Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 57 14 Apr 2021
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The Portland Collection, Commemorative Medals, Transport: Railways, Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, silvered white metal medal, 1830, by T. Halliday, train steaming across viaduct over the Sankey Canal, in rural landscape, rev. arched entrance to Liverpool station within steep cuttings, 48.5mm. (BHM.1458; Eimer 1223; Moyaux 4; Swan 44), good very fine
The engine on the viaduct is clearly the Rocket, with its top-hatted driver, tender, three passenger carriages and two others. In the centre carriage there are two ladies seated under parasols. The reverse shows the viaduct over the Sankey Canal valley. The actual opening on 15 September was not at all the tranquillity as depicted on the medal, with the MP William Huskisson run over in front of the Duke of Wellington, and Stephenson establishing a record speed of over 36 miles an hour when taking the dying man to Eccles.
The engine on the viaduct is clearly the Rocket, with its top-hatted driver, tender, three passenger carriages and two others. In the centre carriage there are two ladies seated under parasols. The reverse shows the viaduct over the Sankey Canal valley. The actual opening on 15 September was not at all the tranquillity as depicted on the medal, with the MP William Huskisson run over in front of the Duke of Wellington, and Stephenson establishing a record speed of over 36 miles an hour when taking the dying man to Eccles.