Greatest Gathering

The Greatest Gathering
Locomotion No. 1 at The Greatest Gathering
GenreRail transport
VenueDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Location(s)Derby
CountryEngland
Attendanceca. 40,000[1][2]
Organized byAlstom
Websitewww.alstom.com/greatest-gathering

The Greatest Gathering was an exhibition of railway vehicles hosted at Alstom's Derby Litchurch Lane Works during 1‒3 August 2025. It was the world’s largest-ever gathering of historic and modern rolling stock.

The event marked 200 years in the history of rail transport since the construction of Locomotion No. 1 and hauling of the world's first passenger train along the Stockton and Darlington Railway on 27 September 1825.[3][1] Previously, British Rail had organised a gathering for the 150-year anniversary in 1975, the London and North Eastern Railway for the 100-year anniversary in 1925, and the North Eastern Railway for the 50-year anniversary in 1875.[4]

Minister of State for Transport, Lord Peter Hendy stated that The Greatest Gathering "promises to enter the history books as the largest exhibition of railway equipment ever staged in the UK."[5]

Exhibits

The original plan had been for 30‒50 exhibits and 5,000 visitors.[5] During 1‒3 August 2025, there were 40,000 visitors,[1] and over 140 railway vehicles and railway locomotives on display covering two centuries.[2]

Steam Locomotives

Furness Railway No. 20 (1863) ‒ the oldest operating locomotive

Diesel & Electric Locomotives

Class 50, no. 50044 painted with "This is it! The Greatest Gathering" (3 August 2025)

Multiple Units

Eurostar no. 3999 and Class 43 no. 43004 power cars

Others

Narrow gauge

Anne and Katie operating on the temporary 15 in (381 mm) track

Special 2 ft (610 mm) and 15 in (381 mm) tracks were built for the narrow gauge steam locomotives:[21]

Model railway area

Flying Scotsman

Flying Scotsman at The Greatest Gathering in Derby (2025) after hauling Belmond British Pullman, with "National Railway Museum 50 years" headboard

In June 2025, the director of the National Railway Museum, Craig Bentley, confirmed that LNER A3 Flying Scotsman would appear with other rolling stock items in the UK National Collection at the Greatest Gathering[11][22][23]—a planned "huge" rail event and "the world's largest gathering of historic and modern railway vehicles."[11][24][13] The world-famous Flying Scotsman locomotive[23][25] would travel to Derby Litchurch Lane Works for the three days in August 2025,[23][26] where the "iconic" locomotive was planned to "take centre stage."[24]

In the middle of the event on Saturday 2 August 2025, Flying Scotsman briefly left Derby Litchurch Lane Works to haul the Belmond British Pullman special charter train between Wellingborough and Derby.[27][28][25][26] While en-route to Derby, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service delivered water to Flying Scotsman in Kettering after the planned road water tanker broke down.[29][30]

Event

Location

At 90 acres, Derby Litchurch Lane Works is the world’s largest train factory outside of China. It was opened by the Midland Railway at Derby Wagon and Carriage Works in 1876.

Today, it is the only facility in the UK that designs, engineers, manufactures, tests and refurbishes trains for domestic and export markets.

Tickets

Pre-opening crowd control, queuing inside crowd control barriers

In January 2025, for each of the three days, an initial 10,000 public tickets were released (30,000 tickets total).[31] Daily tickets for a family cost £65, adults £30, and children £15.[31] After the first day, ticket sales were suspended for a week when the website became overloaded.[31]

Profits were to be split between five charities: Alzheimer's Research UK, Railway Benefit Fund, Railway Children, Railway Mission and the Transport Benevolent Fund.[5]

Public tickets to the main event were sold out.[32][13] A free fringe event was held at Derby Guildhall Market for people without tickets, organised by Derby City Council and Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership[32]

Timeline

An opening VIP event was held on 31 July 2025, with Locomotion No. 1 (oldest) and Greater Anglia's Class 720 (newest) trains as the backdrop.[18] Music performance was by The Grand Central Chorus.[9] Opening speakers included the Member of Parliament for Derby South, Baggy Shanker, the French Ambassador to the UK, Hélène Duchêne, Head Curator of the National Railway Museum Andrew McLean, and Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge.[9] Pete Waterman was present.[9]

