'Railway 200' events and commemorations 2025

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

From Rail

Avanti West Coast to challenge West Coast Main Line journey record as part of Railway 200

Avanti West Coast will attempt to break the long-standing record between London and Glasgow as part of Railway 200.

The record of 3 hours 52 minutes and 40 seconds was set by the Advanced Passenger Train back in 1984. However, it was allowed to travel at speeds in excess of the current speed limit of 125mph.

The record attempt was announced at the launch event for Alstom’s Great Gathering event, which will take place in August this year.

Andy Mellors, MD for Avanti West Coast said: “I can reveal that working with our industry partners we are going to be running a train from London to Glasgow with the intention of breaking the forty-year-old record set by the Advanced Passenger Train”

A previous attempt at the record happened on June 17, 2021, when Pendolino 390044 fell short by just 21 seconds. The average speed on that occasion was 103mph for the 400-mile journey.

It’s also been revealed that the train earmarked for the attempt will be 390016, which has only nine cars and an excellent acceleration profile. It’s been specially renamed ‘Railway 200’ ahead of the event, and renumbered to 390200.

Mellors added: “What better way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the railways with a record attempt.” It’s expected that passengers on the train will consist of 200 invited guests.

Although no date has been set for the record-breaking run, it’s thought most likely that it will happen sometime in the spring. The attempt at the record is just one of scores of Railway 200 events being staged around the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) and across the world.

[Ralph Ayres]

“What better way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the railways with a record attempt.”

Am I being too negative to suggest things like getting the railway running reliably the rest of the time and making sure trains are long enough for the number of people using them?  Certainly the real critics (I'm thinking of the "HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) is an extravagance as it's just shaving 15 minutes off the London-Birmingham time" brigade) will not be impressed by a one-off publicity exercise when there is still much to criticise. 

[grahame]

Bookings opened today for the big event .... and were suspended soon after with "Bad Gateway" errors.   As an educated guess, someone had not put a sufficient number of worker systems behind the receptionist .... wouldn't make that mistake with the Coffee Shop

[grahame]

Certainly the real critics (I'm thinking of the "HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) is an extravagance as it's just shaving 15 minutes off the London-Birmingham time" brigade) will not be impressed by a one-off publicity exercise when there is still much to criticise. 

You are correct - but then those who are principled anti will always look for things to criticise ... and it is not an [either/or] between one of publicity and getting the base system right - both can and should be done in parallel.

[JayMac]

As part of the 'Railway 200' celebrations Southeastern have unveiled a Class 465 train (465908) in classic Network South East livery. The unit has been named 'Chris Green' after the former BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Sector Director of Network South East.

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YouTuber Geoff Marshall was at the unveiling.

https://youtu.be/tcHfTJb_Zi0?si=Z5fq8R7tFclGJEiG

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

'Beautiful moment' as S&DR200 replica steam train crosses Skerne Bridge

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Crowds turned out to watch a replica of a historic steam engine cross the oldest railway bridge still in use for trains in the world.

Locomotion No 1 is recreating the first British passenger rail journey as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR).

The engine, with three coal wagons and a passenger carriage, set off from Shildon on Friday and is due to arrive in Stockton on Sunday.

Some people travelled long distances to view the train crossing the Skerne Bridge in Darlington, in what they described as a "beautiful moment".

The replica engine was built in 1975 for the 150th anniversary of the railway and has been lovingly restored to allow it to take part in the weekend's celebrations.

Organisers said its journey from Shildon attracted an estimated 10,000 spectators, with the same number for the Darlington leg.

About 20,000 are expected to turn out for the final part on Sunday.

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The crossing of Locomotion No 1 over the Skerne Bridge features in many illustrations from the railway's 1825 opening day

(BBC article continues)

[Chris from Nailsea]

Again, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Steam train completes S&DR 200th anniversary journey

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A replica of a historic steam engine has completed a recreation of the maiden journey on the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) to mark the line's 200th anniversary.

Locomotion No 1, a 50-year-old replica of George Stephenson's original engine, set off from Shildon in County Durham on Friday, crossed the Skerne Bridge in Darlington on Saturday and arrived in Stockton on Sunday.

Organisers said the event attracted an estimated 40,000 spectators, some of whom had travelled from overseas.

With viewing opportunities aplenty along the more than 20 mile-long route, here are some pictures from the journey.

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[Chris from Nailsea]

Video footage of the S&DR 200 Anniversary Journey, from YouTube, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj2VdsRk21o (only just over two minutes, well worth a watch)

[GBM]

Video footage of the S&DR 200 Anniversary Journey, from YouTube, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj2VdsRk21o (only just over two minutes, well worth a watch)

Lovely to see, but ruined by not hearing any loco/train noise unfortunately.

[bobm]

Bookings to view the Inspiration train at London Paddington in December opened today.

https://railway200.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/70983?catID=66018

[ChrisB]

Ditto the WSR^▸ (West Somerset Railway - heritage line between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard) - Dates
24 November 2025 to 29 November 2025

https://railway200.co.uk/location/west-somerset-railway/

[grahame]

Bookings to view the Inspiration train at London Paddington in December opened today.

https://railway200.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/70983?catID=66018

I have booked ... for Saturday 13th December

Essential information - Before your visit

Time:
Please arrive at the station no earlier than 10 minutes before the time indicated on your ticket.

Wow ... I would normally arrive at Paddington in good time and perhaps partake of one of the various refreshment establishments there.  Do they really want me to time it ultra-tight?

[ChrisB]

I think they mean *platform*, rather than "station" in this venue.

[bobm]

Wow ... I would normally arrive at Paddington in good time and perhaps partake of one of the various refreshment establishments there.  Do they really want me to time it ultra-tight?

Talking of "refreshment establishments" a new Wetherspoons has opened by Paddington Basin this week.

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/the-sir-alexander-fleming-paddington/

[grahame]

I think they mean *platform*, rather than "station" in this venue.

I would suspect that to be the case ... but they have very much the wrong message / directions as a result.   

I will ignore the "important information" and be in Paddington station in the usual good time I would for an appointment (such as an advance fare on a specific train), but then go to the platform a few minutes before the allotted time.