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

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.

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built just after Grouping in 4/23 as GCR No. 46, soon to be LNER No. 5046, renumbered 9825 in 1946, so BR No. 69825, withdrawn 11/59 - just eight months after this photograph.

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.

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 Here, in June 1957, left to right are: Gresley V2 2-6-2 no. 60982 (built 6/44 as no. 3694 (1946 no. 982), withdrawn 10/64) on an Up main line freight; Thompson B1 4-6-0 no. 61063 (built 8/46, withdrawn 4/62) on the 09.25 local to Leicester Central; Ivatt J6 0-6-0 no. 64178 (built 11/1911 as GN no. 529, LNE no. 3529, 1946 no. 4178, withdrawn 4/60) on the 09.37 local to Grantham.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 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.

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, towards Leicester, London Marylebone etc.; ex-Great Central London - Leicester - Nottingham - Sheffield main line, also ex-Great Northern Grantham - Nottingham - Derby line etc. (For details, see Image] and other views). Gresley K3 2-6-0 No. 61950 is heading a Down Class E freight, several years before this great Station and the GC main line were closed.

B1 Class 61251 "Oliver Bury" about to depart from Platform 7. The engine's shedplate, 34F, shows it was at that time based at Grantham. Above the locomotive is the station's huge overall roof and to the left of it, at road level, the rear of the Victoria Station Hotel (as it then was) and the distinctive clock tower, which is all that remains of Victoria Station. The Victoria shopping centre now occupies the site, with underground car parks at what from 1899-1968 was platform level. I hope historical interest may make up for the poor quality of this scan of a Kodak Brownie print taken when I was eleven.

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’.

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.