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 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.

The Greatest Gathering
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

See which exhibits will be appearing at The Greatest Gathering 

(All exhibits will appear subject to operational availability )

  • Locomotion No. 1

    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

  • Furness Railway No. 20

    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.

  • Coal Tank No. 1054

    Coal Tank No. 1054

    Built in 1888, Crewe. Courtesy of The Bahamas Locomotive Society

  • Midland Railway 1000 Class No. 1000

    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

  • LMS 6P No. 46115 Scots Guardsman

    LMS 6P No. 46115 Scots Guardsman

    Built in 1927, Glasgow. Courtesy of West Coast Railways

  • GWR Hall Class No. 4930 Hagley Hall

    GWR Hall Class No. 4930 Hagley Hall

    Built in 1929, Swindon. Courtesy of Severn Valley Railway

  • GWR King Class No. 6023 King Edward II

    GWR King Class No. 6023 King Edward II

    Built in 1930, Swindon. Courtesy of Great Western Society

  • LMS Mogul 13268

    LMS Mogul 13268

    Built in 1934, Crewe. Courtesy of Stanier Mogul Fund

  • LMS Princess Royal Class No. 46203 Princess Margret Rose

    LMS Princess Royal Class No. 46203 Princess Margret Rose

    Built in 1935, Crewe. Courtesy of Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust

  • 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.

  • SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 Clan Line

    SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 Clan Line

    Built in 1948, Eastleigh. Courtesy of the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society

  • BR Standard 5MT No. 73129

    BR Standard 5MT No. 73129

    Built in 1956, Derby. Courtesy of Midland Railway – Butterley

  • LMS Black 5 No.44932

    LMS Black 5 No.44932

    Courtesy of West Coast Railways

  • LMS Jubilee Class No. 45627 Sierra Leone

    LMS Jubilee Class No. 45627 Sierra Leone

    Built 1936, Crewe. Originally built as No. 45699 Galatea. Courtesy of West Coast Railways

  • LMS Jubilee No. 45699 9F No. 92214

    LMS Jubilee No. 45699 9F No. 92214

    Built 1959, Swindon. Courtesy of Great Central Railway

  • LMS Jubilee Class 45596 Bahamas

    LMS Jubilee Class 45596 Bahamas

    LMS Jubilee Class 45596 Bahamas, provided by The Bahamas Locomotive Society. Built in 1934.

  • Class 26 No. 26007

    Class 26 No. 26007

    Built in 1958, Birmingham. Courtesy of Victor Korzeniewicz

  • Class 23 D5910

    Class 23 D5910

    Built in 1962, Newton-le-Willows. Rebuilt in 2010, Chesterfield. Courtesy of The Baby Deltic Project

  • Class 31 No. 31108

    Class 31 No. 31108

    Built in 1959, Loughborough. Courtesy of A1A Locomotives Ltd

  • Class 40 No. 40013 Andania

    Class 40 No. 40013 Andania

    Built in 1959, Newton-le-Willows. courtesy of Shaun Wright (Andania Engineering)

  • Class 44 No. 44004 Great Gable

    Class 44 No. 44004 Great Gable

    Built in 1959, Derby. Courtesy of Peak Locomotive Company Ltd

  • Class 40 No. 40106 Atlantic Conveyor

    Class 40 No. 40106 Atlantic Conveyor

    Built in 1960, Darlington. Courtesy of the Class 40 Preservation Society

  • Class 42 D821 Greyhound

    Class 42 D821 Greyhound

    Built in 1960, Swindon. Courtesy of Diesel Traction Group

  • Class 33 No. 33012

    Class 33 No. 33012

    Built in 1960, Birmingham. Courtesy of 71A Locomotive Group

  • Class 37 D6700

    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

  • Class 55 No. 55009 Alycidon

    Class 55 No. 55009 Alycidon

    Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society

  • Class 24 D5054 Phil Southern

    Class 24 D5054 Phil Southern

    Built in 1959, Crewe. Courtesy of East Lancashire Railway

  • Class 55 No. D9015 Tulyar

    Class 55 No. D9015 Tulyar

    Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society

  • Class 55 No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier

    Class 55 No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier

    Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society

  • Class 35 No. D7076

    Class 35 No. D7076

    Built in 1962, Manchester. Courtesy of Bury Hydraulic Group

  • Class 52 No. D1015 Western Champion

    Class 52 No. D1015 Western Champion

    Built in 1963, Swindon. Courtesy of Diesel Traction Group

  • Class 47 No. 47715 Rail Engineering Solutions Quality Assured

    Class 47 No. 47715 Rail Engineering Solutions Quality Assured

    Built in 1964, Loughborough. Courtesy of Rail Engineering Solutions

  • Class 37 No. 37501 Teeside Steelmaster

    Class 37 No. 37501 Teeside Steelmaster

    Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Rebuilt in 1986, Crewe and 1994, Doncaster. Courtesy of Rail Operations Group

  • Class 50 No. 50033 Glorious

    Class 50 No. 50033 Glorious

    Built in 1968, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Class 50 Alliance

  • Class 50 No. 50035 Ark Royal

    Class 50 No. 50035 Ark Royal

    Built in 1968, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Class 50 Alliance

  • Class 50 No. 50044 Exeter

    Class 50 No. 50044 Exeter

    Built in 1968, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Class 50 Alliance

  • 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 52 No. D1062 Western Courier

    Class 52 No. D1062 Western Courier

    Built in 1963, Swindon. Courtesy of Western Locomotive Association

  • Class 56 No. 56301

    Class 56 No. 56301

    Built in 1978, Doncaster. Originally numbered 56045. Courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group

  • Class 43 No.43159

    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

  • Class 58 No. 58023

    Class 58 No. 58023

    Built in 1984, Doncaster. Courtesy of Edward Stevenson

  • Class 66 No. 66004

    Class 66 No. 66004

    Built in 1998, Ontario, Canada. Courtesy of DB Cargo UK

  • Class 66 No. 66301

    Class 66 No. 66301

    Class 66 (66301) provided by GBRf and IIA-D gold biomass hopper provided by Drax Group.

