Heritage railways set for new year 'whistle off'

Heritage locomotives will sound their whistles at midday on New Year's Day as an old railway tradition is rekindled.

The "whistle off", coordinated by the Heritage Railway Association, is taking place on heritage lines across the UK to mark the start of Railway 200 – a year of events to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of modern railways.

Railway 200 will run throughout 2025 and aims to inspire a new generation to choose a career in rail.

Among the heritage lines taking part on 1 January is Severn Valley Railway which covers a 16-mile route between Kidderminster in Worcestershire and Bridgnorth in Shropshire.

It has six stations along the route.

Volunteer driver Mick Matthews and fireman Alex Robinson will sound the whistle at Bridgnorth in Shropshire.

Mr Matthews, 62, from Norton Canes, Staffordshire, said: "When we sound the whistle at noon, we'll definitely be giving it some extra welly."

And Mr Robinson, 25, from Bridgnorth, said: "Knowing that heritage loco crews across the UK will be all sounding their whistles at exactly the same time is a wonderful way of bringing us all together."

The railway, which welcomes up to 250,000 visitors a year, marks its 60th anniversary in 2025.

Both steam and diesel-hauled passenger trains run on the full-size, standard-gauge railway line, which is run by more than 1,600 volunteers.

A spokesman for Railway 200 said the whistle off would be a global event including railways in Holland, South Africa, Sierra Leone and elsewhere.

So far, about 65 heritage railways are taking part including more than 180 locomotives, a spokesperson said.

They added the mainline railway was also participating and rail staff and the general public were being encouraged to whistle and ring bells and share their activity on social media.

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