AFTER years of struggling to restore old stations and sheds, volunteers working to reopen a redundant railway line are finally to get their first new building.

Weardale Railways, in County Durham, marked a milestone yesterday when they laid the foundations for a running shed at the newly-named Wolsingham Railway Centre, where their growing collection of engines and carriages is stored.

A last-minute hiccup over the lease of the land, in the grounds of Weardale Steel, delayed the ceremony by an hour but failed to dampen the celebrations for the hardworking team of enthusiasts who are on the point of achieving their dream.

With the final element of their £5m funding in place, Weardale Railway Company is on track for a summer reopening of the line, between Stanhope and Wolsingham.

Eventually, the line will link with the national rail network and bring thousands of visitors to the area by train.

With the £10m Locomotion centre opening at Shildon, County Durham, in September, and Darlington Railway Museum already established, there is the potential for an unrivalled network of rail attractions boosting the economy of the whole region.

The 50 metre x 20 metre shed should take eight weeks to complete and will provide storage for up to six coaches or locomotives.

Flat-pack sectional buildings will be delivered by road and erected on foundations prepared by Rainton Construction.

Since the mid-1990s, Weardale Railway Trust volunteers have been restoring rolling stock, raising money and, more recently, clearing the track ready for trains to start running on July 17.

The railway also has a steam transport festival at Stanhope Station on June 26 and 27. For details, call (01388) 526262.