THREE steam enthusiasts found they had the Midas touch after becoming the next winners of the Severn Valley Railway’s Golden Ticket competition.

Theresa and Ray Torrington, who were visiting the Railway from Lincolnshire, were in for a sparkling surprise after finding out the tickets they purchased had been previously selected at random as ‘Golden Ticket’ – winning them a one-off, VIP Experience Day.

Mr Torrington, an avid steam enthusiast, said: “We are delighted to have won a Golden Ticket – I am a real steam fan and have been to the SVR before, but this is Theresa’s first visit, so this is a really wonderful surprise.”

Karen Byrson, from Kidderminster, scooped the second ‘Golden Ticket’ via a competition on the Severn Valley Railways Families Facebook page.

She said she loved steam trains and was very excited to have won.

The first ticket was won in August by Gail and Chris Dovey, from Tenbury Wells, who were told they were lucky winners when purchasing tickets at the Kidderminster booking office.

This latest discovery means there is now just one ‘Golden Ticket’, hidden among tickets purchased online or over the phone, which remains to be found.

Launched as part of the SVR’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, the competition enables the lucky winner plus a guest to enjoy a unique, VIP Experience Day, including breakfast at the Valley Suite at Kidderminster, a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Works and the chance to see the inner workings of a signal box, plus other areas on request.

Winners will also gain free admission to the Engine House Visitor Centre, a leisurely lunch on an observation saloon while travelling through the Severn Valley countryside and a footplate ride on one of the SVR’s heritage steam locomotives before heading back to their seats to indulge in an afternoon tea.

Clare Gibbard, marketing and communications manager, said: “We are now three ‘Golden Tickets’ down, and just one to go – and we are thrilled all of our winners are as excited as we are about their prize.

“We will be contacting the latest winners to discuss the details, and may well be making more competition announcements in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled.”

The competition will close on December 24, and the experience day prize will be arranged on a date to be confirmed, during the 2016 spring season.