An historic part of Manchester Piccadilly station’s heritage has been returned home – thanks to the hard work of a retired train driver.
The Manchester & Birmingham Railway plaque – a high-quality replica of the 1839 original – was installed at the newly built Manchester Piccadilly station in the mid-1960s.
The three-ton plaque was removed in 1998 when an upgrade began on the station. But it never reappeared when the work ended in 2002.
It wasn’t until 2019 that retired train driver Mel Thorley, 77, discovered the missing historical artifact for sale on eBay for £3,700. Mel, from Stockport, and his friend, retired British Transport Police (BTP) officer Dave Smith put out a call which reached the ears of Lord Peter Hendy, then-chairman of Network Rail and current rail minister.
The plaque was then retrieved by BTP officers.
Now, more than 25 years after its disappearance, the plaque has finally been returned to its home in Manchester Piccadilly station after a restoration project which has brought it back to its best.
Passengers will now be able to spot the plaque standing proudly on platform 10.
