Heritage railway offering behind-the-scenes tours

A heritage railway is throwing open its doors this weekend to offer people a "rare peek" at areas not usually open to the public.

The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has services in operation between Kidderminster in Worcestershire and Hampton Loade in Shropshire.

However, a four-mile stretch of the line between Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth in Shropshire remains closed following a landslip earlier this year.

The open house weekend will see Bridgnorth station open to visitors, with tours of the locomotive works and machine shop as well as the signal box.

At Kidderminster, organisers are holding diesel cab tours on a Class 58 locomotive and offering the chance to visit the signal box.

Signal boxes will be open for visits at Bewdley and Highley, and there will also be guided tours of Highley's Engine House.

SVR managing director Jonathan Dunster said: "For these two days only, we offer our visitors a rare peek behind the scenes at the fascinating and vital work that goes on beyond the public gaze.

"If you've ever wondered why we need signal boxes, how to drive a locomotive or how we look after some of our superb heritage rolling stock, you won't want to miss it."

The 16-mile railway, which welcomes up to 250,000 visitors a year, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025. It is run by more than 1,600 volunteers.

The open house days are on Saturday and Sunday.

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.