GWR wishes Captain Tom Moore a happy 100th birthday to the sound of train horns

Great Western Railway (GWR) has come up with a tuneful toast to Captain Tom Moore – wishing him a happy 100th birthday to the sound of train horns.

Having already named a train in honour of the World War Two veteran, GWR has added its birthday wishes to the man who has raised more than £30 million for NHS Charities.

A special birthday video features the sounds of trains operating across the Great Western network, including its high-speed Intercity Express Trains which came into service in 2017.

To view the video click here.

GWR’s Head of Communications Dan Panes said:

“Captain Tom truly has captured the hearts of the nation with his phenomenal fundraising achievements during the Covid-19 crisis.

“Our decision to name a train in his honour followed requests from GWR colleagues and members of the public, and we wanted to make it an extra special birthday with this fun video. We hope Captain Tom has time to enjoy it on his big day.”



GWR Intercity Express Train 800025 entered service on Thursday 30 April having been named in Captain Tom’s honour on Wednesday 29 April. It will carry key workers travelling to and from work on the Great Western network.

Captain Tom, from Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, and was stationed in Cornwall during his career, has extended his walking challenge to 200 laps after he completed the first 100 laps 14 days ahead of schedule.

His initial £1,000 fundraising target was broken in about 24 hours and he has now raised more than £30 million for NHS Charities Together.

Following Government advice against all non-essential travel, GWR is operating a reduced timetable. The focus remains on running services that can be relied on at this time of uncertainty, providing essential transport for key workers to get to and from work.

Stay at Home. Save Lives.

Captain Tom Moore

Captain Tom captured the hearts of the nation during the Covid-19 crisis, raising more than £30 million for NHS Charities Together.

The Second World War veteran originally hoped to raise £1,000 before his 100th birthday, but his pledge to walk 100 laps of his garden went viral and more than one million people donated to his JustGiving page.

Captain Tom’s fundraising feat was further boosted when his duet of You’ll Never Walk Alone, with musicals legend Michael Ball, reached No1.

Originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire, Captain Tom joined the British Army in June 1940. His regiment – the 8th Battalion, the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment – trained in Wadebridge, Cornwall, tasked with coastal defence against a threatened German invasion. He later served on the frontline in Burma.

Captain Tom completed 100 laps of the 25-metre (82ft) loop of his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, before his birthday on 30 April, leading to praise from the Royal Family, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other famous faces, as well as calls for him to be given a knighthood.