Full steam ahead for Severn Valley Railway platform extension
It is one of the premier tourist attractions in the county – and its success is in a huge part down to the volunteers who do so much work to keep it going.
A new season at the Severn Valley Railway has begun, with a year packed full of events.
The popularity of the railway is growing year on year – and that means maintenance work is needed to cater for the ever increasing number of visitors.
The latest project will see platform one at Bridgnorth railway station extended by 32 feet – almost 10 metres.
The aim is to make it easier for trains pulling up to eight or nine carriages to stop at the station at the northern end of the line.
Volunteers began work last September and although trains are now running again following the winter break, the extension project continues to take shape.
It is hoped the platform will be finished by the end of April and it will be full steam ahead for the rest of the year.
Sue Thomas, a spokeswoman for the railway, said that the volunteers were a vital part of running the attraction, and this project in particular.
She said: "Every day we have at least a dozen men working here on the platform extension and some days we have as many as 20.
"Because we have so many volunteers to do the work it helps to keep the cost down.
"As they are also using reclaimed materials to build the platform extension, the actual costs of the project are very, very low."
Sue said the extension to the platform was necessary because of the size of the trains now using the station.
She said: "We now frequently see eight or nine-coach trains needing to use the station and they occupy a great deal of space.
"By extending the platform it will be easier to accommodate trains of that size.
"As well as extending the existing platform, we have also taken away the Cattle Dock siding and are making use of that as part of the platform extension too.
"This is just one part of the redevelopment plans we have for the station, plans which include demolishing the existing buffet portakabin and building a new refreshment area at the opposite end of the platform.
"We have put the plans in for those changes to Shropshire Council and are awaiting their decision."
Sue, who lives in Bridgnorth, has been involved with the SVR for 35 years and met her husband Chris, the station master, at the railway.
The station would continue to function, said Sue, even while the platform extension work went on.
She said: "We have some big events coming up, including the spring gala in March and later in the year we have the much-heralded visit by the Flying Scotsman.
"It is going to be another great year for the railway this year and it all highlights how important the volunteers are to the running and success of the SVR." The railway's spring gala will formally launch the new season and takes place on March 18, 19 and 20.
Throughout the Easter holiday there will be Trains, Trams and Easter Fun, when the railway welcomes back the Manchester Model Tramway Group.
In early May children's favourites Peppa Pig and George will be visiting Bridgnorth station and later that month the spring diesel festival will take place.
The diesel festival has been moved from its traditional slot in October and will give enthusiasts the chance to see English Electric, Maybach and Sulzer diesel engines.
It will also feature the grand opening of Kidderminster diesel depot, which is taking shape at the opposite end of the heritage line.
