The world-famous Flying Scotsman steamed into Shropshire on Friday, marking the full reopening of one of the county’s top tourist attractions.
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) heritage line, which runs for 16 miles from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster in Worcestershire, had been blocked since January after a major landslip.
It had meant trains could only run from Kidderminster to Hampton Loade, leaving Bridgnorth without the financial boost that thousands of railway passengers bring to the town each year.
Tickets to travel on board Flying Scotsman sold out within minutes and the locomotive was then booked for an extra day – with trips now happening from Friday to Monday.
Bridgnorth’s mayor David Cooper said there was a “strong identity” between the town and the railway.
“It does draw a lot of people into the town and it’s very much valued by businesses in the town, so we’re very grateful that the services are back up and running,” he said.
Bridgnorth station master Chris Thomas said: “Everyone here has been waiting for this day, and it’s marvellous to welcome our first full-line train this season.
“During the long months of isolation we’ve worked hard to keep people coming here and carried out a lot of maintenance and improvement work to keep the station looking good.
“But of course, nothing beats a fully joined up railway, and that’s what we’re celebrating today.”
SVR managing director Jonathan Dunster said: “Securing the iconic Flying Scotsman to haul our reopening train was the absolute icing on the cake.
“This is about championing the SVR’s spirit of survival, and the many remarkable people associated with it that have helped to bring us to the point of reunifying our line.”
Because of the current high risk of lineside fires, a Class 20 diesel locomotive provided assistance to Flying Scotsman.
“The vegetation alongside our line is still very dry, and the last thing we want on this very special day is a spark from Flying Scotsman inadvertently starting a fire,” said Mr Dunster.
“Placing the diesel directly behind the steam loco gives the best level of assistance, which is so important when the train is tackling the infamous incline of Eardington Bank.”
John Bray
BBC News, West Midlands
BBC Shropshire
