How do you welcome the New Year? If you’re traditional, maybe you make sure to have a kiss and sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Perhaps you prefer to just admire the fireworks or have a drink of champagne. Or, maybe, you’re going to be part of a whistle-off.
Heritage train drivers will be sagely nodding their heads as they read, as they’ve got plans for this New Year’s Day to blow their whistles across the UK. No, that isn’t a euphemism, they will literally be getting inside old locomotives and tooting their horns.
At exactly noon on January 1, drivers from 65 heritage railway sites in the UK, and even a few across the world in nations like South Africa and Sierra Leone, will sound their whistles as loudly as they can wherever they are. Currently around 180 engines have agreed to take part, but everyone is welcome to join – even if you don’t have a train.
This is all part of a wider celebration of 200 years since the birth of modern railways, named Railway 200. As explained by Steve Oates, the chief executive of the Heritage Railway Association, which is overseeing the project: ‘The railways made so much of the world we now live in possible.
‘From package holidays to commuting and even the concept of standardised time, iIt’s important that we don’t let the landmark 200th anniversary go without a sizable celebration.’
And this is such a sizable event that even some celebs are getting involved: Thomas the Tank Engine is expected to make an appearance and whistle via social media. Some model trains will also join in the fun, and you’re welcome to stand by the tracks and blow a human-sized whistle, or even a party popper or bell, if that’s all you can get your hands on.
If you want to join in on the fun, you can find out where your nearest participating railway is here, or just upload a video of yourself to social media with the hashtag 'railway200'. The only requirement? Make as much noise as you possibly can.
Train travel with Time Out
Loco for locomotives? In other recent news from our railways, one of the UK’s busiest train routes is getting 6 million more seats, these three northern English cities will soon be linked by more frequent train services, UK rail fares are now officially the most expensive in all of Europe, and more strike action is planned for the new year.
Did you see that 2024 Santa Swims in the UK are being cancelled due to sewage and pollution?
Plus: The UK’s 10 most beautiful scenic areas have been named by Which?.
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