Charlie gets railway under way

Gardening expert Charlie Dimmock joined hundreds of VIPs and bosses of the Severn Valley Railway as the first train pulled out of Kidderminster along the restored line to Bridgnorth today.

Bunting decorated the station and big band music was played in the background as engine driver Terry Jenkins and fireman Keith Hall got up steam to take out the train bearing the same SVR headboard it carried when the heritage line opened in the 1970s.

Also on board was general manager Nick Ralls who was taking his first trip along the entire 16-mile track.

The disastrous floods of June last year literally swept away parts of the track between Bewdley and Bridgnorth.

Charlie was her usual effervescent self and said: "Apparently they chose me to officially send off the first train with a bottle of champagne because of my garden water features."