The volunteers of Groudle Glen Railway is stepping up plans for its 125th anniversary celebrations next year.

A planning application (20/01256/B) has been submitted by the railway for the erection of a booking office and souvenir shop.

The railway’s application focuses on its Lhen Coan station, which is accessed via Groudle Glen. Currently this has an open air canopy with ticket office and souvenir stall.

If planners back the plan, it would see a new wooden structure created at the entrance to the railway which would house a gift shop and a waiting hall where the railway can display photographs and exhibits detailing its history.

The building, which would also see the station area expand, is designed to be in keeping with the historic nature of the railway and the existing infrastructure.

If approved, GGR would be required to remove four trees, two of which are already dead, but this would be handled in a separate application with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

Chairman of the GGR Trevor Nall told the Examiner that the proposal for Lhen Coan station forms part of the railway’s plans for its 125th anniversary in 2021.

The railway first opened on May 23 1896, with that first train being pulled by Sea Lion, which remains in regular service.

Having survived both world wars, the railway looked to have been lost to history when it closed in the 1960s and the tracks and rolling stock were removed.

However, a band of volunteers set about reviving it in 1982 and the railway was restored to its full length in 1992 following a period of staged works.

Mr Nall said of the plans: ’Some things are getting tired, so there are improvements we can make. We have an increasing number of visitors every year so this will allow us to improve Santa’s grotto and give us a waiting room the rest of the year.

’Heritage railways always have a shop so this will allow us to develop the site without effecting the historic look, improve the facilities and increase fund raising opportunities for the railway.’

Mr Nall explained that the railway is behind in its plans because of Covid-19, but it had the funding in place before the pandemic so will be ready to start the work if permission is granted.

He added: ’We’ve been very lucky to be able to run the railway given what has happened and the support from the community has been amazing.

’Our cliff-top concerts were busier than ever. We expected to be running a little lower on numbers without tourists, as they make up a big chunk of our visitors each year, but the local people have been tremendous.’

The railway’s Santa trains will be running this year on December 12, 13, 19 and 20 and the Mince Pie trains run on Boxing Day. For more information visit www.ggr.org.uk or search for Groudle Glen Railway on Facebook.