Alstom presents: The Greatest Gathering

As part of this year’s Railway 200 celebrations, Alstom’s historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works will be front and centre, as it hosts the largest temporary gathering of trains and rail-related exhibits in a generation – The Greatest Gathering – between Friday 1 and Sunday 3 August.

This event is sold out.

This three-day festival will feature more than 50 iconic vehicles from the past, present and future of the railways, and marks the first time in over 50 years that the train factory has been open to the general public.

Derby Litchurch Lane is one of the world’s largest rolling stock factories, and the only UK facility that designs, engineers, builds and tests trains for domestic and export markets. The factory was opened by the Midland Railway in 1876 and the city of Derby has been building trains continually since 1839. In 2022, Derby was chosen by the Government as the home of Great British Railways following a vote by the public between contender cities.

200 Years of Train Travel Since 1825

What is Railway 200?

The Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) opened on September 27, 1825, connecting places, people, communities and ideas, and ultimately transforming the world. Railway 200 is 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.  

The first locomotive to run on the S&DR – Locomotion No. 1 – was built by the Newcastle upon Tyne-based Robert Stephenson and Company. It was the first company in the world created specifically to build railway engines and later manufactured several of the first locomotives for other countries. Through successive mergers, Robert Stephenson and Company became part of Alstom in 1989, giving the company a direct link to the dawn of the railways and making it the custodian of a unique legacy. 

Alstom-owned Nomad Digital has been headquartered in Newcastle for over two decades and is a world-leader in passenger and fleet management solutions.

Although born in Great Britain, rail quickly spread across the globe. Railway 200 will showcase how the railway shaped and continues to shape our lives. A wide variety of activities and events – across the UK and around the world – are being planned to celebrate rail’s remarkable past, its role today and its importance to a sustainable future. 

Learn more about Railway 200

Relive The Greatest Gathering's lauch event on 30 January 2025

  • LNER Class A4 (60007) ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’

    Built 1937. Preserved steam locomotive provided by the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust, operated by Locomotive Services Limited.

  • Merchant Navy Class (35018) ‘British India Line’

    Merchant Navy Class (35018) ‘British India Line’, built 1945. Preserved Southern Railway steam locomotive, operated by West Coast Railways.

  • Class 37 (37800), ‘Cassiopeia’

    Built 1963. Diesel-electric locomotive owned by Europhoenix and operated by Rail Operations Group.

  • Class 50 (50049) ‘Defiance’

    Built 1968. Diesel locomotive operated by GB Railfreight and owned by Class 50 Alliance Ltd, based at the Severn Valley Railway. ‘The Greatest Gathering’ headboard created by Newton Castings.

  • Class 57 (57307) ‘Lady Penelope'

    Originally built in 1965 as 47225 and rebuilt in 2002. Diesel locomotive operated by Direct Rail Services.

  • Class 66 (66315)

    Converted for UK use in 2025. Diesel locomotive operated by GB Railfreight.

  • Class 69 (69004)

    Originally built in 1979 as 56069 and rebuilt in 2022. Diesel-electric locomotive in heritage British Rail Research Division livery operated by GB Railfreight.

  • Class 390 Pendolino (390016 – now renumbered 390200 for Railway 200)

    Built in 2002. Electric high-speed passenger train operated by Avanti West Coast.

FAQ

To better assist you, we have compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions below. If you don’t find the information you’re looking for, feel free to reach out via the contact form on this page, and one of our dedicated team members will get back to you!

  • The Greatest Gathering will take place at Alstom's Derby Litchurch Lane Works (Litchurch Lane, Derby, Derbyshire, DE24 8AD, UK) between Friday 1 and Sunday 3 August 2025.

    For each day of the event, the site will be open to ticketholders 10am-4pm.

  • Those who bought tickets on Friday 31 January through our original provider will receive their tickets from our new ticketing partner soon. This is an automatic process and there is nothing for you to do in addition at this time.

  • All tickets for The Greatest Gathering have sold out. We will not be selling tickets on the gate at the event, with only valid e-tickets that have been pre-purchased enabling entry to The Greatest Gathering.

  • We have done our best to keep our ticket pricing fair and accessible while covering the operational costs associated with running The Greatest Gathering. As such, we are unable to offer discounted companion tickets. Each ticket contributes to ensuring a safe, informative and engaging experience for all visitors.

  • As Litchurch Lane is a working site, we are selling tickets to cover costs required to host such an event, including additional security, cleaning and conveniences, as well as materials to ensure visitors have a memorable and engaging experience. Any profits will then be split between Railway 200’s five chosen charities – Alzheimer's Research UK, Railway Benefit Fund, Railway Children, Railway Mission and Transport Benevolent Fund CIO – and charitable railway heritage partners.

  • We are able to welcome up to 10,000 visitors to Litchurch Lane each day of The Greatest Gatering.

