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Overview
The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 was a keenly anticipated event. The locomotives on the Railway were the first to be powered entirely by steam, and it was the first passenger service to be timetabled.
Opening Day
However, its opening day was marred when William Huskisson, a prominant Member of Parliament, died after being struck by a locomotive passing on an adjacent track. Huskisson had dismounted from the train at a scheduled stop, against the advice of railway staff. He wished to shake hands with the Duke of Wellington, the Prime Minister. However, the passing locomotive caught him unaware, and he was struck, dying in agony a few hours later.
The day also saw the first train-on-train collision.
The obverse of the medal depicts the viaduct over the Sankey Canal, while the reverse shows the entrance to Liverpool Station.