SEVERN Valley Railway fans are invited to ‘access all areas’ during its annual Open House Weekend.

As well as the chance to experience the golden age of rail travel along the line from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth, visitors will be able to get a rare peek behind the scenes to discover how the SVR’s volunteers and staff make the magic happen.

People can find out how carriages are prepared for service, how skilled engineers build and repair steam locomotives, as well as venturing deep inside the normally off-limits areas of the carriage works at Kidderminster and the locomotive shed and machine shop at Bridgnorth.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Inside the Bewdley signal boxInside the Bewdley signal box (Image: Severn Valley Railway)

In The Engine House Visitor Centre at Highley, there’s a fleet of ‘resting’ engines on display, along with the Royal Saloon and the travelling post office. 

Fans can also visit the cab of a diesel loco, peek inside one of the railway’s signal boxes and take a ride in a brake van.

Open House Weekend on 1st and 2nd of April also sees SVR services running the full length of the line between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth for the first time this season.

During March, services were restricted between Kidderminster and Highley because of engineering works.