Severn Valley Railway plans 'whistle off' to mark new year - and 200th anniversary of birth of modern railway

Across the country, heritage locomotives will sound their whistles at noon on January 1, 2025.

The evocative rekindling of an old railway tradition has been coordinated by the Heritage Railway Association.

It will signal the start of 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 of young, pioneering talent to choose a career in rail.

Performing the honours at the Severn Valley Railway will be volunteer driver Mick Matthews and fireman Alex Robinson, on the footplate of an SVR steam locomotive.

"We’ll be at Bridgnorth station, waiting to depart with the southbound service to Kidderminster," said 62-year-old Mick, who lives in Norton Canes, Staffordshire, and has been volunteering at the SVR since 1992.

"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."

Fireman Alex, 25, from Bridgnorth, 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.

The SVR’s Festive Services run every day from December 26 through until January 1, and there’s a two-day Winter Steam Gala on January 4 and 5.