Railway 200’s unique touring exhibition train to visit Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering in the UK
Railway 200’s unique touring exhibition train to visit Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering in the UK
As part of Railway 200 – a national celebration of the 200th anniversary of the modern railway – a new and unique exhibition train has been announced as the latest exhibit confirmed for Alstom presents The Greatest Gathering, which will take place at Derby Litchurch Lane Works on Friday 1, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August 2025.
The sold-out event will present the largest temporary collection of rail exhibits in a generation, with Britain’s biggest and oldest remaining train factory open to the public for the first time in over 50 years.
Meanwhile, the Railway 200 touring train, named Inspiration, is expected to visit 60 locations across Britain over 12 months up to summer 2026, creating a buzz of interest and excitement at mainline stations, heritage railways and rail freight sites.
Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, it will be the only exhibition train on UK rail network and will promote the past, present and future of the railway, helping to attract the next generation of pioneering talent.
“We are delighted that Inspiration will be visiting our historic site in Derby as part of The Greatest Gathering. The Railway 200 exhibition train is a powerful symbol of our industry’s past, present and future – showcasing the pioneering innovation that has defined Britain’s railways for two centuries,” said Andy Butters, Managing Director – Derby Litchurch Lane Works at Alstom.
He added: “At Alstom, we are proud to support this initiative and look forward to welcoming visitors to experience the ingenuity and opportunities that make rail such an exciting and dynamic sector to be part of.”
Derby-built
Sporting an eye-catching livery, Inspiration will comprise four smartly reconfigured Mark 3 coaches, procured by Network Rail and originally built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works between 1975 and 1988. The mobile Railway 200 exhibition is designed to inspire schoolchildren and others to consider a career in rail, shining a spotlight on the wide range of roles available, and to create a more diverse workforce.
The carriages, which are currently being fitted out, are supported by a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The train will be operated by GB Railfreight, who will also be bringing additional rolling stock to The Greatest Gathering.
“This special exhibition train will provide a unique visitor experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren. Inspiration will excite, enlighten, entertain and encourage people to take a fresh view of the railway, as part of its bicentenary celebrations,” said Emma Roberts, Programme Manager at Railway 200 – a cross-sector, Government-backed campaign.
She added: “It will also invite visitors to consider a career in rail by showcasing the extensive variety of roles available. We look forward to welcoming them onboard for an unforgettable and potentially life-changing experience.”
Confirmed exhibits
Since The Greatest Gathering was launched at an event in Derby on Thursday 30 January, a raft of rolling stock exhibits have been announced for the three-day festival, including:
- Furness Railway No. 20, provided by the Furness Railway Trust. Built in 1863, this is the UK’s oldest working standard gauge steam locomotive
- LMS Jubilee Class (45596) ‘Bahamas’, provided by The Bahamas Locomotive Society. Built in 1934
- LNER Class A4 (60007) ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’, provided by the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust and operated by Locomotive Services Limited. Built 1937
- Merchant Navy Class (35018) ‘British India Line’, operated by West Coast Railways. Built 1945
- Class 108, provided by DMU Group (West Midlands). Derby Litchurch Lane Works produced 333 of these units between 1958 and 1961
- Class 507 (507001) provided by the Class 507 Preservation Society. Built in 1978, this is a preserved Merseyrail electric multiple unit (EMU) in heritage British Rail blue-grey livery
- Class 43 (43159) provided by 125 Group. This is the world’s fastest diesel-powered locomotive, achieving a speed record of 148mph (238km/h) in 1987. It will be accompanied by four Mark 3 High Speed Train (HST) coaches, which were constructed at Derby Litchurch Lane Works between 1975 and 1988
- Class 66 (66301) provided by GBRf and IIA-D gold biomass hopper provided by Drax Group
- Class 390 Pendolino (390119) 'Progress' provided by Avanti West Coast. Built between 2001 and 2005 by Alstom, it is the UK’s first fully wrapped Pride train
- Class 790 Aventra (720506) provided by Greater Anglia. Built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works in 2022
Alstom’s three-day festival will feature more than 50 iconic vehicles from the past, present and future of the railways.
