LONG-standing members of the Severn Valley Railway will gather next week to celebrate the famous attraction’s official 50th anniversary, including the men who founded the railway half a century ago.

Monday, July 6, marks 50 years since a group of young railway enthusiasts gathered in the Coopers Arms, in Kidderminster, and decided to re-open the line, which was shut just prior to the Beeching Axe in 1963.

Five years of enormous effort and intensive fundraising later, the first, 5.5-mile section of the line between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade was purchased and the railway opened for passenger services once again.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the momentous meeting in 1965, now credited as the inception of the Severn Valley Railway, more than 100 of the SVR’s early members, including the founding members themselves will gather for a day of celebrations.

Those involved will board a special anniversary dining train service, during which they will enjoy a three-course lunch while travelling through the Severn Valley and sharing their memories of the railway in its early days.

The train will then return to Kidderminster, where the visitors will enjoy a tour of the Kidderminster Railway Museum, followed by the unveiling and presentation of the official Severn Valley Railway 50th birthday card.

The card has been specially designed by 11-year-old Millie Blewitt, from Worcester, whose design was picked from more than 200 entries to the SVR’s Design us a Birthday Card competition.

Clare Gibbard, SVR’s marketing and communications manager, said: “The Severn Valley Railway has been through so much during its first half-century, from its inception right through to becoming the hugely-popular, award-winning tourist attraction that today welcomes more than 200,000 visitors a year.

“However, none of this could have happened without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers and staff, and most importantly our founding members, whose passion and incredible efforts led to the SVR being created in the first place.

“This anniversary event has been organised to recognise this amazing achievement and to say a big thank you for all the hard work they have put in over the last 50 years.”