A fleet of vintage buses were used to shuttle visitors between Derby city centre, Derby railway station and the entrance to Derby Litchurch Lane Works.[9]

On 1 August 2025, Jeremy Vine broadcast his BBC Radio 2 afternoon programme live from the site,[9][12] with a live performance from Bill Ryder-Jones.[33]

66719 Michael Portillo locomotive nameplate on Railway 200 Exhibition train Class 66 in Derby (2025)

Michael Portillo was present during the weekend.[9][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Barnes, Liam (5 August 2025). "Greatest Gathering hailed a 'resounding success'". BBC News. Retrieved 6 August 2025. Flying Scotsman was among more than 140 locomotives and railway vehicles … part of Railway 200, … the 200th anniversary of the world's first passenger railway journey. … more than 40,000 people … took place at train manufacturer Alstom's Litchurch Lane Works, the first time it opened its doors to the public in nearly 50 years. … some time before an event of a similar magnitude is hosted.
  2. ^ a b Wilcock, Rich (5 August 2025). "Greatest Gathering marks 200 years of the railway with huge display". Rail. Almost 40,000 railfans from across the world … The Greatest Gathering – the largest-ever display of historic and modern trains, … part of … Railway 200 celebrations, … featured more than 140 rolling stock exhibits spanning two centuries of railway development … Britain's oldest and largest train factory opened its doors to the public for the first time in nearly 50 years. … Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK & Ireland at Alstom. "The Greatest Gathering is a once-in-a-generation celebration of our railway heritage and future." …
  3. ^ a b Plisner, Peter (31 January 2025). "The Greatest Gathering: Tickets back on sale for Alstom's Railway 200 event after launch event". News. Rail. "more than 50 rolling stock exhibits … celebrations marking the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825. … rides along Derby's test track and … narrow-gauge trains in operation … Peter Waterman … in a special model railway village at the event
  4. ^ a b Hazzard, Jago (6 August 2025). So, how was the Greatest Gathering?. Derby Litchurch Lane Works – via Youtube. This is basically Woodstock for train nerds … The North Eastern Railway held a celebration for the 50th anniversary. The London and North Eastern Railway held one for the 100th. And British Rail held one for the 150th.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "The Greatest Gathering takes forward the rail industry's 'legacy of ingenuity'". Rail Business UK. 6 August 2025 – via Railway Gazette. bodies including Young Rail Professionals and the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators were in attendance. … Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK & Ireland at Alstom, told Rail Business UK. "When it was first presented to me it was slightly smaller scale; I think 30 to 50 trains and a maximum of 5 000 people … But now we're 140 trains and 40 000 people so quite a different thing." S&DR loco Locomotion No 1 was present … through successive mergers its manufacturer Robert Stephenson & Co became part of Alstom in 1989 … Class 398 tram-trains for the South Wales Valley Lines … a tri-mode Class 93 ordered by ROGClass 99 electro-diesel locos which have been ordered by GB Railfreight … The Greatest Gathering "promises to enter the history books as the largest exhibition of railway equipment ever staged in the UK", said Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy … almost 40 000 visitors over the three days. … Profits will be split between Railway 200's chosen charities Alzheimer's Research UK, Railway Benefit Fund, Railway Children, Railway Mission and Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, and railway heritage partners.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Stoate, Joey (5 August 2025). "Once in a Lifetime: The Greatest Gathering". Railway News. largest rolling stock production site in the UK, employing over 6,000 people …the modern age in Locomotion No. 1 and the Greater Anglia Flyer, [speakers] Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President of Alstom Europe, Andrew DeLeone, French Ambassador to the UK, HE Hélène Duchêne, MP for Derby South, Baggy Shanker and Assistant Director & Head Curator of the National Railway Museum, Andrew McLean. … performance from the Grand Central ChoirLNER A4 4-6-2 60007, Sir Nigel Gresley, is accompanied by the LNER A2 No. 60532, Blue Peter, … Class 390 Pendolino No. 390119 Progress, with its bold statement-livery … pulled by the Direct Rail Services Class 57 57307 diesel-electric locomotive, Lady PenelopeEurostar's Class 373 Power Car 3999, Class 37, … Locomotive D6700, and a Class 93 tri-mode locomotive.
