THE West Somerset Railway took part in a global event to celebrate 200 years of rail travel on January 1, 2025, welcoming in the New Year with style.
The well-attended Whistle Up event saw locomotives across the UK – and as far away as New Zealand, South Africa, USA and Sierra Leone – sounding their whistles and horns at midday to signal the beginning of a year-long celebration for 200 years of railways.
(Photo: Mike Lanning)
Bob and Liz Ellis who whistled at Bishops Lydeard, celebrating over 20 years at the WSR (Photo: Laura Standerwick)
Nick Minnett (left) and Paul Conibeare (middle) celebrating over 40 years at the WSR and Steve Martin (right) celebrating 52 years (Photo: Mike Pinn)
Organised by the Heritage Railway Association, the UK-wide trade association promoting the interests of heritage and tourist rail, The West Somerset Railway Whistle Up event offered the opportunity to travel on a special steam-hauled return service from Bishops Lydeard to Williton. There were minute-long whistles at both stations at midday to mark the historic event.
At Bishops Lydeard, steam locomotive 7828 Odney Manor and diesel locomotive D6566 starred in the special event, together with the whistling honours on 7828 going to Bob and Liz Ellis, who were celebrating over 20 years of service at the West Somerset Railway. The railway’s youngest volunteer, Elliott Freegard, aged 14, blew the horn on the heritage diesel engine D6566.
Steve Martin whistling at Williton, celebrating 52 years at the West Somerset Railway (Photo: Mike Pinn)
The crowd celebrating 200 years of railways at Williton (Photo: Mike Pinn)
The whistle sounded for a full minute with a large crowd of railway enthusiasts gathering to witness the spectacle. The cast of the West Somerset Railway pantomime was also present, ready to board a train to Williton two hours later.
One passenger train went down to Williton, where the longest serving volunteer, Steve Martin, was given the whistling honours on the steam locomotive 9351, celebrating 52 years of service to the day.
Volunteer Liz Ellis said: “The Whistle Up was great fun and a privilege to be involved in such an historical milestone.”
Today West Somerset Railway carries over 200,000 passengers a year making it one of the largest attractions in South West England with over 800 active volunteers.