A CHARITY railway which hit the buffers in the 60s will celebrate its five millionth passenger on Saturday.

Severn Valley Railway reached the end of the line when it was one of hundreds of loss-making outfits closed by the infamous Dr Beeching.

However, in a remarkable turn-around since preservationists saved the 16-mile railway from demolition in 1967, it has been full steam ahead.

SVR marketing manager John Leach said: "Five million passengers is an outstanding tribute to the many thousands of volunteers and staff who started the SVR revival 35 years ago.

"Through resolve and determination they have not only kept it going but helped build it into one of the country's leading tourist attractions."

The railway has predicted the five millionth passenger will board the 1.15 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth train on Saturday.

Chuffed railway bosses plan to present the unsuspecting passenger with a host of goodies to mark the occasion.

It is all a far cry from when the days the railway lay in ruins.

Mr Leach said: "It is a sobering exercise to look at the photographs which were taken at Bridgnorth in the mid-60s showing the closed and run-down station and the tracks buried beneath a carpet of grass and weeds.

"Everyone thought the railway had gone from Severn Valley forever. Who could have predicted all those years ago the line would become a national icon for the steam locomotive, or that millions more people would travel the line again?"

Enthusiasts re-opened the steam haul passenger trains in 1970.

In its first year the line ran for four miles and attracted about 37,000 passengers.

Now the railway receives more than 200,000 visitors a year to attractions such as the 1940s Weekend, Thomas the Tank Engine days and the annual Steam Gala.