Alstom presents: The Greatest Gathering
Get your tickets
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 world's largest-ever gathering of historic and modern trains and rail-related exhibits – The Greatest Gathering – between Friday 1 and Sunday 3 August.
Final tickets on sale 09.00 BST, Friday 27 June.
Buy your tickets for the UK premiere of An Unlikely Fandom: The Impact of Thomas the Tank Engine here (existing ticketholders of The Greatest Gathering on Sunday 2 August only).
Limited Blue Badge parking spaces are now available and can be reserved here, subject to availability.
Buy your official merchandise here. Orders will be dispatched before the event and all profits will support our charity partners.
This three-day festival will feature more than 100 iconic vehicles from the past, present and future of the railways, and marks the first time in almost 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.


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.

See which exhibits will be appearing at The Greatest Gathering
(All exhibits will appear subject to operational availability )
Steam locomotives
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LNER Class A3 No. 60103 Flying Scotsman
Built in 1923, Doncaster. The world's most famous steam locomotive is coming to The Greatest Gathering! Courtesy of National Railway Museum
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Locomotion No. 1
Built in 1825, Newcastle upon Tyne. This is the world’s first steam locomotive to haul a passenger-carrying train on a public railway. Courtesy of National Railway Museum
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Furness Railway No. 20
Furness Railway No. 20, provided by the Furness Railway Trust. Built in 1863, this is the UK’s oldest working standard gauge steam locomotive.
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LNWR Coal Tank No. 1054
Built in 1888, Crewe. Courtesy of The Bahamas Locomotive Society
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Midland Railway 1000 Class No. 1000
As the first original engine designed by Samuel Waite Johnson, the compound locomotive was built in Derby in 1902 and selected for preservation in 1951. Courtesy of National Railway Museum
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LMS Jubilee Class No. 146115 Scots Guardsman
Built in 1927, Glasgow. Courtesy of West Coast Railways
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GWR Hall Class No. 4930 Hagley Hall
Built in 1929, Swindon. Courtesy of Severn Valley Railway
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GWR King Class No. 6023 King Edward II
Built in 1930, Swindon. Courtesy of Great Western Society
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LMS Stainer Mogul 13268
Built in 1934, Crewe. Courtesy of Stanier Mogul Fund
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LMS Princess Royal Class No. 46203 Princess Margret Rose
Built in 1935, Crewe. Courtesy of Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust
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LNER Class A1 No. 60163 Tornado
Built in 1998, Darlington. Tornado is the first new build British mainline steam locomotive since 1960, and will appear at The Greatest Gathering on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 August only. Courtesy of A1 Steam Locomotive Trust
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LNER Class A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley
Built in 1937, Doncaster. Preserved steam locomotive provided by the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust, operated by Locomotive Services Limited.
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SR Merchant Navy Class No. 35018 British India Line
Built in 1945, Eastleigh. Preserved Southern Railway steam locomotive, operated by West Coast Railways.
