I may well have mentioned Station Jim on this blog previously, but I don’t think I have devoted a whole article to him, which he most certainly deserves.
This is Station Jim. He is a dead dog. Very very dead. In fact, he has been dead and on display at Slough train station for over a hundred years. This alone should make him a top tourist attraction, even if he hadn’t lead the incredible life of adventure an selfless charity detailed on the small plaque on his case.
Station Jim was a stray dog found wandering around Slough station in destitution. However the kind people of Slough took pity on him and he was returned to health. At which point he was fitted with a pouch and sent to collect money from passengers for local charities. He raised enormous sums of money and at one point boarded a train and traveled as far as Swindon (or somewhere like that)! After his death at a ripe old age he was stuffed and put in a display case. The end.
(Wikipedia may have a slightly more accurate account.)
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I am writing a series of stories about the Granada Theatre Circuit on my website and have arrived at the Slough Granadas. We moved to Slough in 1956. I was a kid then and totally miserable about leaving London. I remember discovering JIM who was then in pride-of-place on the walkway where all passengers could see him. I remember reading his story with interest.
In 2005, I had come to Slough to visit my parents’ grave and was taking the train back to London. I was surprised to find JIM hidden away there where only a few passengers could see him.
I had left Slough in 1962 and returned periodically to visit my parents, but had not been on the station until 2005. I was horrified to find poor old JIM looking very much the worse for ware in a cabinet that has seen better days.
I wrote to the authorities suggesting that JIM be moved to Slough Museum or to the Museum in York. The authorities said that he was still ‘dearly loved by staff and passengers’ and would remain in Slough.
If he is ‘so loved’ then why is he left hidden away on Platform 5?
Poor old Jim, now mostly forgotten.
I hope you don’t mind, but I would like to incorporate you photo into a collage I am making for my story. If you agree, please let me know and if you do not agree, I would be grateful to hear. I will link your name to your site.
Cheers and say hello to JIM should you see him before I do! Thanks.
January 28, 2014 @ 3:54 am
By the way, I like your view of JIM’s life much more that on Wiki.
January 28, 2014 @ 3:56 am
Thanks for sharing your story. Please use my photo if you wish!
January 28, 2014 @ 10:00 pm
[…] BBC today has an excellent article on stuffed dogs at railway station, including the beloved Station Jim of […]
July 30, 2014 @ 10:03 pm