Grand gateway to our city and region opened 175 years ago

Newcastle's railway station is celebrating its 175th anniversary. DAVID MORTON looks at the landmark’s glorious history

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NEWCASTLE Central Station marks its 175th anniversary this month. A principal gateway to our region, the magnificent building was officially opened by Queen Victoria amid much fanfare in a grand ceremony on August 29, 1850.

The event was given widespread coverage in the newspapers of the day. With the railways spreading like wildfire around Britain, Newcastle Central was to be a major player, it was reported, with “at least 140 or 150 arrivals and departures of passenger trains daily”.

For the opening, more than 10,000 people were packed inside the newly-built station. It was a high-profile affair, with the railway companies selling viewing places in specially-erected stands.

Flags were waved in every direction, the city’s church bells rang, and the sun blazed over Tyneside.

The 31-year-old monarch, her husband Prince Albert, and the royal children had travelled north aboard the royal train. “At ten minutes to one, the booming of artillery from the castle gave notice of the arrival of the royal party in Gateshead, and less than five minutes afterwards the train approached,’ the Newcastle Guardian noted.