A multi-million pound campaign has been launched to re-open Baschurch Railway Station spearheaded by construction magnate Sir William McAlpine.
Supporters say a revived station would serve the area’s fast-growing population, speed up travel to Shrewsbury and the rest of Britain, and help to cut pollution and traffic jams.
And the owner of the building, 85-year-old Dave Jane, says he would be happy to see it brought back to life. 
Baschurch Station, one of the first to be built in Shropshire, opened on the Shrewsbury to Chester line in 1848. Built of high quality local sandstone, with finely detailed carved wooden features, it provided a home for the station master and his family as well as ticket office and waiting rooms.
It prospered for many years and was a major centre for off-loading cattle from Ireland, with stockyards and a water tower to cater for them.
But its role dwindled with the decline in goods traffic and growing car ownership and it was closed in 1960, a few years before the nationwide Beeching cuts.
Bought by former antiques dealer Mr Jane and his late brother in 1969, it has remained largely untouched inside and out a fascinating time capsule of the 1960s, next to a level crossing and old signal box. There has been talk for several years about re-opening and now resident Steve Boulding has launched a formal campaign to win support for the idea from the new Shropshire Council.
And one of his first recruits is railway enthusiast Sir William McAlpine, patriarch of the family firm whose projects include the new Olympics stadium in London.
Sir William, chairman of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: “There’s huge potential to bring stations back to life and turn them into small local business centres.
“Similar schemes have been backed by local authorities around the country and I hope Shropshire Council will consider it seriously.”
Mr Boulding said: “I’m delighted that Sir William has agreed to be honorary president of Baschurch Station Group. The cost of re-opening would be £3 million to £5 million. If the council backs the idea, that would lever in other financial sources and I believe the cost to the local taxpayer would be no more than 10 per cent of the total.
“The population of Baschurch has doubled since 1960 and there are many people who would love the convenience of being able to walk, cycle, drive or catch the bus to Baschurch Station rather than trying to get through the traffic jams in Shrewsbury.
“The old platforms would need extensive rebuilding or replacement, with access ramps for disabled people, while Shropshire Stone, which occupies the old goods yard, would be happy to sub-let part of it for a car park.”
Mr Jane said: “It’s a beautiful building and I think it would be a good idea to re-open it and help the public. I would be happy to sell it.”