Poppy Line to Join Nationwide Whistle Up to Launch Railway 200

 

The North Norfolk Railway is set to play a key part in a nationwide “Whistle Up” at 12.00 noon on Wednesday 1 January 2025 as Heritage Railways across Britain join forces to launch Railway 200.

 

The Railway 200 Whistle-Up will involve more than 50 heritage railways in the UK and abroad blowing the whistles of nearly 200 vintage steam and diesel locomotives to herald a year-long celebration.  Volunteers and staff will join in too, blowing the whistles they usually use to signal the imminent departure of trains. The Heritage Railway Association believes it will be the biggest railway heritage mass participation event ever.

 

Railway 200 is a year-long celebration of 200 years of the railways which will explore how rail has shaped national life and encourage more people to consider a railway career or volunteering at their local heritage line.  The anniversary commemorates the launch of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) in 1825, a journey that changed the world forever.

 

The Poppy Line will delay the departure of its scheduled 12.00 Mince Pie Special from Sheringham by three minutes to allow the locomotive to take part in the “Whistle Up”. Volunteer Driver for the day, Edmund Crosthwaite, is particularly keen to take part as he is also operations manager for the Railway 200 mobile exhibition train, named Inspiration. The train will criss-cross the country from summer 2025 for 12 months to promote STEM subjects and careers in the railway industry.

 

Edmund said: “It’s great to see heritage railways like the North Norfolk leading the industry in the Whistle-Up to mark the start of Railway 200.

 

“Events at preserved lines will make up a large proportion of the nationwide celebrations marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway, involving thousands of volunteers who give up their spare time to run these organisations.

 

“I would encourage everyone to keep an eye out for Railway 200 events in Norfolk and East Anglia, particularly at our heritage railways, and help us mark this significant year in style.”

 

NNR General Manager, Graham Hukins, commented “We are delighted to help launch Railway 200 – 2025 promises to be a momentous year for the whole railway industry and for the NNR in particular as Railway 200 coincides with our own 50th Anniversary and we are planning a series of events to mark these significant milestones.”

 

Welcoming the start of Railway 200, 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.”

 

Passengers travelling aboard the North Norfolk Railway’s Mince Pie Specials will be able to see and hear the line’s contribution to the Whistle Up and visitors are welcome to watch from the platforms at Sheringham Station.

 

January 1 falls in the middle of this season’s series of Mince Pie Specials which run from 27 December to 5 January. They feature an a seat service of traditional, seasonal refreshments served as passengers take a return journey on a steam train between Sheringham and Holt – advance booking is recommended and full details can be found at https://nnrailway.co.uk/special-events/.

 

ENDS