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SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 Clan Line
Built in 1948, Eastleigh. Courtesy of the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society
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BR Standard 5MT No. 73129
Built in 1956, Derby. Courtesy of Midland Railway – Butterley
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LMS Stainer Class 5 No. 44932
Buit in 1945, Horwich. Courtesy of West Coast Railways
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LMS Jubilee Class No. 45627 Sierra Leone
Built in 1936, Crewe. Originally built as No. 45699 Galatea. Courtesy of West Coast Railways
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LMS Jubilee Class No. 45596 Bahamas
Built in 1934, Glasgow. Courtesy of The Bahamas Locomotive Society
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Diesel locomotives
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Class 08 No. 08721 Ken Davies
Built in 1960, Crewe. Courtesy of Alstom. 08721 is named after Ken Davies, Movements Manager at Alstom, who celebrated his 50th anniversary working on the railways in 2025
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Class 23 D5910
Built in 1962, Newton-le-Willows. Rebuilt in 2010, Chesterfield. Courtesy of The Baby Deltic Project
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Class 24 D5054 Phil Southern
Built in 1959, Crewe. Courtesy of East Lancashire Railway
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Class 26 No. 26007
Built in 1958, Birmingham. Courtesy of Victor Korzeniewicz
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Class 31 No. 31108
Built in 1959, Loughborough. Courtesy of A1A Locomotives Ltd
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Class 33 No. 33012
Built in 1960, Birmingham. Courtesy of 71A Locomotive Group
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Class 37 D6700
Legacy Alstom locomotive D6700 – the first-built Class 37 diesel – was manufactured in 1959 and remains operational. Courtesy of National Railway Museum
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Class 40 No. 40013 Andania
Built in 1959, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Shaun Wright (Andania Engineering)
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Class 40 No. 40106 Atlantic Conveyor
Built in 1960, Darlington. Courtesy of Class 40 Preservation Society
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Class 42 D821 Greyhound
Built in 1960, Swindon. Courtesy of Diesel Traction Group
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Class 44 No. 44004 Great Gable
Built in 1959, Derby. Courtesy of Peak Locomotive Company Ltd
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Class 55 No. 55009 Alycidon
Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
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Class 35 No. D7076
Built in 1962, Manchester. Courtesy of Bury Hydraulic Group
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Class 37 No. 37501 Teeside Steelmaster
Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Rebuilt in 1986, Crewe and 1994, Doncaster. Courtesy of Rail Operations Group
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Class 47 No. 47715 Rail Engineering Solutions - Quality Assured
Built in 1964, Loughborough. Courtesy of Rail Engineering Solutions
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Class 50 No. 50033 Glorious
Built in 1968, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Class 50 Alliance
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Class 50 No. 50035 Ark Royal
Built in 1968, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Class 50 Alliance
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Class 50 No. 50044 Exeter
Built in 1968, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Class 50 Alliance
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Class 50 No. 50049 Defiance
Built in 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.
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Class 52 No. D1015 Western Champion
Built in 1963, Swindon. Courtesy of Diesel Traction Group
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Class 52 No. D1062 Western Courier
Built in 1963, Swindon. Courtesy of Western Locomotive Association
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Class 55 No. D9015 Tulyar
Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
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Class 55 No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier
Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
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Class 56 No. 56301
Built in 1978, Doncaster. Originally numbered 56045. Courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group
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Class 20 No. 20007 and No. 20205
Built in 1957 and 1967 respectively, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Romic
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Class 37
Courtesy of West Coast Railways
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Class 37 No. 37508
Built 1963, Newcastle upon Tyne. Courtesy of Loram
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Class 43 No.43159
This is the world's fastest diesel-powered locomotive, achieving a speed record of 148mph (238km/h) in 1987. Built 1981, Crewe. Courtesy of 125 Group. 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
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Class 47
Courtesy of West Coast Railways
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Class 57 No. 57003
Rebuilt in 1998, Loughborough. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
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Class 58 No. 58023
Built in 1984, Doncaster. Courtesy of Edward Stevenson
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Class 60 No. 60099
Courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group
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Class 66 No. 66004
Built in 1998, Ontario, Canada. Courtesy of DB Cargo UK
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Class 66 No. 66301
Class 66 (66301) provided by GBRf and IIA-D gold biomass hopper provided by Drax Group.
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Class 66 No. 66501 Spirit of ‘65
Built in 1999, Ontario, Canada. Courtesy of Freightliner
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Class 67 No. 67005 King's Messenger
Built in 2000, Spain. Courtesy of DB Cargo UK
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Class 70 No. 70008
Built in 2009, Pennsylvania, USA. Courtesy of Freightliner
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Class 17 D8568
Built in 1964, Burton upon Trent. Courtesy of Diesel Traction Group. Based out of Polmadie depot (today Alstom Glasgow Traincare Centre) from 1968 and withdrawn from commercial use in 1971.
