Annual 1940s weekend at Severn Valley Railway

Jul 1 2008 By Steve Johnson

THE clock was turned back almost 70 years as the famous Severn Valley Railway rolled out the barrel for its annual 1940s weekend.

The two-day event, being repeated this coming weekend, attracts thousands of people from all over the country to the popular steam railway, which runs from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth, via Bewdley.

SVR marketing manager John Leach said the vintage weekends had been running for around 14 years and were among the most popular events of the calendar for rail enthusiasts.

“People always enter into the spirit of things, many of them dressing up in attire from the era,” he said.

“We also have Army camps, re-enactments and musical entertainment, recreating the wartime era.

“There is always something going on at all of our six stations between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth.”

Stations along the line, which only fully reopened at Easter after last year’s devastating floods which caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the line and the embankment, were “dressed” to look like the 1940s and visitors were also able to have identity cards stamped by the Home Guard.

Air raids also sounded, archive films were shown, and there were even “spivs” on the trains.

Other attractions included Workers Playtime at Kidderminster, with big band shows three times daily, 1940s clothes stands at Bridgnorth and Bewdley, and cars, fire engines and commercial vehicles from the era.

More information on the repeat performance is on 01299 403816.