What is Railway 200?
In 1825 the Stockton to Darlington railway opened as the world’s first public railway. Over the next two hundred years, railways evolved to become the fastest, most efficient and safest way to transport people and goods over land. Today, with the world facing the challenge of de- carbonisation, railways are once again at the forefront of transport innovation. Railway 200 is both a national celebration of Britain’s railway history and an opportunity to look forward with optimism to the next 200 years of rail travel.
The national Railway 200 program is led by the Great British Railways Transition Team, who are coordinating a series of national events to celebrate, educate and inspire the public about rail past, present and future.
Railway 200 at The Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell Railway will host a three month event over the summer of 2025 to mark Railway 200, exploiting the unique capabilities of the railway.
Sheffield Park will host Rail Past – a celebration of the Britain’s railway history. Horsted Keynes, the largest preserved railway station in the country, will host Rail Present and Future – an exciting exploration of rail since 1960 with an emphasis on the future of guided transport systems.
A steam-hauled shuttle service will link the two sites.
Our event is based around five themes
They are Celebration of the past, Excitement about the future, STEM Education, Rail Safety and Careers in Rail. We’ll be welcoming partners from across the rail industry to the Bluebell Railway for this unique event.
The Education Phase
This will run from 2nd June to 2nd July. Mondays to Wednesdays are aimed at schools and colleges who will visit Rail Past at Sheffield Park and Rail Present and Future at Horsted Keynes. The railway will be open to the public as normal between Thursday and Sunday, with a chance to preview some of the Railway 200 exhibits.
At Rail Past, young people will have the opportunity to see and ride behind a steam engine, view historic steam locomotives, understand the physics and engineering that make it possible and appreciate the role of the railway network in shaping modern Britain.
Rail Present and Future will educate and excite visitors about today’s railway, including high speed rail, mass transit systems and rail freight, and the role rail will play in achieving net zero. On school visit days there will be a careers event and additional STEM events, whilst rail safety will be a feature throughout the summer.
The Celebration Phase
This will run from late July until early September, culminating in our Diesel Gala. Railway 200 @ Bluebell Railway will be a must-visit event in South-East England, whether you’re a rail enthusiast, family or a casual visitor. As well as the core exhibitions and attractions at Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes, we’ll be running an exciting series of special events – sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.
Rail attractions will include our popular train driving experiences, brake van rides, presentations, high tea in our 1950’s first class dining train and fabulous silver-service fine dining – with optional murder mystery – on our fabulous 1920’s Pullman train.
Ever thought about becoming a volunteer at the Bluebell Railway? We’ll be highlighting the opportunities we can offer.
How can your organisation get involved?
We already have a fantastic range of partners, but there are still great opportunities to be part of this unique event, including:
- Participating in Railway 200 @ Bluebell Railway as an exhibitor or an attraction
- Sponsoring school visits and visits by disadvantaged families
- Showcasing career opportunities in rail and STEM industries
- Organising a visit, team-building day or corporate day out, or using our event for corporate hospitality
Interested? Contact jon.beardmore@bluebell-railway.com to find out more.
