- A SEVERN Valley Railway volunteer will be exhibiting his beloved Morris Minor car to mark the 40th anniversary of Kidderminster Town station.
Peter Darkin will be parking the car outside the station during the commemorative weekend on July 27 and 28, and the story behind his association with this vehicle goes all the way back to when the station opened in 1984.
Mr Darkin had taken over ownership of the Morris Minor 1000 40 years ago.
He said: "My mother-in-law’s eyesight was failing and she no longer wanted to drive.
"I was more than happy to take on the vehicle, which she had owned since new in 1966.
"I was very proud to drive it to Bridgnorth on 30 July 1984, where I was guarding the train travelling south, hauled by 45690 ‘Leander’.
"This was, of course, the first train to arrive, later that afternoon, at the newly opened Kidderminster Town station".
Mr Darkin has volunteered for the SVR for almost 50 years and who recently celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this month.
He looks after historical documents and artefacts on behalf of the heritage line.
Mr Darkin added: "Strange to think that car and railway are going to be reunited for this historic occasion, and it will be wonderful to take part in our special weekend alongside around 20 vehicles that are typical of what would have been on the road in 1984.’
On both days of the celebratory weekend, at 12.30pm the SVR’s flagship locomotive, 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’ will recreate the inaugural ‘Kidderminster Venturer’ special out of Kidderminster Town that it hauled 40 years ago.
On the Saturday, there’ll be a ceremony at the station 12 noon with many people attending who volunteered at the railway in 1984.
The ‘Kidderminster Venturer’ will be crewed by the SVR’s youngest volunteer driver, fireman, guard and ticket inspectors.
Throughout both days, visitors can peek behind the scenes at Kidderminster’s signal box and carriage works, and a brand-new exhibition telling the story of Kidderminster Town station opens at Kidderminster Railway Museum, featuring memories and archive photographs.
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