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foto: Philip Warner / Alstom/The Derby Express for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Steam, history, and future tech collide in Derby as Alstom kicks off The Greatest Gathering. Part of Railway 200, the event brings 200 years of British railway evolution to life — from 19th-century narrow-gauge icons to cutting-edge rolling stock.
Alstom is preparing to mark a historic milestone with The Greatest Gathering, a three-day festival at its Litchurch Lane site in Derby, celebrating 200 years of railway history as part of the UK’s Railway 200 festivities. According to Alstom, the event will bring together more than 50 rolling stock exhibits from the past, present, and future, offering the public unprecedented access to Britain’s oldest remaining train factory for the first time in nearly 50 years.
As reported by Alstom, a major highlight of the event will be the showcase of narrow-gauge steam locomotives, bringing to life a vital yet often overlooked chapter of railway development. Narrow-gauge railways—those with track widths smaller than the standard 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)—once served crucial roles in transporting goods and passengers across more challenging terrain. Britain alone saw the operation of more than a thousand such railways, from slate quarries to seaside resorts, many of which have since become beloved heritage railways.
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Narrow-Gauge Legends Take Center Stage
Among the centrepieces of the exhibition will be Prince, the oldest operating narrow-gauge steam locomotive in the world, originally built in 1863 for the Ffestiniog Railway. According to Alstom, Prince will operate along a newly installed 2 ft (610 mm) demonstration track laid directly on the Litchurch Lane site. Visitors will be able to ride behind the locomotive in original Ffestiniog carriages, experiencing the historic charm firsthand. After the festival, Prince will return to North Wales, where it will continue its role in the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway.
Joining Prince on the 2 ft track will be Trangkil No. 4, the last commercially-built steam locomotive for industrial use in the UK, constructed in 1971 by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds. Originally built for Indonesia's Trangkil Sugar Mill, Trangkil No. 4 returned to the UK in 2004 and now resides as part of the Statfold Barn Railway collection.
Extending the Experience with Minimum-Gauge Railways
The event will also feature a fully operational 15-inch (381 mm) gauge railway, inspired by Sir Arthur Heywood’s experimental railway at Duffield Bank near Derby. Among its rolling stock will be Katie, built in 1896 for the Eaton Hall Railway, now operated by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Preservation Society, and Anne, a much newer locomotive built by Exmoor Steam Railway, currently in service at Perrygrove Railway.
This minimum-gauge line will include an adapted carriage with level boarding for mobility-impaired visitors. The track for this section is being provided by the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, demonstrating the widespread use of 15-inch gauge systems across the UK today.
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Miniature Railways and Engineering Showcases Complete the Festival
Beyond the narrow and minimum-gauge operations, Alstom will offer visitors a comprehensive look into miniature railways, featuring a 5-inch gauge ridable railway operated by the Derby Society of Model and Experimental Engineers, along with a display from the Ground Level 5” Gauge Main Line Association (GL5) inside one of the site’s massive workshops.
Further emphasizing the engineering future of the rail sector, students from the University of Derby and apprentices from Alstom itself will present The Derby Express as part of the Railway Challenge, organized by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (iMechE). The competition requires participants to design and build 10 ¼-inch gauge locomotives that meet strict technical specifications, providing valuable hands-on experience to the next generation of railway engineers.
A Landmark Event in Railway Heritage
As Alstom points out, The Greatest Gathering will not only feature narrow-gauge heroes but also standard-gauge icons such as Locomotion No. 1, LNER Class A4 Sir Nigel Gresley, and the world’s fastest diesel locomotive. Together, these exhibits will tell the complete story of 200 years of railway innovation in Britain.
Scheduled to take place on 1–3 August 2025, Alstom’s event is set to be the world’s largest-ever display of historic and modern rolling stock. With its blend of history, innovation, and accessibility, The Greatest Gathering promises to serve as a fitting centrepiece for the UK’s Railway 200 celebrations.
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Source: Alstom