  • Class 66 No. 66501 Spirit of ‘65

    Class 66 No. 66501 Spirit of ‘65

    Built in 1999, Ontario, Canada. Courtesy of Freightliner

  • Class 67 No. 67005 Kings Messenger

    Class 67 No. 67005 Kings Messenger

    Built in 2000, Spain. Courtesy of DB Cargo UK

  • Class 70 No. 70008

    Class 70 No. 70008

    Built in 2009, Pennsylvania, USA. Courtesy of Freightliner

  • Class 20 No. 20007 and No. 20205

    Class 20 No. 20007 and No. 20205

    Courtesy of Romic

  • Class 37

    Class 37

    Courtesy of West Coast Railways

  • Class 47

    Class 47

    Courtesy of West Coast Railways

  • Class 57 No. 57003

    Class 57 No. 57003

    Rebuilt in 1998, Loughborough. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd

  • Class 60 No.60099

    Class 60 No.60099

    Courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group

  • Class 37 No. 37401 Mary Queen of Scots

    Class 37 No. 37401 Mary Queen of Scots

    Built 1965, Newton-le-Willows. Rebuilt 1985. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd

  • Class 43s

    Class 43s

    Two power cars. Courtesy of RailAdventure

  • Class 45 No. 45118 The Royal Artilleryman

    Class 45 No. 45118 The Royal Artilleryman

    Built 1962, Crewe. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd

  • Class 47 No. 47593 Galloway Princess

    Class 47 No. 47593 Galloway Princess

    Built 1965, Loughborough. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd

  • Class 57 No. 57307 Lady Penelope

    Class 57 No. 57307 Lady Penelope

    Built Loughborough, 1979. Rebuilt 2004. Courtesy of Direct Rail Services

  • Class 57/0

    Class 57/0

    Courtesy of West Coast Railways

  • Class 17 D8568

    Class 17 D8568

    Built in 1964, Burton upon Trent. Based out of Polmadie depot (today Alstom Glasgow Traincare Centre) from 1968 and withdrawn from commercial use in 1971. Courtesy of Diesel Traction Group

  • No.12 Sarah Siddons

    No.12 Sarah Siddons

    Built in 1923, Barrow-in-Furness. Courtesy of Transport for London

  • Class 85 No. 85006

    Class 85 No. 85006

    Built in 1961, Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Courtesy of AC Locomotive Group

  • Class 86 No. 86101 Sir William Stanier FRS

    Class 86 No. 86101 Sir William Stanier FRS

    Built in 1966, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd

  • Class 83 No. 83012

    Class 83 No. 83012

    Built in 1961, Newton-le-Willows. Courtesy of AC Locomotive Group

  • Class 87 No. 87002 Royal Sovereign

    Class 87 No. 87002 Royal Sovereign

    Built in 1973, Crewe. Courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd

  • Class 90 No. 90018

    Class 90 No. 90018

    Built in 1988, Crewe. Courtesy of Freightliner

  • Class 91 No. 91101 Flying Scotsman

    Class 91 No. 91101 Flying Scotsman

    Built in 1988, Crewe. Courtesy of London North Eastern Railway

  • Class 91 No. 91110 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

    Class 91 No. 91110 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

    Built in 1989, Crewe. Courtesy of London North Eastern Railway

  • Class 92 No. 92011

    Class 92 No. 92011

    Built in 1994, Loughborough. Courtesy of DB Cargo UK

  • Class 93

    Class 93

    Courtesy of Rail Operations Group

  • Class 423 No. 3417 Gordon Pettitt

    Class 423 No. 3417 Gordon Pettitt

    Built in 1967, York. Courtesy of The Bluebell Railway

  • Class 507 No. 507001

    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.

  •  Class 142 No. 142013

    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

  • Class 323 No. 323221

    Class 323 No. 323221

    Built in 1995, Leeds. Courtesy of Porterbrook

  • Class 465 No. 465908 Chris Green

    Class 465 No. 465908 Chris Green

    Built in 1991-1993, Birmingham. Courtesy of Southeastern

  • Class 390 Pendolino No. 390119 Progress

    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.

  • Class 720 Aventra No. 720506

    Class 720 Aventra No. 720506

    Provided by Greater Anglia. Built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works in 2022

  • Class 799 No. 799201

    Class 799 No. 799201

    Built in 2021, Wolverton. Courtesy of Porterbrook

  • LT 4TC set

    LT 4TC set

    Courtesy of Transport for London

  • Class 108 Nos. 51941 and 52064

    Class 108 Nos. 51941 and 52064

    Class 108, provided by DMU Group (West Midlands). Derby Litchurch Lane Works produced 333 of these units between 1958 and 1961

  • Class 331

    Class 331

    Courtesy of Northern Trains

  • Class 350

    Class 350

    Courtesy of London Northwestern Railway

  • Class 730

    Class 730

    Courtesy of London Northwestern Railway

  • Class 755

    Class 755

    Courtesy of Greater Anglia

  • LMS Inspection Saloon No. 45029

    LMS Inspection Saloon No. 45029

    Built in 1942, Wolverton. Courtesy of Transport for London

  • JNA-T Wagon

    JNA-T Wagon

    Courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group

  • IIA-D Biomass Hopper

    IIA-D Biomass Hopper

    Courtesy of Drax Group

  • Dovetail Games

    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

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

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.