Severn Valley Railway celebrates 40th anniversary

Steam engine lovers celebrated the Severn Valley Railway's milestone anniversary by boarding a train from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster on the same day at the same time it pulled out 40 years ago.

Locomotive 43106 left the station at Bridgnorth at exactly 2pm waved off by the mayor of Bridgnorth and chugged for 16 miles before rolling into Kidderminster station at 3.25pm, with around 250 passengers on board.

Among them was John Hill, aged 71, who drove the first public train out of Bridgnorth 40 years ago.

Mr Hill from Church View, Bewdley, said: "When I drove that train back in 1970 the SVR had only got a few engines and a few coaches now it has over 30 engines and 60 coaches and a turnover of several million pounds.

"It has come a long way and it is mainly due to the tremendous work of the volunteers."

Mr Hill retired from his role as operating superintendent for the SVR in 1998.

Grandfather Don Shadwell, 61, from Brierley Hill, has been driving the trains for the SVR since 1970 and drove the 40th anniversary engine.

The BT worker said: "It was very nostalgic, even the hot weather was the same as 40 years ago, we had a smooth journey."