Transport & Industry
Since
1892 the remarkable Cliff
Railway has transported the people of Bridgnorth up and down
the 111ft sandstone cliff that separates the parts of the town, giving
magnificent views of the River Severn.
The
Royal
Air Force Museum at Cosford has one of the largest collections
of aircraft and associated artefacts in the United Kingdom. Housed in 3
wartime hangars, the museum displays more than 70 historic aircraft, tracing
the evolution of manned flight from its earliest beginnings almost 100 years
ago. Together with warplanes, civil airliners, transport aircraft, helicopters
and an amazing arsenal of missiles, this highly important collection is
not to be missed - and admission is free. Cosford also hosts one of the
world's leading airshows each summer, when historic craft take to the skies
along with the latest state-of-the-art fighters, aerial display teams, stunt
flyers and a host of other air and ground-based attractions.
The
Severn
Valley Railway
is a restored standard gauge line linking Bridgnorth with Kidderminster,
14 miles away. Steam trains operate throughout the year, calling at picturesque
country stations all along the stunning route, which winds its way through
the beautiful Severn Valley. There are extensive visitor facilities at each
end of the line, and 2 nostalgic real ale pubs, replete with memorabilia
from the golden days of steam. Special events take place all year round,
including steam and diesel galas, 1940s re-enactment weekends and for the
younger generation - Thomas the Tank Engine days.
Just
upstream of Bridgnorth, the wooded slopes of the Ironbridge
Gorge present a far more peaceful picture nowadays than they
did at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Now a World Heritage Site,
this historic landscape contains a wealth of carefully restored industrial
archaeology, the world's first iron bridge and a series of museums that
celebrate the astonishing diversity and creativity of the people who lived
and worked here. A Visitor Passport gives access to Blists
Hill Victorian Town, and to the other 9 museums, which
make up the Ironbridge
Gorge Museum.