It was full steam ahead for the Severn Valley Railway as it celebrated 40 years of carrying passengers through the Shropshire countryside.

Passengers on the “2pm from Bridgnorth” yesterday joined several of the pioneers of the SVR to help mark the ruby anniversary.

Bridgnorth mayor Val Gill was on hand to wave away the train from the platform, echoing the events which happened in 1970.

Councillor Gill said: “It’s wonderful. I think this is a great attraction. I think it’s good the history is maintained, it brings so many visitors to the town.

“It’s a credit to the town. All the people put so many hours of work into it to keep it going.”

The train, which headed to Kidderminster on a 90-minute journey, whistled its departure at the same time and from the same platform as inaugural service.

Turnover

Four decades ago the 4.5 mile route from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade was far shorter than the 16-mile line which now operates.

And today the service has gone from carrying 32,000 passengers from May to December 1970 to 250,000 a year and with an annual turnover of more than £6 million.

Guests on board the train included several people who first formed the Severn Valley Railway Society at a meeting in the Cooper’s Arms pub in Kidderminster in 1965.

John Hill, a former SVR traffic manager, who drove the first public train in 1970 was also on the special service. He said: “In 40 years we have come from having absolutely nothing to a railway with 30 engines, 60 coaches and a variety of wagons. This is due to the efforts of the volunteers.

“We need paid staff but without the volunteers giving up their holidays and weekends we would not exist.”

Mr Hill, 71, of Bewdley, said he was “absolutely proud” to be part of the railway and the celebrations.

Yesterday’s anniversary service also paused briefly at Eardington, the intermediate halt between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, which has not been served by timetabled trains for many years.

SVR marketing manager John Leach said: “There were many who said the Severn Valley Railway scheme would fail and even Shropshire Council opposed our bid to re-open the line initially, but I think today’s Severn Valley Railway, operating as it does some 2,500 steam trains a year and running 40,000 miles, is the only riposte we need to make.”