Station Jim

When most people think of British history, it usually revolves around famous historical people, kings and queens, nobility and war and/or conflict. What does not come to minds of most is a taxidermy dog who died over a century ago. Nevertheless, adjacent to track 5 near the ladies room, at Slough Central Train Station, stands Station Jim. He steadfastly watches people coming and going on the tack that is reserved for the London train. Jim, much like he did a century ago, continues to collect coins for a charitable fund.

He was about four months old when he began collecting coins for the Great Western Railway Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund. He was said to be in bad health and only collected coins for two years. But those two years must have been memorable. Jim would do tricks, play leap frog with boys and generally charm passengers in the station. Apparently he even rode the trains on a least two occasions. Once, when he hopped a train to Windsor he refused the return journey, opting instead for a walk back to Slough. From the memorial and the write up, it is obvious that he was well loved in Slough. He died, on the platform with in his harness, on the evening of 19 November 1896. Voluntary contributions from the residents of Slough placed him at his current location.

Station Jim, no doubt an oddity in ter

ms of historical markers, presents us with an alternative look at history. Rather than focusing on elites, here we have a working class hero that helped people during his short life. The commemoration of this canine hero also speaks to the affection of dogs by British people. While it is startling to see a stuffed dog while waiting for your train to London, it is an interesting footnote to history.

See The Guardian’s 2011 editorial regarding Jim here.