Next year is a significant milestone for the railway industry, and society. 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of rail, which began with the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in September 1825. A cross-industry organisation, Railway 200, set up to co-ordinate and highlight the anniversary year events*, is starting the year off with a ‘Whistle Up’**.

Led by the Railway Heritage Association, nearly 200 vintage steam and diesel locomotives from over 50 heritage railways in the UK and abroad will be sounding their whistles & horns at midday on 1st January. Railways in other countries, including Holland, South Africa and Sierra Leone, will be taking part, some with British-built locos.

Contributing to the celebratory cacophony will be the National Railway Museum’s locomotive 910 (North Eastern Railway), which is currently undergoing restoration by the museum ahead of its display next year and is the only locomotive to have appeared in all three of the previous Stockton and Darlington Railway anniversaries, in 1875, 1925 and 1975.

Train engine horns at mainline stations will also sound off at the appointed hour to welcome in the anniversary year, and the public are being invited to join in on social media***.

At the other end of the scale, train modellers Hornby will be getting a variety of model trains to toot and whistle on their track layouts, and Thomas the Tank Engine will be turning up on social media.

The birth of the Stockton and Darlington Railway is being celebrated with a 9-month festival taking place across County Durham and Tees Valley in 2025. From March to November, the S&DR200 Festival will present a series of free large-scale outdoor spectacles, events, exhibitions and new art commissions, hosted in the public spaces, libraries and museums of County Durham and Tees Valley.

The Rail Minister, Lord Hendy said: “The world changed forever in 1825 with the birth of the modern railway in Britain, and rolled out across the globe. Railway 200’s celebrations are a unique opportunity to honour a groundbreaking moment in our history while looking boldly towards the future. The Whistle-Up event marks the start of a year that will showcase how the railway continues to transform lives, connect communities, and create growth, jobs, housing and tourism.”

* Railway 200 is a cross-industry partnership with a small core team working on some national initiatives while partner organisations run most of the nationwide activities and events.

** Some people are also referring to it as a ‘Whistle Off’.

*** The public are encouraged to record themselves, family and friends blowing whistles, sounding horns or ringing bells at noon on New Year’s Day and post on social media, using #Railway200 and #WhistleUp200.

Feature image: Steam locomotive and tender, North Eastern Railway, 2-4-0 No 910, designed by Edward Fletcher and built at Gateshead in 1875. © Science Museum Group