  7. ^ a b c d "Celebrating 200 years of the modern railway". The Greatest Gathering (Event magazine). Key Publishing. Alstom. July 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Oakley, Tom (29 July 2025). "What you need to know about The Greatest Gathering". BBC News. Pictures by Ian Castledine. dubbed "the Glastonbury of railways" … opening hours from 10:00 to 16:00 BST each day … some of the vehicles, … Locomotion No. 1 … courtesy of the National Railway MuseumMidland Railway No. 1000 … 1902 … Samuel Waite JohnsonD6700 (Class 37) - original member of the diesel-electric Class 37 series, built in 1959 … Class 390 Pendolino (Unit 390119 Progress) … Furness Railway No. 20 - Britain's oldest working standard-gauge steam locomotive, dating back to 1863 and presented by The Furness Railway Trust … [Photographs:] 73129, Prince, 57003, Ruston, NET Tram 207, 46203 … Derby's Guildhall Market … fringe event will include model railways, games, and heritage displays.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Hawley, Zena (1 August 2025). "'Eyes of the world on Derby' for Greatest Gathering of rail exhibits in one place". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 7 August 2025. biggest-ever collection of rolling stock on one gigantic 90-acre site … first time the site has been open to the public in more than 50 years. … Pete Waterman … due to speak … Michael Portillo was on site, as well as Jeremy Vine, whose Radio 2 lunchtime show was broadcast from there. … Derby rail station … as people arrived … and were transported to the event site by a variety of vintage buses, which also ran from the city centre … two hours before the 10am opening time. Queues initially snaked up the length of Litchurch Lane from the factory site in both directions to Osmaston Road and London Road. … the expected 12,600 people were inside the site within the first hour … Flying Scotsman, Sir Nigel Gresley, Blue Peter … UK's oldest operating standard gauge engine, Furness Railway No. 20, Derby-built Midland Railway 1000 Class No. 1000. … Locomotion No. 1 - the world's oldest … next to one of the newest - a Derby-built Alstom Class 720 Aventra train. … Class 390 Pendolino ProgressPride train … alongside Eurostar power car 3999 and Derby-designed Class 43 High Speed Trains (HSTs) … two Class 50 locomotives … wraps designed especially for The Greatest Gathering in partnership with Aura Brand Solutions. … Class 345 Aventra on the test track, Rail Operations Group's Class 93 cab ride and steam trains, as well as the model railway village and fairground rides. … Train enthusiasts, who failed to get tickets weren't forgotten as East Midlands Railway created special viewing areas at Derby station … the Flying Scotsman [will] leave Derby to pick up a Pullman train at Wellingborough before steaming back to the Greatest Gathering later in the day on Saturday.
  10. ^ Holden, Michael (28 July 2025). "Mainline and Greatest Gathering update on steam locomotive 60163 Tornado". Rail Advent. 60163 Tornado will not be operating with West Coast Railways until further notice, and this affects tours on the 3, 16 and 31 August 2025. … Tornado's appearance at The Greatest Gathering is unaffected, and DB Cargo will be facilitating the movement from Orton Mere on the Nene Valley Railway later this week.
  11. ^ a b c Bestwick, Alex (23 June 2025). "Flying Scotsman to appear at Greatest Gathering event". The Railway Magazine. ISSN 0033-8923. Retrieved 6 August 2025. Flying Scotsman will appear at the world's largest gathering of historic and modern railway vehicles in August [2025], Alstom has announced. … famous locomotive will be part of the event … in Derby, which runs from 1-3 August [2025] … Craig Bentley, director of the National Railway Museum, which owns Flying Scotsman, said: "Flying Scotsman … proud to … share this icon of the track, along with other historically significant locomotives from the national collection, at this landmark event."
  12. ^ a b Vine, Jeremy. 21st Century Folk in Derby. BBC Radio 2. The Jeremy Vine Show. Hello from Derby … it's Jeremy Vine for the next two hours … at … the Greatest Gathering … in the sooted cabin of a 1936-steam train called the Sierra LeoneFlying Scotsman which is about a 100 metres from me now
