A giant mechanical bull named Ozzy the Bull greets travelers in the concourse of Birmingham New Street Station, where it has been installed as a permanent landmark, ameblo.jp reported.
The bull began life as the “Raging Bull,” the centerpiece of the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. After the Games ended, more than 15,000 people signed a petition urging that it not be dismantled, and the city kept it as a symbol of the city.
Why the Bull Is Called Ozzy
After the Games, a public nomination and vote gave the monument its name. It was named “Ozzy” after Ozzy Osbourne, the Birmingham-born vocalist of Black Sabbath known worldwide as the “Prince of Darkness.” When the bull was officially unveiled under its new name, Osbourne’s wife, Sharon Osbourne, visited the site to celebrate.
How the Bull Was Rebuilt for Indoor Life at the Station
To meet indoor safety standards at the station, the British special-effects company Artem redesigned the structure. Roughly 50% of the bull was rebuilt, its outer shell covered in fire-retardant resin, and it was positioned so it can be viewed from 360 degrees from below. Electric actuators control the head, eyes and tail, and during periodic performances the eyes and forehead light up while the bull emits a growling sound.
Why It Looks Like Steel but Is Not
At first glance the bull appears to be a hulking robot of iron and steel, with heavy metallic texture, weld marks, giant tires and bolt-like parts. In reality, the exterior is fiberglass and special fire-retardant resin finished with metallic paint and rust-like texture. A solid-steel version would have weighed tens of tons, overloading the station floor and the motors that move its parts. The internal frame and moving joints, by contrast, are built from steel and aluminum for strength and durability.
Questions Readers Ask About Ozzy the Bull
Sharon Osbourne, the wife of Ozzy Osbourne, visited the site to celebrate the official unveiling.
About half of the structure was rebuilt with a fire-retardant resin shell and repositioned for 360-degree viewing inside the station concourse.
Today the bull draws both visitors to Birmingham and daily commuters passing through the station, its glowing eyes and growl still performing on a regular schedule.
Worth a look