A CALL for a permanent reminder of Eastleigh's railway heritage to be established has been made in the wake of the shock announcement that the town is to lose its railway works by the end of next year.

Former mayor Councillor Godfrey Olson wants a transport heritage centre to rise from the ashes of the town's doomed giant railway depot.

One of the most famous steam locomotives in the world, the Lord Nelson, is at the Alstom works being restored to full working order by members of the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society.

Number 850 - the sole survivor from the elite class of 16 locos built in Eastleigh between 1926 and 1929 - came back to its roots in 1997 after an absence of 30 years.

It will be an emotional swansong when Lord Nelson steams out of the running sheds - hopefully within the next six months - to get back on the main line.

But Cllr Olson, who is chairman of the preservation society, says the demise of the railway works should not signal the end of Eastleigh's railway connections.

Now he is calling for the establishment of a working transport heritage centre.

He wants to incorporate rail memorabilia, replicas of barges that once plied the Itchen Navigation, Keeble cars - which were produced at the airport - and mementoes of the town's historic links with aviation.

He also envisages it as a base for vintage bus enthusiasts.

He said: "This is a chance for people to try and preserve what Eastleigh means to them. I don't want the town to be a museum piece - I would like it to be a place where the skills of many people can be seen and encouraged."

An Alstom spokesman said: "We are obviously very aware of the heritage of the Eastleigh site and the part it has played in the UK rail industry for more than 100 years.

"It would be nice to recognise this with a heritage display.

"But, from Alstom's point of view, it is too early for such considerations.

"Our main priority in the coming weeks and months will be our employees and customers.

"But if at some stage the idea of a heritage facility was raised, we would at least listen to the proposals.

"As we do not own the Eastleigh site, though, the final decision would probably rest with the landlord."