  13. ^ a b c Barnes, Liam (1 August 2025). "The Greatest Gathering rolls into Derby". BBC News. Retrieved 6 August 2025. The is being hosted by train manufacturer Alstom for three days from Friday [2025-08-01]. … billed by the organisers as "the world's largest-ever collection of historic and modern rolling stock". … Flying Scotsman is … Among the locomotives, at the Litchurch Lane factory will be the world famous Flying Scotsman … profits … split between five charities chosen by Railway 200 … Pete Waterman has brought his model railway. … King's Messenger forms part of the display … sold out, with more than 40,000 train fans due to attend.
  14. ^ Holden, Michael (14 July 2025). "Pete Waterman's model railway is heading to The Greatest Gathering". Rail Advent. Retrieved 11 August 2025. Class 455 No. 455868 – courtesy of South Western Railway.
  15. ^ Holden, Michael (25 February 2025). "Southeastern Networker unveiled in heritage livery as Greatest Gathering attendance confirmed". Rail Advent. Retrieved 11 August 2025. Steve White confirmed the unit will be attending The Greatest Gathering in Derby.
  16. ^ Haygarth, Dan (31 January 2025). "'Surreal' moment Merseyrail train spotted on motorway". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 6 August 2025. 1978 Merseyrail Class 507 001 unit was seen on the back of a lorry on the M4 last Friday (24 January [2025]) as it was being transported from Newport to Derby
  17. ^ Beech, Steve. "Work starts to restore £1 train ridden by royalty". BBC News. Derby. train bought … for just £1. … Class 507 Electric Multiple Unit, … withdrawn from passenger service in November 2024. … Back in 1978 it carried Queen Elizabeth II when she officially opened the Merseyrail network. … three-carriage train is now being restored by apprentices at Alstom in Derby … transfer to the Tanat Valley Light Railway … go on show as part of The exhibition in August [2025]
  18. ^ a b c "Greater Anglia at The Greatest Gathering". Rail UK. Rail Media. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025. 10 colleagues from … Greater Anglia … to the Alstom works in Derby, where one of GA's Alstom-built class 720 trains, … on display. … also presented a Stadler-built class 755 bi-mode train at the event. … opening VIP event on Thursday 31 July [2025], … GA's class 720 provided the backdrop alongside George and Robert Stephenson's pioneering Locomotion No.1
  19. ^ "Hydrogen powered train set for The Greatest Gathering event in Derby". Rail Advent. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025. visit Alstom's works in Derby for The . … HydroFlex unit, 799201, will visit thanks to Porterbrook. …
  20. ^ Stoate, Joey. "Porterbrook Showcases HydroFLEX at Greatest Gathering". 2025-08-06. Retrieved 7 August 2025. a tour of HydroFLEX, … developed and tested at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre, … body of a Class 319 electric multiple unit, … fitted with hydrogen fuel tanks, a fuel cell and a battery pack
  21. ^ a b c d e Ashe, Isaac (12 June 2025). "Railway line being built for 'largest ever' gala". BBC News. Retrieved 6 August 2025. 2ft gauge line is being installed … to allow Prince, an engine built in 1863, to haul passengers in two original carriages being shipped in from the Ffestiniog railway in Porthmadog. Prince will be joined by Trangkil No. 4 … last narrow-gauge steam locomotive built in the UK for industrial use in 1971, now based at Statfold Barn railway near Tamworth. … narrow-gauge line, … will be installed by volunteers from Alstom, Ffestiniog and Statfold Barn. … a 15in minimum-gauge railway, inspired by Sir Arthur Heywood's experimental railway at Duffield Bank near Derby, … Katie, the first locomotive built by Sir Arthur for the Eaton Hall Railway in 1896 and now owned by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Preservation Society, and Anne, built more than 100 years later by Exmoor Steam Railway.
  22. ^ Martin, Dan (24 June 2025). "Flying Scotsman to appear at city rail gala". BBC News. world-famous Flying Scotsman will … join other historic engines at The in August [2025]. … Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive to circumnavigate the globe and is now part of the York-based National Railway Museum's collection.
  23. ^ a b c Twigge, Andy; Goodwin, Ben (24 June 2025). The Flying Scotsman is coming to Derby. BBC Radio Derby. Retrieved 6 August 2025. Alstom is hosting a three-day event in August [2025] called The and the world famous locomotive … Flying Scotsman will be there.
