PRESS RELEASE
20 December 2024
Steam into the New Year on the Kent & East Sussex Railway!
K&ESR joins in nationwide ‘whistle up' to start Rail 200 celebrations
For anyone needing to blow away the cobwebs on 1 January, how about taking in some steam, rather than letting some go, down at the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR).
New Year's Day will be the first opportunity to ride behind steam locomotive Marcia, the railway's smallest engine, as she hauls her first passenger services in over 40 years.
The diminutive and much-loved engine was a regular sight at K&ESR special events for many years, but when her owner passed away the loco was removed to Devon and put up for sale.
Happily, Marcia was welcomed back to the railway last Summer after she was jointly bought by a longstanding K&ESR volunteer Andy Hardy and his model railway company, Rapido Trains UK. She has since undergone recommissioning work and is now ready to return to the rails.
Marcia is also being given the honour of taking part in a nationwide ‘whistle up'*at 12noon, evoking one of the most iconic sounds of the early railway. She will be joining historic engines at more than 50 heritage railways around the country in the largest ever mass railway participation event, simultaneously blowing their whistles and horns to herald the start of Rail 200**: a year-long celebration marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway.
Three shuttles are planned from Tenterden Town Station to Rolvenden, departing at 10:50, 12:50 and 14:30. Two other steam locos will be in operation alongside Marcia, so there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a great day out to start 2025 off in style.
On selected services passengers will also have the opportunity to ride in the newly restored Kitchen Car, Diana, which will be providing a new onboard dining experience when the 2025 season opens in the Spring.
Anyone coming along on New Year's Day to ride behind Marcia is advised to dress warmly as, due to her size, Marcia can't provide steam heat. It will therefore be a little chilly inside the Victorian 4-wheel coaches she is pulling. Passengers will also need to alight at Rolvenden whilst Marcia chugs into position for the return trip to Tenterden. However, this will provide an opportunity to visit the station's viewing gallery to see the other locomotives residing in the Rolvenden yard.
Tickets are available in advance from the K&ESR website or at the station on the day. And for those who simply want to see Marcia and witness the ‘whistle up', platform tickets are available at just £1. Visit:https://kesr.org.uk/steam-into-the-new-year/
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For further information please contact:
Alison Miles, Press Officer, K&ESR
Notes to Editors
* What is a Whistle Up?
A ‘whistle up' on a railway is a traditional event where vintage locomotives blow their whistles to mark the beginning of an event. Train whistles are used to communicate and warn of a train's approach - for example, two or three short blasts indicate the engineer is ready to start the train and one long blast indicates the train is approaching a station on a track next to a platform. The first train whistles were invented in the mid-1800s by Adrian Stephens as a safety tool. Railroad companies began using whistles in patterns to communicate with their teams, but each company had its own set of codes. A uniform system was eventually introduced to avoid incidents.
** About Rail 200
The Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on September 27, 1825, connecting places, people, communities and ideas and ultimately transforming the world. Railway 200 will be a year-long nationwide partnership-led campaign to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway and inspire a new generation of young pioneering talent to choose a career in rail. It invites community, rail and other groups to get involved. Starting in January 2025, a wide variety of activities and events are being planned to celebrate rail's remarkable past, its role today, and its importance to a sustainable future. Born in Britain, rail quickly spread across the globe. Next year, Railway 200 will showcase how the railway shaped and continues to shape national life.
About the Kent & East Sussex Railway
The Kent & East Sussex Railway is a renowned heritage railway based in Tenterden, Kent, UK and operates as an educational charity. Built by Holman F Stephens, it was the first light passenger railway in Britain in the early 20thcentury and is today one of Britain's most loved and original heritage lines which celebrated the 50thanniversary of reopening in 2024. With a rich history spanning over 120 years, the K&ESR offers visitors an authentic steam and diesel-powered railway experience through 10½ miles of Wealden countryside in the beautiful Rother Valley, a designated National Landscape (formerly known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Staffed almost entirely by volunteers, the railway prides itself on preserving railway heritage, operating a diverse range of locomotives, and providing a unique glimpse into the golden age of rail travel.