Lynton & Barnstaple Railway joins Rail’s 200th Whistle

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway will join railways across the world in a special event to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. 

On New Year’s Day 2025, a unique global celebration will begin, known as the Railway 200 Whistle-Up. 

At noon on January 1, more than 50 heritage railways from around the world will sound the whistles and horns of nearly 200 locomotives to launch a year-long celebration.

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, one of the heritage railways taking part, will participate with their newly restored Bagnall locomotive, Sir George Newnes.

This engine, named after the man responsible for building the railway in 1898, will join other engines in marking the start of the Railway 200 celebrations. 

Stuart Nelhams, General Manager of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, commented: “We have several plans in place for the year, including a ‘School Travel Art Competition’, new social and railway history boards to share the L&B story with visitors, and a display of original L&B items in our tearoom. We’ll also be holding a Rail 200-themed gala in September. As 2025 marks 90 years since our railway closed, we hope this anniversary will help us share more of the L&B’s history with a wider audience and attract more visitors to our site and other heritage railways.”

The Railway 200 Whistle-Up, organised by the Heritage Railway Association, will be the largest heritage railway event of its kind.

It will involve railways not only in the UK but also in countries such as Holland, South Africa, and Sierra Leone. 

In addition, model train maker Hornby will join in with a series of model trains sounding their whistles, and even Thomas the Tank Engine will make a special appearance on social media.

The Railway 200 celebrations will continue throughout 2025, marking two centuries of the modern railway, which began with the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. 

The celebrations aim to highlight the vital role railways continue to play in connecting communities, supporting growth, and offering careers in an ever-evolving industry.