Railway centre manager Roger Orchard climbs aboard a diesel shunter at Didcot Railway Centre as loco maintenance manager Kevin Dare prepares the engine for work in August
Visits to Didcot Railway Centre are up 11 per cent on last year.
Up to the end of August, the centre saw about 4,000 more steam fans through the door.
Centre manager Roger Orchard said the rise reflected last year’s competition with the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee.
The centre receives on average 50,000 visitors a year.
Mr Orchard also said managers are still preparing their bid for £4m of Heritage Lottery funding to build a new visitor centre. The bid should be ready by December.
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