Railway's 1920s buffet car now wheelchair-friendly

Volunteers at the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) have spent the past eight years restoring a heritage buffet car with wheelchair users in mind.

The GWR 9581 has had its first outing to coincide with the railway's Autumn Steam Gala, travelling from Kidderminster in Worcestershire to Bridgnorth in Shropshire.

SVR spokeswoman Lesley Carr said volunteers had "skilfully blended authentic heritage details with a commitment to making the vehicle accessible".

A key element was "to retain a sense of the authentic appearance of the carriage that would date from the late 1920s, but then bring these modern expectations into it that people quite rightly now have in the 21st Century", she said.

"It's the only one of its type, we believe, in the whole of the UK, to have a specially adapted buffet counter that's at the right level for people using wheelchairs, so we're very, very proud of that."

The buffet car had been restored to a pristine condition with a gleaming chocolate and cream exterior and art deco interiors, Ms Carr said.

Volunteers were there for the launch on Thursday, as wheelchair users tried out the new facilities.

The carriage has a low counter, a saloon area with integrated wheelchair spaces and an accessible toilet with outward-opening doors.

Ms Carr said 40 or 50 volunteers, if not more, had a hand in restoring the carriage over the years, with all the work carried out in their spare time.

"It takes a long time and an awful lot of dedication to bring something from a state of being virtually wrecked to this beautiful carriage that we see today," she added.

The Autumn Steam Gala, starting on Thursday, brings four days of activities on the heritage railway, with visitors coming from all over the country.

"We really do hope that they'll take the opportunity to see this special accessible buffet carriage that we've got... but there's so much to see," Ms Carr said.

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.