Pop mogul to sign books at railway gala

Pop mogul and rail enthusiast Pete Waterman will be meeting visitors at Severn Valley Railway's steam gala. He will also be signing copies of his new book on railway modelling Just Like The Real Thing.

The event takes place on September 26.

Waterman was briefly a steam locomotive fireman at Stafford Road engine shed in Wolverhampton during his teenage years in the 1960s and now owns several full-size steam locomotives.

He will return to the footplate for a run over the full length of the heritage line in between book-signing sessions at both Kidderminster and Bridgnorth stations.

Waterman is best known as the record producer who guided the careers of pop stars such as Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan.

He will spend an hour signing copies of his book at Bridgnorth, before climbing up onto the footplate of the locomotive working the 12.45pm train to Kidderminster, where he will spend another hour signing books before returning to Bridgnorth on the 4.20pm train.

More than 7,000 steam buffs are expected to descend on the gala, which will run for three days from September 25-27.

The Severn Valley Railway's LMS Ivatt Flying Pig No.43106 will be making its first public appearance on the line in 22 years following a major rebuild.

For train times and ticket details call 01299 403816.