Busiest month of the year

Last December the popular tourist attraction pulled in 43,000 passengers, most of them combining their visit with a journey to see Santa. This compares with 35,000 during the next busiest month of August.

The Santa Specials start on Saturday, December 3 and run until Christmas Eve.

They steam between Kidderminster and Arley where Santa's Grotto is located, and all fare-paying children receive a present from the man himself.

The railway's heritage diesel unit runs on three midweek days between Kidderminster and Highley as the Santa Herald when Santa himself travels on the train dispensing presents.

The diesel also runs on two Saturday evenings as the Christmas Carol Train on the full length of the line from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and back, stopping at stations for passengers to alight and sing some festive songs complete with musical accompaniment.

After Christmas there is a regular service of trains running along the whole line every day from Boxing Day through to January 2, 2006.

Details of the Santa Specials can be obtained by calling 01299 403816.

CELEBRATION YEAR

Each year the line between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth carries almost 250,000 passengers, helping to swell the railway's gross turnover to more than £4 million.

The current year has been one of celebration on the line as it is the 40th anniversary of the first public meeting at the Coopers Arms in Habberley where the idea for the railway was born.

It was there that a small band of enthusiasts got together to consider buying the line closed by British Rail in the 1960s. Their dream became a reality when the first SVR locomotive pulled out of Bridgnorth station on May 23, 1970.

Much steam has been generated since then, and the pace will not be easing up in the coming year.

In January a £650,000 redevelopment of Kidderminster Station with a covered concourse gets under way, and then work will begin on a new £4.5 million heritage centre at Highley, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Euro grant aid.