Telford Steam Railway to reopen this weekend

Telford Steam Railway will be reopening to visitors tomorrow for the first time since an accident last summer which forced its closure.

The volunteer-run railway was forced to shut to the public in July last year after chairman Paul Hughes's legs were crushed by a piece of railway track.

Newlywed Paul has recovered and returned to work on the railway, but trains have not run since the accident, which happened on July 2 last year.

Dave Angell, 52, the railway's marketing manager, said the volunteers were now looking forward to putting the accident behind them and welcoming visitors back to the track, which runs from Horsehay.

Families are invited to ride on the steam train and organisers are hoping that numbers will not be too affected by the closure.

"We normally have hundreds of visitors on a typical Easter weekend," Mr Angell said.

"We are not sure how many we will get this year because we have been closed, but we are really looking forward to it."

Tomorrow and on Bank Holiday Monday, the Easter Bunny will be giving a free chocolate egg to every child travelling on the train, and a hot cross bun to every adult.

Volunteers are already planning a Father's Day Drive Our Steam Train day on June 17 where dads will get a chance to fulfil their childhood dreams by taking the controls.

A model train collectors' gala on July 15 will feature displays of Horny Dublo, Triang Trains and Playcraft Trains, as well as cars by Matchbox and other model manufacturers.

Organisers also plan to hold a charity gala supporting the Air Ambulance in August. Mr Angell said: "They took our chairman to hospital so they deserve something back."

The Office of Rail Regulation ordered organisers to strengthen the infrastructure at the Bridge Road site following the accident. Members of the railway group also completed an investigation and improved operating practices.

By Jon Schulz