Railway steps back into 1940s
Dozens of people stepped back in time at a county railway.
Visitors to the Severn Valley Railway took a ride back to the 1940s, when the popular attraction held its Step Back to the 1940s Weekend.
Some very famous faces, including Sir Winston Churchill and King George VI travelled alongside the many passengers on the intensive service of ‘evacuation trains’ for a trip along the 16-mile line, from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth over the weekend
Feats of daring-do were brought to life as battle re-enactment took place outside The Engine House Visitor Centre at Highley, taking visitors back in time to two days after the D-Day landings when paratroopers have been dropped behind enemy lines to attack an enemy ammunition train.
The engine house also held vintage market and hundreds of costumed re-enactors WERE greeting visitors at stations as well as on trains, helping to tell the wartime story along the line.
There was also music from big band acts and crooners, plus a fire-fighting re-enactment and display
at Kidderminster, courtesy of the NFA & AFS Vehicles Group.
Clare Gibbard, the SVR’s marketing and communications manager, said: “Thousands of visitors head to the SVR each year for our 1940s events, which take over the Railway and transform it into a colourful, light-hearted celebration of 1940s Britain.
“It is always wonderful to see so many people who make such an effort to dress up in fantastic period costumes and really enter into the spirit of this ever-popular event.”
The 1940s will be alive and well at the SVR again this Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets to the 1940s weekends are available to purchase at www.svr.co.uk.