  • As with other industrial sites, Derby Litchurch Lane shuts down for two weeks each year over the summer, so that our manufacturing staff can take leave during the traditional holiday period. As commercial activity on site will be at a minimum, it creates the best opportunity to host a public-facing event on this scale without impacting regular operations.

  • We will be displaying over 50 historic rail vehicles, representing steam, diesel and electric traction, alongside others. As the programme develops between now and August, we will reveal individual items in due course. Rolling stock present at the launch on Thursday 30 January 2025 will appear at the main event – or examples from the same class:

    All advertised exhibits will appear at The Greatest Gathering subject to operational availability.

    • LNER Class A4 (60007) ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’, built 1937. Preserved steam locomotive provided by the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust
    • Merchant Navy Class (35018) ‘British India Line’, built 1945. Preserved Southern Railway steam locomotive, operated by West Coast Railways
    • Class 37 (37800), ‘Cassiopeia’, built 1963. Diesel-electric locomotive owned by Europhoenix and operated by Rail Operations Group
    • Class 50 (50049) ‘Defiance’, built 1968. Diesel locomotive operated by GB Railfreight and owned by Class 50 Alliance Ltd, based at the Severn Valley Railway
    • Class 57 (57307) ‘Lady Penelope’, originally built in 1965 as 47225 and rebuilt in 2002. Diesel locomotive operated by Direct Rail Services
    • Class 66 (66315) converted for UK use in 2025. Diesel locomotive operated by GB Railfreight
    • Class 69 (69004) originally built in 1979 as 56069 and rebuilt in 2022. Diesel-electric locomotive in heritage British Rail Research Division livery operated by GB Railfreight
    • Class 507 (507001), built 1978. Preserved Merseyrail electric multiple unit (EMU) in heritage British Rail blue-grey livery, provided by the Class 507 Preservation Society
    • Class 390 Pendolino (390016 – now renumbered 390200 for Railway 200), built in 2002. Electric high-speed passenger train operated by Avanti West Coast
    • Class 701 Aventra (701003), built in 2024 at Derby Litchurch Lane. Electric multiple unit (EMU) operated by South Western Railway
    • Class 720 Aventra (720503), built in 2024 at Derby Litchurch Lane. Electric multiple unit (EMU) operated by Greater Anglia

  • Alstom is proud to host The Greatest Gathering at its Derby base but we want the event to showcase the full breadth of contributions made by organisations and individuals in helping shape our railways. This means displaying Alstom-built and legacy Alstom rolling stock, as well as vehicles made by others. Just like Railway 200, our event will only be realised thanks to a cross-industry partnership, as well as input from the heritage sector.

  • Visitor safety is our top priority. The event will feature crowd management systems, on-site security teams and first-aid facilities, and we have capped our attendance at no more than 10,000 per day across the 90-acre site. The site layout is being carefully planned to ensure clear access routes and safe viewing areas, with consideration being taken for those with limited mobility. We are also co-ordinating with local authorities to best manage access to and from the site.

  • No, only guide dogs will be permitted at The Greatest Gathering.

  • The event will bring significant economic benefits to Derby and the surrounding areas, attracting rail enthusiasts and families from across the country and around the world. We anticipate that local businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and transport services, will see increased activity. Furthermore, we’ve prioritised working with local suppliers and vendors for food, attractions and other services.

  • Railway 200 aims to excite interest from the next generation by inviting young people of all backgrounds to consider a career in rail. Therefore, we’ve designed The Greatest Gathering to be family-friendly and engaging for all age groups. A whole host of interactive science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) activities will be available, while partners from across the industry will be showcasing career pathways.

  • The factory itself will provide a fitting backdrop for our event and indoor exhibits will be displayed inside the facility, for example. Furthermore, our 1.6km test track will be offering rides throughout.

  • We’re exploring virtual access options, but our website will be frequently updated with details of exhibits, as well as across the event’s dedicated social media channels:

  • There will be no on-site parking, except for limited spaces for those with Blue Badge parking permits. We will be encouraging visitors to arrive by public transport, with Derby railway station only a 15-minute walk from our site. We are also exploring a park and ride option for those that wish to drive, but there are no further details at this time.

  • Please select the relevant option on the contact form on this page – and your message will be sent to the relevant team.

Contact

For general enquiries about the event, if you are are a trader or exhibitor or would like to join as a volunteer, please use the webform below. To book your ticket, please use the dedicated section on this page. 

By completing this form and providing your personal data, you are consenting to the processing of your personal data by Alstom. Your information will be kept on file in this database for a period of six months. You have the right to access, rectify, and/or erase any personal data you have provided and withdraw your consent given to Alstom to process your personal information by sending a message to Alstom at data.privacy@alstomgroup.com or by mail to ALSTOM Transport SA, 48 rue Albert Dhalenne, 93400 Saint-Ouen, France, Attn E&C Data Privacy.

For more information on Alstom’s policy with regard to your personal data please consult the Alstom Data Privacy Charter, available here.

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