A VISITOR centre that will tell the story of the Severn Valley Railway looks set to be built after the steam railway was awarded £3.3m in Lottery funding.

The multi-million pound Steam Heritage Centre also includes plans for a new carriage shed to house half the fleet of 26 locomotives when they are not in use, allowing visitors to take a closer look at the vehicles.

The money from the Heritage Lottery Fund will make up three-quarters of the estimated £4.5m cost of the project planned by bosses of the railway, which runs from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth.

Visitors have not been able to examine the locomotives at close quarters for 12 years because Health and Safety regulations deemed the Bridgnorth engine shed and workshops an "industrial workplace" where casual visitors were at risk.

"The new Steam Heritage Centre really will provide an important new focus for visitors to the railway, and kills two birds with one stone," said SVR general manager Alun Rees.

"People want to see our engines in close-up and with the new Steam Heritage Centre they will be able to do just that.

"At the same time engines in the queue awaiting their turn for overhaul have been scattered around at Bridgnorth and other places on the railway, exposed to the elements and doing nothing for the railway's general appeal.

"Now we'll be able to bring these locomotives together under one roof, and display them in a positive way."

The centre will be built on old former Landsale sidings, former colliery land next to the railway near Highley Station, Shropshire, about half-way along the 16-mile line.

The railway bought the land two years ago for £35,000.

The project is due to be completed within the next two years.

Confirmation of the grant has given SVR the go-ahead to commission detailed plans and drawings.

"The Severn Valley Railway is a window into our industrial past and this grant will secure the future of its rare rolling stock and keep this unique working line intact," said Anne Jenkins, Heritage Lottery Fund regional manager.