The ‘Inspiration’ train, which is touring the UK to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the British railway system, made its first stop in Kidderminster last Friday.
The train – aimed at inspiring interest in British railway history and careers in the industry – was welcomed by the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) on platform two of the Kidderminster Station.
It will be available to view by visitors until the end of Sunday, July 6, before it heads off to Birmingham Moor Street where Chiltern Railways will welcome visitors from July 8 to 10.
Picture by Jack Boskett. s
Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s central route director, said: “The West Midlands are at the Heart of Britain’s Railway, making it the perfect location for the first two stops of the Railway 200 national tour.
“This unique train will offer visitors an experience that showcases the railway’s vital role in Britain’s past, present, and future and I hope it inspires thousands of visitors from across the region who will be among the first in Britain to experience it.”
Picture by Jack Boskett. s
200,000 visitors
More than 200,000 people are expected to visit the ‘inspiration’ train as it travels across Britain in the next 12 months, visiting a total of 60 locations.
The celebration is also aimed at inspiring young people and others to consider careers in the railway industry by highlighting the variety of different roles available. The train consists of four carriages: ‘Railway Firsts’ showcases important moments in the development of the railway system and ‘Wonderlab on Wheels’ hosts interactive exhibits which allow visitors to test their engineering skills. ‘Your Railway Future’ presents some of the hidden roles in the railway industry and ‘Partner Zone’ will vary as the train changes locations.
Picture by Jack Boskett. s
Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, said: “This special exhibition train is a new, free national visitor attraction, offering an unforgettable experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren.
“It will excite, enlighten, entertain and inspire them to take a fresh look at the railway, as part of its anniversary celebrations.”
Picture by Jack Boskett. s
For the final two days of the Inspiration’s train’s stay in Kidderminster on Saturday and Sunday, there will be an additional showcase of various historic trains and other vehicles.
These include the current and cutting-edge LMS 46115 Scots Guardsman and the HydroFLEX, as well as steam and diesel locomotives such as the Highley and Autotrain.
The Battle of Britain Memorial plane, a Lancaster bomber, will also be featured in a flyby.
Booked visits will take place between 10am and 5pm with on-train experiences lasting up to an hour.
Picture by Jack Boskett. s
Virtual tours of the exhibition are available for those unable to visit in person.
Admission to the train is free, though tickets must be booked in advance. Normal entry fees apply to Heritage Railways and other private sites.
Visit railway200.co.uk/inspiration to book tickets and find out more about train locations and for further details on Railway 200 and opportunities to get involved.
Trains Through The Ages at SVR this weekend
TO COINCIDE with the Railway 200 Exhibition, Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has its ‘Train Through The Ages Event’ tomorrow and Sunday, July 5 and 6.
SVR has a busy timetable with a number of locomotives working the line between Kidderminster and Hampton Loade from 9am to 7pm.
The event is a must for rail enthusiasts and admission entitles visitors to ride as many engines as they can in historic carriages.
People can also visit The Engine House at Highley, which is open from 9.30am to 5pm (last entry at 4.30pm) and sample real ales in the SVR’s pubs.
Among the locomotives in service are the LMS 46115 Scots Guardsman, paired with the SVR’s BR maroon carriages, thanks to David Smith and West Coast Railways.
The GWR 4930 Hagley Hall is paired with GWR carriages and the GWR 1450 will operate in push-pull mode with an Autocoach.
LMS Stanier Mogul 13268 will be paired with LMS carriages and a pre-grouping goods train and there will be the 1877-built Chaloner and 1902-built ‘Holy War’, narrow gauge footplate rides at
The Engine House. Others include BR Class 52 D1062 Western Courier, BR Class 50 50033 Glorious and BR Class 108 DMU.
People can also see inside HydroFLEX, the UK’s first hydrogen-ready passenger train, developed and tested by Porterbrook in Warwickshire, on display at Kidderminster.
Branchline trains of the 1900s with steam-powered Autotrain will be hauled by GWR 1450 and the resident DMU railcar.
There will be 19th century narrow gauge locomotives on display and in operation at The Engine House, offering footplate rides from 10.30am to 4pm.
There will also be a flypast, with thanks to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, by a Lancaster bomber– the most famous and successful RAF heavy bomber from the Second World War.
Modern rail vehicles will also be on display at Kidderminster.
Visit svr.co.uk for more information.
