Building has started on a brand new education centre at Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway.

The state-of-the-art centre, which is based near Chinnor station, will have a covered workshop and display facility so railway enthusiast can learn how the railway’s vintage locomotives, carriages and wagons are maintained and restored by the volunteers who run the site.

Interactive displays will also explore the history of local railway lines, focusing on Princes Risborough and branch lines to Watlington via Chinnor, High Wycombe to Aylesbury, Thame to Oxford, and the mainlines to Bicester, Calvert and the iconic Verney Junction.

Construction on the new Restoration and Education Centre has begun after £115,000 was raised by volunteers and supporters to meet the cost of building the basic shell.

The building work will be done in stages, with a further £150,000 needed to complete the building before the first visitors can enjoy the centre.

Dave Parks, Volunteer Project Manager at the Railway said: “Starting to build the Centre is a real landmark occasion for our wholly volunteer run railway, and we are so looking forward to the day when we can throw open the doors to our visitors.”

Danny Woodward, Chairman of the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway said: “Thanks to the generosity of our many visitors and members, plus the determination of all our volunteers and supporters, it means we have finally raised the minimum we needed to erect the basic shell of the building.

“We are making a great start and I thank everyone involved - whether it was a substantial donation from Taylor Wimpey, or our Junior Member Harry Turner who helped raise monies via the Waitrose Community Programme, they are all fantastic contributions to our future heritage story.”

To help out and make a contribution, visit www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/donations or email Justin at volunteersupport@chinnorrailway.co.uk to become a volunteer.