Dignitaries gathered in Swindon’s Railway Village on Friday 4th April for one of GWR’s first events to mark Railway 200.
James “Jim” Hurst was one of GWR’s first engine drivers and the first to receive a company pension after he retired to a house in Taunton Street in the village. A blue plaque has now been placed on the building to commemorate his memory.
He started his career on the Liverpool and Manchester railway but moved south after becoming friends with GWR’s Daniel Gooch, the company’s first Locomotive Superintendent. He worked all over their network, driving trains in South Wales and the South West. He was involved in a number of incidents during his career but was always “rescued” by Gooch who valued his experience.
GWR MD Mark Hopwood, Jim Robbins – leader of Swindon Borough Council, Heidi Alexander – Swindon South MP and Secretary of State for Transport, Tim Bryan – historian and Bogdan Lupu from Network Rail after the unveiling.
The event marked the beginning of a number of events planned by GWR and others to mark 200 years since the first passenger carrying train ran in England.
You can find more details here https://railway200.co.uk/
