A stunning solid steel artwork display has been unveiled at Kidderminster Station. 

The 46-foot-long artwork depicts the Severn Valley Railway's flagship locomotive and is a project that has taken years of planning and determination by Sue Langley. 

Ms Langley, who lives in Arley, formed the Wyre Forest and District u3a Station Adopters Group in 2021. 

Alongside her colleagues, she has set about smartening up Kidderminster's mainline station, tending to the gardens and working with local heritage attractions to reflect the rich history of the town to passengers. 

Station adopters Tony Haylock and Sue Langley also volunteer at the SVRStation adopters Tony Haylock and Sue Langley also volunteer at the SVR (Image: John Oates)

Ms Langley said: "When we started out on this adventure, we really had no idea how far we could take things or where we'd end up. 

"We thought we might be looking after a few planters or something like that, but we soon spotted the opportunity to show just what the u3a can achieve when it puts its mind to it. 

"We're a national movement with the motto 'learn, laugh, live'."

Ms Langley felt that the SVR should form a key part of the heritage interpretation that the Adoption Group was working on. 

Her grandfather was a steam engine driver for British Rail and as an SVR volunteer herself, she knew how important the heritage line is to the local area so she contacted the SVR. 

The artwork is located at Kidderminster Station The artwork is located at Kidderminster Station (Image: Alan Corfield)

Lesley Carr, the SVR's head of communications, said: "As soon as Sue got in touch, I knew this was a fantastic idea.

"We wanted to get right behind this and commissioned our designer, Marcin Wisniewski, to come up with a scheme that featured our flagship locomotive 4930 'Hagley Hall'. 

"The end result really is absolutely stunning and it's a huge credit to Sue and all the members of the Adoption Group who've worked so hard to make this happen."

The Station Adopters chose Smethwick-based AJS Profiles who used precision equipment to cut out the design in six separate pieces. 

The company also part-funded the cost of production which Ms Langley said was an enormous help. 

She added: "This was such a boost for us as we needed to find funding for the production and installation. 

"We also received a donation in memory of a Kidderminster man, Andrew Davie, who sadly died in 2021. 

"Without these kind contributions, we couldn't have completed this project."

The completed artwork of the 4930 'Hagley Hall' and one of the SVR's heritage carriagesThe completed artwork of the 4930 'Hagley Hall' and one of the SVR's heritage carriages (Image: Alan Corfield)

The heritage rail artwork complements other initiatives that the Station Adopters have put in place including panels from the Museum of Carpet and other places of historical interest around the Worcestershire town. 

There is also a repurposed boat planter symbolising Kidderminster's twinning with the German fishing town of Husum. 

The volunteers have also transformed the long, sloping bank at the station entrance with colourful planting, herbs for passers-by to help themselves and a bug hotel for hibernating insects. 

For more information visit www.svr.co.uk