Meet the volunteers who keep The Severn Valley Christmas train chugging through the winter

After boarding the train at either Bridgnorth or Kidderminster excited children and their equally excited parents and grandparents enjoy a steam train ride to the picturesque Arley Station deep in the heart of the countryside.

There they are greeted by Santa’s Elves and Mrs Christmas and make their way to an enchanting grotto to see the man himself and receive a toy.

An incredible 4,000 people board the Santa Steam Special on each of the eight days they are held – a remarkable operation carried out by volunteers.

Marketing manager for the railway, Lewis Madox, said that for each day the SVR needed about 100 volunteers, all with their own roles.

“We need at least 30 people just to keep the trains running,” Lewis said.

“They include a driver and fireman for each train and the ticket inspectors.”

The railway also needs four signal men to man the signalboxes on route.

We've met some of the people who give up their time to keep a magical Christmas tradition burning bright.

A fireman on the railway, Andy Stringer knows just how magical a trip on a Santa Steam Special can be.

Just 24 hours after volunteering on the Severn Valley he took his three and five -year-old sons on one of the trips on the train to the grotto at Arley.

“I love doing the Santa specials and seeing how much the families enjoy them,” said Andy, left.

Andy, who lives in Bewdley, started volunteering there in 2010 and has worked up to becoming a fireman on the footplate.

But he also has other volunteering roles including shed master.

His full time job also takes in railways, chief signals engineer for Siemens in Chippenham.

Jamie White of Bromsgrove is 17 and has been volunteering on the railway for three and a half years.

I’ve been coming here as a little boy and always wanted to volunteer here.

“I started volunteering soon after my 14th birthday.

“I’m a train dispatcher and volunteer along the line. I also help out with the IT for the railway.

“We have to make sure that the railway is run on very traditional lines but behind the scenes we can use new technology to ensure the system can run as smoothly as possible.”

Jamie is in his last year at college and is hoping to study computer science at University.

“But I hope to be able to come back to volunteer in the holidays and perhaps weekends if the university is close enough.”

“Volunteering has really helped improve my social skills and it also takes me away from everyday life.”

Diane Malyon is Mrs Christmas.

She not only volunteers in the grotto every Christmas she is in charge of its operation.

The rest of the year Diane is a director of Severn Valley Railway Company Ltd.

She also finds time to cook on the Venturer dining train.

“We try to ensure we use local suppliers for the dining car.

“I have volunteered with the SVR for 40 years – since I was 16,” she said.

“My brother was the Bridgnorth Station Master, that is how I got involved.

I learned to drive the diesel shunter and I have also looked after the station gardens.

“I have seen a lot of changes over the years.”

Chaz Welsey is as busy volunteering as ever, despite looking forward to his 80th birthday in January.

His responsibilities as Station Foreman include general platform duties and he says this time of year it is extremely busy.

A retired draughtsman, he used to live in Birmingham and began volunteering when he moved to Kidderminster.

“I am a young one with the volunteering, I have only been doing it for about 11 years,” he said. “People here have been on the railway for almost all their lives.

“It can be stressful when it is busy but in the summer Arley Station is the jewel in the crown of this railway. It is a wonderful place to be outside, working on the platform.”

Stella Smith is is one of Santa’s Elves during the Santa season working in the grotto at Arley Station.

But the rest of the year she volunteers as a ticket inspector and on the dining train.

She lives in Kidderminster.

“I always said that when I retired I would volunteer on the railway and I have been here now for about four or five years.

“I have a love of trains and I have made such a lot of friends here. My husband, John, also volunteers on the railway.”

Dave Beaman, above left, is in charge of electrics in Santa’s grotto and on the railway.

“My father was the chief locomotive inspector and training sessions were held at my parents’ home in Birmingham,” he said.

His volunteering for the SVR has even led to a change of career.

“I was an electrician and started on the railway as a trainee fireman in 1981.”

“Now I work as a signalling technician on the mainline railway at Birmingham New Street and volunteer as an electrician on the Severn Valley Railway. They are two very different railways.”

Continuing the tradition Dave’s daughter Steph, an elf in the grotto and his twin grandsons, five-year-old Dylan and Harrison have also been helping.

John Brand, above, second left, is a general volunteer on the railway. During the year he works on the Venturer dining train and is a guard.

But at Christmas time he is one of the organisers of the Santa Steam Specials.

His dedication to the railway means that John drives to Shropshire from his home in Birkenhead most weekends.

“I come down on Friday nights and go back on Sundays. We sleep at the railway in a specially converted railway carriage. “

John, 54, has been volunteering on the railway since 1980.

“It gets in your blood,” he said.

Assistant Station master at Arley Station is Dave Thompson , 76, who has been volunteering for the railway for 45 years.

He looks every bit the part with his pressed uniform and fob watch.

He is as much a part of the nostalgia as the antique phone, the furniture, paintwork and wood burning stove.

“People love the nostalgia of the steam railway,” he said. “We deliberately keep the traditions alive.”

“I’ve always been mad about railways.

“When I was very small we lived near the railway line and my mum would sit me on a wall to watch the trains.

“They have always been part of my life. I think that, in Britain, there is an innate love of the railway.”

Mr Thompson was the head of a primary school before he retired.

At the age of 16 Adam Elcock from Kidderminster is one of the youngest volunteers.

“My Dad is a ticket inspector,” he said.

“I joined the Junior Club first and now I am a member of the ticket inspection team.”

Adam is studying for his A-levels and hasn’t been able to volunteer this term until the Santa Steam Trains season because of his studies.

“I really love the trains and working with people is a bonus,” he added. “I am a people person and so it is great to meet so many people.”

The youngster said he hopes to become a commercial pilot.

Ben Wright is an architect during the week – and one of Santa’s elves at the weekend.

The 25-year-old loves the difference between the office work and the railway.

“I have been volunteering here for eight years,” he said. “I love trains, steam engines. I suppose it stems from Thomas the Tank Engine.

“I always, always wanted to be a fireman on the railway and that’s what I am training to be.

“I have learnt such a lot of skills on the railway, engineering and mechanical skills.

“It is good to be outside working and doing physical tasks.

“I love the fact that there are people of all ages that volunteer on the railway and we get on so well.”