THE SEVERN Valley Railway will join heritage lines in a nationwide ‘whistle off’ marking the start of Railway 200 on New Year’s Day.
Heritage locomotives will sound their whistles at 12pm on January 1 across the country.
Heritage Railway Association rekindled the old railway tradition, signalling the start of a year of events which mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of modern railways.
Railway 200 will run throughout 2025 and hopes to inspire a new generation of young, pioneering talent to choose a career in rail.
Volunteer driver Mick Matthews and fireman Alex Robinson, on the footplate of a steam locomotive will be performing the honours.
The 62 year-old has been volunteering at the railway since 1992.
Mick said: “We’ll be at Bridgnorth station, waiting to depart with the southbound service to Kidderminster.
“When we sound the whistle at noon, we’ll definitely be giving it some extra welly for this very important occasion.
“I feel really honoured to be representing the SVR for this celebration, as the railway means so much to me.
“When I was going through treatment for cancer a few years ago, it was the hope of getting back to volunteering duties and the support of my friends and colleagues here that kept me going.”
Alex, 25 added: “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.
“What a privilege to be launching the start of Railway 200.”
The Severn Valley Railway will be taking part in a number of events during 2025 to mark Railway 200, and it will also be celebrating its own 60th anniversary.
