IAN Raven from the Vale of Berkley Railway spoke to the Vaga Probus Club on April 24.

This Heritage Railway plans to run its first steam train in 2020, only five years after the project was launched.

The line will run for 4.5 miles from Berkley Road, on the Cheltenham - Bristol line, to Sharpness Docks from where, prior to 1960, it crossed the Severn on the now demolished rail bridge.

A number of historic steam and diesel engines are under restoration in an extremely well equipped workshop on the dockside.

At least two will be in working order by mid 2020.

The greater challenge is to prepare the track. While part is in good condition, several hundred trees which have grown up on the old docks sidings must be removed.

For environmental reasons, this cannot begin until September although ground clearance is permitted during the summer months within very closely controlled conditions. Volunteers will be hard at work all year.

Berkley Station will be rebuilt exactly as it was before abandonment in 1960, on the foundations revealed by a team of loyal volunteers over the last 18 months, who are now ready to start construction as soon as the necessary consents and funding is in place. A reconstructed Sharpness station and a range of maintenance buildings will follow. Visit valeofberkleyrailway.co.uk for more information

Vaga Probus is a men only group that meets twice a month in Ross-on-Wye. Visitors are very welcome, please contact the secretary on 07956 456290 for details.