SOME of the world's strangest wheeled inventions will be taking to the tracks at Severn Valley Railway on Sunday.

Wooden-framed tricycles adapted to run on the rails, called velocipedes, will be out in force at Hampton Loade station, near Bridgnorth.

The two-seater contraptions were first used by railway workers in the early 1900s to carry out track maintenance, as well as providing a way of getting up and down the line between stations.

Around 12 are thought to have survived, including Hampton Loade station's own, which belonged to Great Western Railway and was left behind by British Rail in 1963.

Last year, four velocipedes were on display for visitors and this time, event organiser, Stephen Kay, hopes many more will join in racing through the station throughout the day.

The sixth annual National Velocipede Rally, which will run from 11.30am until 5.30pm, is part of the station's annual gala day.

Visitors will also be able to go behind the scenes, see the working signal box as well as the live steam on the 16mm scale miniature Paddock Railway and view the ongoing restoration of an original Victorian railway carriage.

There will be a small admission fee for the gala day. For further information, contact SVR on 01299 403816 or visit the website at www.svr.co.uk