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Class 37 No. 37401 Mary Queen of Scots
Built in 1965, Newton-le-Willows. Rebuilt 1985. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
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Class 37 No. 37418 An Comunn Gàidhealach
Built in 1965, Netwon-le-Willows. Courtesy of Loram
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Class 43s
Two power cars. Courtesy of RailAdventure
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Class 46 No. 46045
Built in 1962, Derby. Courtesy of Peak Locomotive Company Ltd
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Class 45 No. 45118 The Royal Artilleryman
Built in 1962, Crewe. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
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Class 47 No. 47593 Galloway Princess
Built in 1965, Loughborough. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
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Class 55 D9000 Royal Scots Grey
Built in 1961, Netwon-le-Willows. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
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Class 57 No. 57307 Lady Penelope
Built in 1979, Loughborough. Rebuilt 2004. Courtesy of Direct Rail Services
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Class 57 No. 57313 Scarborough Castle
Built in 1965, Loughborough. Rebuilt 2003. Courtesy of West Coast Railways
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Class 57/0
Courtesy of West Coast Railways
Electric locomotives
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No.12 Sarah Siddons
Built in 1923, Barrow-in-Furness. Courtesy of Transport for London
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Class 83 No. 83012
Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of AC Locomotive Group
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Class 85 No. 85006
Built in 1961, Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Courtesy of AC Locomotive Group
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Class 86 No. 86101 Sir William Stanier FRS
Built in 1966, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
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Class 86 No. 86401
Built in 1966, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of West Coast Railways
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Class 87 No. 87002 Royal Sovereign
Built in 1973, Crewe. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
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Class 90 No. 90018
Built in 1988, Crewe. Courtesy of Freightliner
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Class 91 No. 91101 Flying Scotsman
Built in 1988, Crewe. Courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
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Class 91 No. 91110 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Built in 1989, Crewe. Courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
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Class 92 No. 92011
Built in 1994, Loughborough. Courtesy of DB Cargo UK
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Class 93
Courtesy of Rail Operations Group
Multiple units
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Class 423 No. 3417 Gordon Pettitt
Built in 1967, York. Courtesy of The Bluebell Railway
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Class 507 No. 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.
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Class 142 No. 142013
Built in 1985, No. 142013 is one of 96 'Pacers' built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works, with 35 since being preserved. Courtesy of Midland Railway – Butterley
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Class 323 No. 323221
Built in 1995, Leeds. Courtesy of Porterbrook
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Class 465 No. 465908 Chris Green
Built in 1991-1993, Birmingham. Courtesy of Southeastern
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Class 390 Pendolino No. 390119 Progress
Provided by Avanti West Coast. Built between 2001 and 2005 by Alstom, it is the UK’s first fully wrapped Pride train.
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Class 720 Aventra No. 720506
Provided by Greater Anglia. Built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works in 2022
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Class 799 No. 799201
Built in 2021, Wolverton. Courtesy of Porterbrook
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LT 4TC set
Courtesy of Transport for London
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Class 108 Nos. 51941 and 52064
Built in 1960, Derby. Courtesy of DMU Group (West Midlands). Derby Litchurch Lane Works produced 333 of these units between 1958 and 1961
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Class 313 No. 313201
Built in 1976, York. Courtesy of Peter Spokes and 400 Series Preservation Group
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Class 331
Courtesy of Northern Trains
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Class 350
Courtesy of London Northwestern Railway
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Class 730
Courtesy of London Northwestern Railway
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Class 755
Courtesy of Greater Anglia
Carriages and wagons
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LMS Inspection Saloon No. 45029
Built in 1942, Wolverton. Courtesy of Transport for London
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JNA-T Wagon
Courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group
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IIA-D Biomass Hopper
Courtesy of Drax Group
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Inspection Saloon No. 975025 Caroline
Built in 1958, Eastleigh. Courtesy of Network Rail
Narrow gauge and miniature
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Ffestiniog Railway 0-4-0TT Prince
Built in 1863, Newcastle upon Tyne. 2 ft gauge. Courtesy of Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
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Trangkil Sugar Mill 0-4-2ST Trangkil No. 4
Built in 1971, Leeds. 2 ft gauge. Courtesy of Statfold Barn Railway
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Eton Hall Railway 0-4-0T Katie
Built in 1896, Duffield Bank. 15 in gauge. Courtesy of Ravenglass and Eskdale Preservation Society
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Perrygrove Railway 0-6-2T Anne
Built in 2004, Bratton Fleming. 15 in gauge. Courtesy of Perrygrove Railway
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The Derby Express for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (iMechE) Railway Challenge
Built in 2025, Derby. 10 ¼ in gauge. Courtesy of the University of Derby and Alstom
Other exhibits
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Dovetail Games
British video game developer Dovetail Games are bringing their flagship series Train Sim World to The Greatest Gathering, giving visitors the chance to drive historic and current locomotives
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Derby Society of Model and Experimental Engineers
5 in ridable railway
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Ground Level 5” Gauge Main Line Association (GL5)
5 in demonstration layout
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Grand Central Chorus
Forty-strong, four-part close-harmony group from the East Midlands. Performing Sunday 3 August only
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Tim O'Brien
Artist in resident
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An Unlikely Fandom: The Impact of Thomas the Tank Engine – UK Premiere and Q&A
This feature-length documentary explores the profound influence of the beloved children’s television series on popular culture and its enduring legacy. Directed by Brannon Carty. Screening Sunday 2 August only. Additional charge applies
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!
