A POPULAR railway centre has unveiled a new permanent attraction for visitors.

Didcot Railway Centre has completed its signalling centre and will hold a weekend of celebrations to mark the opening.

The new centre tells the story of signalling from the days of Brunel, and gives visitors the opportunity to operate a signalbox.

Displays also allow people to discover what the latest signalling technology looked like in 1935 and how much the signalman’s job had changed by the 1960s.

The exhibition also features five decade old mechanical signalling which was replaced in 2016 by computerised signalling.

A special weekend of events will celebrate the history of signalling including tours of railway signalman cabins from the 1870s and 1930s and the signalling system on the centre's own branch line.

There will be a range of stands from railway signalling technology companies and signalling preservation organisations displaying different technologies.

Model railways will be produced to encourage young people to take an interest in science and technology.

The centre is open for the special event from 10.30am until 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

See didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk.