A VINTAGE train devastated by fire could be back on track next year.

The blaze which destroyed part of the two-car 'Thumper' diesel train belonging to Swindon and Cricklade Railway on May 20 is still being investigated by Wiltshire Police.

But volunteers think the most important part of the train can be saved and have embarked on an appeal to bring it back in to service.

Publicity officer Adrian Brodie told the Advertiser the driving unit had suffered less damage than was at first feared and - to their surprise - the volunteers had been able to find another trailer unit to replace the one destroyed in the fire.

They are in negotiation with the owner and but hopes are high it will be joining their rolling stock.

“We have had a lot of support from the heritage railway sector all around the country,” said Mr Brodie.

The ex-British Rail train, which was built in the 1950s, arrived at the railway in 2004 and has been in use ever since. In the immediate aftermath of the fire it looked as though both sections would have to be written off.

But said Mr Brodie: “We think we have got a replacement vehicle lined up. It is going to need attention, having been stored for many years.

“We were surprised. We weren’t sure that we would even find any possible replacements.”

The trailer car was so badly burned that there was no trace of the fixtures and fittings.

“It just melted straight down,” he said.

“It had been burning slowly for a good part of the day.

“It was surprising that no one seemed to spot it.”

But a close inspection of the driving unit in the wake of the blaze had revealed the worst of the damage was concentrated at the rear, where it was connected to the trailer.

“There is a door there. Eventually the grass cracked and shattered and when that happened there was a huge backdraft that went straight through it and took out the ceiling and lights,” said Mr Brodie.

He said it wasn’t clear yet how badly the electrics had been affected but “other than that, amazingly, it looks fine and complete.”

“It that had gone we would have been struggling. I’m not sure it would have been possible to replace it.”

The railway has a full programme of events this summer including a kids go free weekend tomorrow and Sunday, murder mystery evenings on June 17, July 15 and September 2, a steam and vintage weekend in August and a wartime weekend in September.

Visit swindon-cricklade-railway.org to support the appeal and see more information about events.