  24. ^ a b Burke, Darren (25 June 2025). "Iconic Doncaster loco Flying Scotsman to take centre stage at huge rail event". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  25. ^ a b Ghel, Ria (30 July 2025). "Flying Scotsman in Derby: Hints revealed over iconic train arrival and departure times for Greatest Gathering". News. Derby World. National World. Retrieved 6 August 2025. Flying Scotsman's historic appearance at The in Derby, … world-famous steam locomotive will be part of the historic rail event at Alstom's Litchurch Lane works from Friday 1 August [2025] to Sunday 3 August [2025] … role in hauling the Belmond British Pullman on Saturday 2 August [2025]. The luxury train is due to depart Wellingborough in the morning and arrive at Derby, with the Scotsman expected to return to site early that afternoon. … currently the only movement publicly acknowledged by event organisers.
  26. ^ a b Pridmore, Oliver (3 August 2025). "Amazing drone footage shows thousands watch Flying Scotsman roll into historic Derby train site". Nottingham Evening Post. Retrieved 6 August 2025. Thousands of people watched the Flying Scotsman roll into Derby's historic Litchurch Lane works … major three-day festival celebrating 200 years since the birth of the modern railway. 'The ' … began on Friday (1 August [2025]) and runs for the full weekend, ending later today (Sunday, 3 August [2025]) … on Saturday (2 August [2025]), the icon of British rail … had a brief trip away from Litchurch Lane to haul the Belmond British Pullman luxury train between Wellingborough and Derby. … famous 4472 Flying Scotsman locomotive, … symbol of national pride,
  27. ^ "The Greatest Gathering in Derby". Belmond Limited. Prepare to witness the largest ever assembly of trains and rail-related exhibits in a generation at The , … once-in-a-lifetime journey to Derby for the ultimate locomotive extravaganza. … British Pullman is hauled from Wellingborough to Derby by … Flying Scotsman, the world's most famous steam train. … unique event … first time in almost 50 years that … Derby Litchurch Lane Works – has been open to the public.
  28. ^ Wilson, Tabitha (25 June 2025). "Flying Scotsman to appear at Greatest Gathering in Derby". The Press. York. Retrieved 6 August 2025. Flying Scotsman … holds the world record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive—422 miles in Australia. … part of a steam cavalcade alongside other LNER Pacific locomotives including A1 No. 60163 Tornado and A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley. … Flying Scotsman will temporarily depart the site on Saturday, 2 August [2025], to haul the Belmond British Pullman luxury train between Wellingborough and Derby,
  29. ^ Bagley, Alison (5 August 2025). "Northants firefighters steam over to help Flying Scotsman after water tanker trip hits the buffers". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 6 August 2025. The Flying Scotsman, usually housed at the National Railway Museum in York, was one of the star attractions at The Greatest Gathering.
  30. ^ "Fire brigade called out to rescue Flying Scotsman". BBC News. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025. famous steam engine was en route to the rail event in Derby on Saturday … Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue … was called after the locomotive's road water tanker broke down. … More than 140 locomotives and railway vehicles were on display … The fire service said its crews "were proud to assist with a very special operation".
  31. ^ a b c Holden, Michael (31 January 2025). "Ticket sales for The Greatest Gathering Suspended". Rail Advent. Retrieved 6 August 2025. 10,000 tickets have been available for the show each day … ticket website unresponsive with "Bad Gateway" errors … Ticket sales have been suspended until next week, … £30 for adults and £15 for children … family … £65
  32. ^ a b "The Greatest Gathering train fans invited to Derby Market Hall for free fringe event in the city". 30 July 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025. Greatest Gathering Fringe event … people who could not get tickets for the sold-out main event. … Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (DVLCRP) is hosting The Greatest Gathering fringe event at Derby Market Hall. … collaboration between DVLCRP, Derby City Council and Visit Derby
  33. ^ E.D. (16 July 2025). "21st Century Folk returns to BBC Radio 2 with songs inspired by train stories to celebrate 200 years of train travel around the UK". Media Centre (Press release). BBC. Retrieved 7 August 2025. The Jeremy Vine Show (weekdays, noon-2pm). Jeremy will also broadcast live … Friday's edition outside broadcast from The at Alstom in Derby where Bill Ryder-Jones will perform … live

Further reading