel No. D6753 leaves on the 10.08 York to Bournemouth express.

View northward from the south end of the Up main island platform. With three trains in sight, giving an indication of the variety to be seen at this busy station. It was jointly built and owned by the GCR and GNR in May 1900 but closed in February 1967, tracks for through freight remaining until May 1968. It was completely obliterated - apart from the clock-tower, to be replaced by the Victoria Shopping Centre. Here, in June 1957, left to right are: Gresley V2 2-6-2 no. 60982 (built 6/44 as no. 3694 (1946 no. 982), withdrawn 10/64) on an Up main line freight; Thompson B1 4-6-0 no. 61063 (built 8/46, withdrawn 4/62) on the 09.25 local to Leicester Central; Ivatt J6 0-6-0 no. 64178 (built 11/1911 as GN no. 529, LNE no. 3529, 1946 no. 4178, withdrawn 4/60) on the 09.37 local to Grantham.

View northward with Rebuilt Royal Scot 4-6-0 No. 46158 'The Loyal Regiment' on the centre road, waiting for a job that may well be a stopping-train. These fine express locomotives were being ousted by Diesels from their hitherto normal duties on WCML expresses, found work on the Midland lines and even on the already moribund Great Central main line. No. 6158 had been built 8/30, rebuilt 9/52 and survived until 10/63.

An unfortunate lack of harmony in this area of Milton Street as the clock tower of the old Victoria Station (circa 1898), the Victoria Centre retail development plus flats and offices (1967-72,) together with the new tower block to the right of them, conspire together in an attempt to win a prize as one of the drabbest parts of Nottingham city centre. This picture was taken from one of upper floors of the Trinity Square multi-storey car park opposite.

Looking north-east. In the foreground the spire of the former Prudential Assurance building; directly above it the Victoria Clock Tower which is the last remaining part of Victoria Station. To the left the tower crane stands above the new Trinity Square development. To the right, the towering Victoria Centre flats. For views from the Nottingham Eye see http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2274643 . To add your views to the slide show, simply ensure that the title or description includes 'View from the Eye’.

'Hoodwinked: a twist on the tale' was a city-wide art project that ran from July 7th to September 30th, with 33 large plastic robins placed around the city on a walking trail. Each bird was decorated with a particular theme relating to where they were placed and the businesses sponsoring them. The theme of robins was chosen due to the city's famous connection with the legendary outlaw, Robin Hood. This bird was titled 'R2 Tweet2', was sponsored by Nottingham Markets and was designed by Mik Richardson. It was designed to look like the droid R2-D2 from the popular Star Wars films.

In evening light the Victoria Clock Tower casts its shadow on the flats behind. Compare this with Image taken earlier the same day.