Severn Valley Railway photographs fire up memories on eve of anniversary
Preparations to mark the Severn Valley Railway's half century are gathering steam, thanks to the help of the Express & Star.
The popular preserved railway, which runs from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, is gearing up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first meeting at a pub in Kidderminster in July, 1965.
The meeting paved the way for what has become one of the biggest tourist attractions in the West Midlands, and to mark the milestone the railway will be holding an exhibition at its visitor centre at Highley station next year.
As part of the preparations, three stalwarts of the railway called into the Express & Star's head office in Wolverhampton to look through the old photographs in the archives. And bosses are now urging anyone with pictures or memories of the railway to come forward.
Mick York joined the Severn Valley Railway Society the year after it was formed, and is now a director. Jack Bond, aged 73, of Greenacre Drive, Codsall, met his future wife Denise during an event at Bridgnorth station in 1967. Denise, who is 65, said: "A neighbour of mine wanted me to meet Jack, and 47 years later we are still together."
They met at an open day at the station to mark the arrival of the railway's first locomotive, the Great Western Railway engine No. 3205. Three years later it would pull the first train, when the first stretch of line between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade opened. This maiden voyage, in January, 1970, was one of the pictures which the volunteers discovered during their visit to the Express & Star, and will now form part of next year's exhibition.
Mr York, aged 69, from Sutton Coldfield, urged anybody with pictures or memories to write to 1 Comberton Place, Kidderminster.
