Alstom to host Britain’s biggest rail celebration as part of Railway 200

On Friday, August 1st, Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Site in Derby will open to the public for the first time in over 50 years for the weekend. Britain’s biggest and oldest remaining train factory will be home to more than 50 rolling stock exhibits from the past, present and future of the railways.

The event forms part of the wider Railway 200 festivities, a year-long celebration marking the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on September 27th, 1825.

Senior figures from the rail industry attended the launch event on Thursday, January 30th, enjoying speeches from Gian Luca Erbacci, Europe Region President at Alstom, Emma Roberts, Programme Manager at Railway 200 and Baggy Shanker, Labour MP for Derby South. His Majesty’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Colonel John Wilson OBE DL, was also present, alongside legendary music and rail enthusiast Pete Waterman, and John Smith OBE, Chief Executive Officer at GB Railfreight.

Historic locomotives – representing steam, diesel and electric traction – were exhibited at Litchurch Lane on the eve of tickets going on sale, and which will appear at The Greatest Gathering in August (or examples from the same in class):

• 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, built 1945. Preserved Southern Railway steam locomotive, owned and 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 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

Alongside displays of historic and modern, mainline locomotives, Britain’s biggest rail celebration will also feature rides along Derby’s test track and a variety of narrow-gauge trains will be in operation. Fairground attractions, street food and live music will also add to the festival feel.

Elsewhere, layouts staged by some of the biggest names in model railways – including a section of Pete Waterman’s record-breaking Railnuts layout – will take centre stage in the Model Railway Village, while historians and industry leaders will take part in engaging talks and discussions in the Mobility Theatre. Thousands of visitors are expected to be welcomed over the three days.

Alongside a brand new Derby-built Class 720 Aventra unit for Greater Anglia (720503), passenger operator Avanti West Coast also showcased one of their nine-car Pendolino sets. Further marking this milestone year, Alstom-built 390016 was named ‘Railway 200’ and renumbered 390200 at the launch event. 

Tickets are now on sale at www.alstom.com/greatest-gathering priced at £30 for adults and £15 for children (ages five to 15), with a family ticket (two adults and two children) costing £65 – plus booking fees. Children under five go free.

All 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.

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