A new £100,000 train shed has been unveiled in honour of a dedicated heritage railway volunteer.

The Eric Edwards Carriage Shed was officially opened at Blaenavon Heritage Railway by Torfaen Senedd member Lynne Neagle, in honour of a man who devoted much of his life to the attraction.

Deputy town mayor Cllr Jackie Huybs also attended the September 10 opening, alongside Cllr Alan Jones and assistant chief officer Kerry Jones.

The shed was made possible by a bequest to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company from Eric when he passed away in 2014.

A town council spokesperson said: “Eric was a familiar face after running the Emporium at Furnace Sidings for a number of years, hardly missing a day, and the company decided to spend it on a true legacy project - the Eric Edwards Carriage Shed.

“After a few setbacks, the carriage shed is now fully operational and helping to protect the railway’s rolling stock from the worst of the weather.”

A railway spokesperson said: “For many years we have been in desperate need of undercover storage to protect our heritage rolling stock.

“Situated approximately 400m above sea level on a mountainside near the head of the Eastern Valley, such a facility will enable our carriages and wagons, some of which date back to the early 1900s, to be kept securely out of the elements, allowing visitors to continue enjoying and appreciating them for generations to come.

“In the mid-2010s this was made possible following a very generous bequest by long-time volunteer, Eric Edwards.

“A familiar face to the railway’s visitors, Eric faithfully manned its giftshop week-in week-out for many years.

“Although Mr Edwards sadly passed away in 2014, his name lives on at the railway, for the shop inside Furnace Sidings station building also now bears the name ‘Eric’s Emporium’ in loving memory of his dedication to the role.”

Mostly erected over the winter of 2017/2018, the carriage shed took another two years for it to be internally fitted by volunteers, with its planned opening in 2020 then postponed due to lockdown.

Guests were transported to the ceremony in the recently restored 1910 Great Western Railway director’s saloon.

Before cutting the tape, Ms Neagle said: “It’s always a pleasure to be asked to do anything for the railway and today is no exception.

“It’s a real honour to be here to be asked to mark the opening of this magnificent carriage shed, I’m really quite shocked at how big it is and I’m sure it’s what you need.

“I’d just like to thank everybody that’s clearly worked so hard and in challenging circumstances through the pandemic and I know how hard the volunteers work and how committed they are…

“It’s lovely that it is being done to remember Eric Edwards to recognise the work of one of your fantastic volunteers.’

Jamie Warner, secretary of the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company (1983) Limited, said: “It’s been a real privilege to welcome everybody to our railway for the opening and dedication of The Eric Edwards Carriage Shed.”

Cllr Huybs added: “The town council have always given our support to the Heritage Railway, which is one of the premier tourist attractions in Blaenavon.

“We were honoured to be invited to the opening of the Eric Edwards Carriage Shed, which will protect the railway’s precious rolling stock from the worst of our winter weather.

“It is also a fitting tribute to one of the railway’s hard working volunteers, who dedicate so much time to making it such a success.”

Last year, the council awarded £1,000 to the railway for personal protective equipment and the installation of fencing at High Level Station.

Over the following weekend, the railway went on to welcome more than 450 visitors to its Annual Steam Gala.

Regular steam services will run on Saturdays and Sundays until the end of September, before the planned return of its popular Hallowe’en Ghost Trains and Steam Santa Specials later on in the year.