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Where and when does The Greatest Gathering take place?
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.
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I've not yet received my tickets, what can I do?
All tickets have been sent out to email addresses used for the purchase, this includes all tickets purchased using our previous ticket partner on Friday 31 January.
In order to retrieve your tickets please visit the Customer Support section of the SEE Tickets website, click Download your E-Ticket and follow the prompts, if you are unable to remember your reference number, please follow the Forgotten Your Details link to retrieve your tickets via email.
If you have followed this process and are still unable to retrieve your tickets, please email tickets@thegreatestgathering.co.uk with your booking information. It may take up to 5 working days to respond to you via this escalation process.
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How do I purchase tickets for The Greatest Gathering?
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.
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Why are you not offering companion tickets?
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.
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Will Alstom make a profit from ticket sales?
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.
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How many people will be coming to the event?
We are able to welcome up to 10,000 visitors to Litchurch Lane each day of The Greatest Gatering.
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Why is the event taking place in August?
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.
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Will you just be showcasing Alstom products?
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.
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What measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of visitors during the event?
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.
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Can I bring my dog?
No, only guide dogs will be permitted at The Greatest Gathering.
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How will The Greatest Gathering benefit the local community and economy?
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.
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How are you engaging younger generations or those new to rail with this event?
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.
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Can visitors expect to see behind-the-scenes areas of the Litchurch Lane Works?
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.
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Will there be any live-streaming or virtual access for those unable to attend in person?
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:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreatestgathering
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thegreatestgathering
- TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@the_greatest_gathering
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Will there be parking available at the event?
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.
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I would like to exhibit at The Greatest Gathering. How can I get in-touch with the team?
Please select the relevant option on the contact form on this page – and your message will be sent to the relevant team.
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Where can I buy official merchandise for The Greatest Gathering?
Official merchandise can be purchased here: https://thegreatestgathering.myshopify.com
Orders will be dispatched before The Greatest Gathering, with a limited supply of merchandise available for purchase at the event itself.
Some products may be available in limited numbers. We will restock where possible.As with our ticket sales, any profits will 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.
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.
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Press Releases 23 Jun 2025
World’s most famous steam locomotive to appear at Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering – with more tickets on sale from Friday 27 June
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Press Releases 19 Jun 2025
Thomas the Tank Engine documentary to receive UK premiere at Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering
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Press Releases 12 Jun 2025
World’s oldest operating narrow-gauge locomotive in action at Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering
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News 03 Jun 2025
Dovetail Games to bring Train Sim World to Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering
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Press Releases 22 May 2025
World’s first steam locomotive to run on a public railway will appear at The Greatest Gathering organised by Alstom in Derby, UK
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Press Releases 14 Apr 2025
Artist in residence announced for The Greatest Gathering in the UK
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News 03 Mar 2025
Railway 200’s unique touring exhibition train to visit Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering in the UK
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Press Releases 30 Jan 2025
Alstom to host Britain’s biggest rail celebration as part of Railway 200
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News 20 Sep 2024
Alstom announces 'The Greatest Gathering' to mark railway’s 200th anniversary in 2025