Alstom hosts The Greatest Gathering event to celebrate 200 years of railway
Alstom's Litchurch Lane site in Derby is opening it's site to the public for the first time in 50 years for the greatest gathering event which is sold out.
Derby Litchurch Lane Works 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.
The event will feature more than 100 vehicles from the past, present and future.
Organisers have said it will be the largest temporary gathering of trains and rail exhibits in a generation featuring the world's most famous steam locomotives, the Flying Scotsman.
It's part of wider celebrations for the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825.
Campaigners will also be calling for funding to extend the electrification of the midland mainline, a rail project they say will create thousands of jobs, boost regional transport capacity, improve rail services and cut climate emissions.
They are urging the government to switch the cash from destructive road schemes like the A38 expansion in Derby to rail electrification.
Groups from across the East Midlands will be campaigning outside Litchurch Lane in Derby on Friday and Saturday 2 August.
What's the history of the railway in the Midlands?
The Midlands Counties Railway formed in 1832, played a key role in connecting key cities like Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
It was formed through merging several companies including Midlands counties and later incorporated the Birmingham and Derby Junction railway.
In the 20th century, the Midland Railway was absorbed into the London Midland and Scottish railway in 1923.
The Midland main line saw significant changes and the eventual restructuring into franchises like East Midlands Railway.
The future of the railway
HS2 have also revealed the concept designs for the interior of it's class 85 high speed trains at the event.
Visitors are able to have a guided tour of a life size model carriage which is fitted to demonstrate the concept design for HS2's new trains.
Once in operation, the trains will be developed at a depot in Birmingham and it's estimated this will create 2,500 jobs across the midlands and north.
The fleet has been built under a 2 billion pound contract awarded in 2021 to the Alstom High Speed joint venture, the project spans three manufacturing centres which includes Derby.
The Alstom site in the city is fitting out the interior for the HS2 trains.
All profits from The Greatest Gathering 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 railway heritage partners.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Fire brigade called out to rescue Flying Scotsman in Kettering
A fire service described refilling the Flying Scotsman with water as "one of our more unusual call-outs".The famous steam engine was en route to the Greatest Gathering rail event in Derby on Saturday when it had to stop at sidings in Fire and Rescue said it was called after the locomotive's road water tanker broke a social media post, it said one of its carrier vehicles was called after "quick thinking from a Network Rail employee on board" the train. The Greatest Gathering was hosted by train manufacturer Alstom from Friday to than 140 locomotives and railway vehicles were on display as part of Railway 200, a year-long commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the world's first passenger railway fire service said its crews "were proud to assist with a very special operation"."A great example of teamwork across services to keep history steaming ahead," it added. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
The Greatest Gathering festival organiser hails 'resounding success'
Historic and high-speed modern trains have been leaving Derby after a major festival for enthusiasts of rail travel over the than 140 locomotives and railway vehicles were on display as part of The Greatest Gathering, including famous vehicles such as the Flying three-day event was held as part of Railway 200, a year-long commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the world's first passenger railway more than 40,000 people - including some from as far as New Zealand - steamed into Derby for the festivities, organiser Ben Goodwin said: "I think it's safe to say it's been a resounding success." Billed as "the world's largest-ever collection of historic and modern rolling stock", The Greatest Gathering took place at train manufacturer Alstom's Litchurch Lane Works, the first time it opened its doors to the public in nearly 50 Goodwin said he had been overwhelmed "by reams and reams of just beautiful, wonderful comments"."I've never seen anything like it - the positivity and the love has just been phenomenal," he said."I'm just proud of everyone who's involved."Despite the success of this year's event, Mr Goodwin said it will be some time before an event of a similar magnitude is explained that Alstom was "back to building trains", adding the firm is "simply going to be too busy in the factory" to take on the responsibility of a repeat event."It was a labour of love, but it was very, very difficult - a very small team of us worked on it," he said."I think it was a unique moment in time, something that we're all incredibly proud of."Here in Derby, we hosted the world's largest-ever gathering of modern and historic rolling stock - what an achievement."For me, I don't think my career will ever be topped by this, I'm just blessed to be able to be part of the team that organised this."
ITV News
01-08-2025
- ITV News
Alstom hosts The Greatest Gathering event to celebrate 200 years of railway
Thousands of people are expected to come to Derby this weekend to an event which will celebrate 200 years of the modern railway. Alstom's Litchurch Lane site in Derby is opening it's site to the public for the first time in 50 years for the greatest gathering event which is sold out. Derby Litchurch Lane Works 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. The event will feature more than 100 vehicles from the past, present and future. Organisers have said it will be the largest temporary gathering of trains and rail exhibits in a generation featuring the world's most famous steam locomotives, the Flying Scotsman. It's part of wider celebrations for the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825. Campaigners will also be calling for funding to extend the electrification of the midland mainline, a rail project they say will create thousands of jobs, boost regional transport capacity, improve rail services and cut climate emissions. They are urging the government to switch the cash from destructive road schemes like the A38 expansion in Derby to rail electrification. Groups from across the East Midlands will be campaigning outside Litchurch Lane in Derby on Friday and Saturday 2 August. What's the history of the railway in the Midlands? The Midlands Counties Railway formed in 1832, played a key role in connecting key cities like Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. It was formed through merging several companies including Midlands counties and later incorporated the Birmingham and Derby Junction railway. In the 20th century, the Midland Railway was absorbed into the London Midland and Scottish railway in 1923. The Midland main line saw significant changes and the eventual restructuring into franchises like East Midlands Railway. The future of the railway HS2 have also revealed the concept designs for the interior of it's class 85 high speed trains at the event. Visitors are able to have a guided tour of a life size model carriage which is fitted to demonstrate the concept design for HS2's new trains. Once in operation, the trains will be developed at a depot in Birmingham and it's estimated this will create 2,500 jobs across the midlands and north. The fleet has been built under a 2 billion pound contract awarded in 2021 to the Alstom High Speed joint venture, the project spans three manufacturing centres which includes Derby. The Alstom site in the city is fitting out the interior for the HS2 trains. All profits from The Greatest Gathering 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 railway heritage partners.
