Amateur photographers urged to get onboard with railway competition

An amateur photography competition is looking to celebrate local talent and 200 years of the railway connecting people across the county. 

The competition, run by Westbury’s community rail partnership TransWilts in collaboration with The Arts Society Kington Langley (TASKL), is open to photographers of all ages, including special categories for children aged 5 to 10 years and young people aged 11 to 18 years.

As well as a chance to win prizes, including photography gear and travel passes, winning entries will be featured at participating stations and may also appear in TransWilts and The Arts Society publications.  The competition closes on 31st December.

Every image submitted will also feature in a digital exhibition, ensuring that even those who don’t win a prize will have their work showcased to the public.   

The brief is to demonstrate how the railway connects communities past and present over the last 200 years. Entrants can submit up to three photographs, whether it’s a bustling town centre station, a quiet rural halt, or a scenic view framed by the rails.

“2025 marks 200 years of the modern railway and the resulting impact on the world.  This competition is all about celebrating two centuries of our rail network across Wiltshire; how it brings people together and connects our communities, both now and throughout history,” said Sophie Martin, Community Partnership Manager at TransWilts.

“We’re looking forward to receiving a wide variety of shots from across the county and from all ages, too. We hope people will take this opportunity to get out, explore, and share their unique perspective of rail in Wiltshire. It’s a chance for everyone, from those equipped with just a smartphone and a good eye, to those who regularly snap for pleasure, to be part of a project that puts community at its heart.”

Entries are open exclusively to amateur photographers, and images should be submitted in high resolution, ideally around 3MB, in JPEG, JPG or PNG format. To take part, entrants can visit the TransWilts website at www.transwilts.org and upload their photos directly.