The Greatest Gathering has now concluded, with over 37,000 people attending Alstom's Derby Litchurch Lane works to see the over 100 items of rolling stock that were assembled to celebrate 200 years since the birth of the modern railway. Check out our highlights from this outstanding event.
Above: Heralding the start of The Greatest Gathering was Direct Rail Services Class 57 57309 Lady Penelope, which hauled a Branch Line Society railtour hauling Class 390 Pendelino 390119 Progress. This initiated The Greatest Gathering preview event, held on the evening of Thursday July 31 for the press and invited guests. Ben Church.
Above: Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' 35028 Clan Line was one of several locomotives to be in steam at the event, with visitors able to enter the cab and blow the whistle. Jonathan Newton.
Above: The Class 720s were built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works by Alstom and are used by Greater Anglia and c2c, both of which have recently been brought into public ownership ahead of the formation of Great British Railways. Jonathan Newton.
Above: LORAM's unusual looking and compact RGX Track Grinder was constructed at Derby, and is intended for both domestic and overseas use. Ben Church.
Above: 58023 Leicester Depot is currently the only operational Class 58 and made its preservation debut at the Severn Valley Railway's Spring Diesel Festival in October 2024. Ben Church.
Above: A trio of shunting engines (from right to left) Class 08 08721 Ken Davies, Hydrogen Shunter H3802 and 08e 08308 Positive Traction demonstrate the extraordinarily long lives that BR's humble 08 shunters have enjoyed, with the near two locomotives extensively modified to operate via electric and hydrogen respectively. Jonathan Newton.
Above: LMS 'Black Five' 44932 and LNER 'A3' 60103 Flying Scotsman were just some of the mainline registered steam traction that appeared at the event, visitors could ride behind selected steam engines on a short demonstration line. Jonathan Newton.
Above: The latest liveries were on shown with contrasting colour scheme standing side by side. GBRf Class 69 69016 British Transport Police (right) shows off its recently applied colour scheme to promote the BTP's text number in the company of Freightliner Class 70 70008 which carries its operator's 60th anniversary green livery. Ben Church.
Above: The powerful lines of the GWR's 'King' 4-6-0 is showcased by 6023 King Edward II, wearing BR express passenger blue. It is one of only three of its class to be preserved, and during the process of restoration at the Didcot Railway Centre, was restored to original single chimney configuration. Jonathan Newton.
Above: Old and new contrast as the Locomotion No. 1 replica stands next to new build BR Standard Class 3 2-6-2T 82045. 82045 is being built at the Severn Valley Railway by the 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust and is at an advanced stage of construction. It is expected to become the next new build steam locomotive to be completed. Jonathan Newton.
Above: DB Cargo's 66004 is decorated in a unique bright green livery with 'I am a climate hero.' branding to highlight the freight operator's trials of Hydrotreated Vegitable Oil (HVO) rather than diesel to reduce emissions. Ben Church.
Above: Class 37 37401 Mary Queen of Scots wearing ScotRail livery stands beside 47739 in GB Railfreight livery. These two locomotives were built in the 1960s and continue in regular mainline use with Locomotive Services Limited and GBRf repsectively. Ben Church.
Above: LMS 'Jubilee' 45596 Bahamas was the last of five members of its class to be fitted with the double chimney, Bahamas receiving this modification in 1961. It is due to make its last appearance before overhaul at the Great Central Railway Autumn Steam Gala in early October. Ben Church.
Above: The sole-surviving Clayton Type 1 D5868 is all that is left of the 117 strong class that was sadly not successful in service. Built from 1962 to 1965, the entire class disappeared from BR service by 1971 with D8568 surviving into preservation through a short career in industrial use. Ben Church.
Above: Freightliner repainted Class 90 90018 ahead of The Greatest Gathering in a brand-new colour scheme to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025. It was named The Greatest Gathering on Saturday August 2 2025 during the Alstom event. Ben Church.
Above: Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' 35018 British India Line is part of West Coast Railways' fleet of steam locomotives. 35018 was the first of Oliver Bulleid's air-smoothed 'Merchant Navy' class to be rebuilt in 1956. Ultimately the programme saw all 30 'Merchant Navys' and 60 of the smaller Bulleid 'Light Pacifics' rebuilt in a more conventional form by BR to ease operations. Ben Church.
Above: Class 373 power car 3999 and Class 43 power car 43004 Carephilly Castle demonstrate the varying forms of high-speed traction in the UK, with both types still seeing regular use in the UK. Ben Church.
Above: Class 42 'Warship' D821 Greyhound is a survivor from BR's 20 years with diesel hydraulic traction from the mid-1950s until the mid-1970s, with these Swindon built machines drawing much influence from the German Railways V200 class. Ben Church.
Above: LNER Peppercorn 'A2' 60532 Blue Peter is the only surviving LNER Peppercorn 'A2' 4-6-2. It returned to mainline running standards in 2024 with Locomotive Services Limited and currently carries BR lined blue - a livery it never carried in BR service. Ben Church.
Above: The vastness of the Derby site is seen as G Shop dwarfs the Midland Railway Compound 4-4-0 1000 and a Bombardier 'Voyager' DEMU seen in the background. The Midland Compound had returned to its birth town of Derby for the first time in 50 years and is normally resident at the National Railway Museum in York. Ben Church.
Above: Stadler's Class 93 Tri-Mode 'Bo-Bo' locomotives built for Rail Operations group will provide the company with a versetile, reliable platform for the future. The first ten have been built with mainline testing currently underway. Ben Church.
Above: The new build Class 23 'Baby Deltic' is being created using an original T9-29 Napier Deltic engine and a repurposed Class 37 bodyshell together with Class 20 bogies flew the flag for new build diesels at the event. Ben Church.
Above: The travelling Rail 200 Inspiration train attended the event, with attendies able to explore the exhibits inside. Both of the Class 66s which haul the train were given names at the event, 66710 was named Karen Harrison and 66719 was named Michael Portillo. Ben Church.
Above: 'Skinhead' Class 31 31108 is presented wearing BR Railfreight grey livery. The early built Class 31s lacked the headcode box fitted on top of the cab, and gained the nickname 'Skinheads' as a result. Ben Church.
Above: Class 26 26007 was the first of the BRCW Type 2s to be built in 1958 and was originally numbered D5300. The class had a strong association with the Scottish Region of BR, with the 47 strong class remaining in service until 1994. 26007 is normally based at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. Ben Church.
Above: Two of the Class 50 Alliance locomotives were given unique vinyl wraps for The Greatest Gathering. 50035 carried So. Many. Trains and 50044 carried Its Here - The Greatest Gathering. Mike Wild.
Above: Southeastern set Network SouthEast liveried Class 465 465908 to the event. It was one of a number of multiple units displayed in the running shed along with examples of the Class 313, 455 and 507. Mike Wild.
Above: It wasn't just railway exhibits at The Greatest Gathering. Network Rail's helicopter was flown in for the weekend and stands in the company of DB Cargo UK's Class 66 66004.
Above: DCRail completed the repaint of 56301 in original BR blue ahead of the event. The repaint included restoration of its original number, 56045, and early Doncaster horn grilles. Mike Wild.
Above: Electric Avenue at The Greatest Gathering played host to a collection of AC overhead electrics including LSL's Class 87 87002 (left) and Class 86 86101. The line up also included the unique Class 89, a Class 91, 92, 83 and 85. Mike Wild.
Above: Modern liveries were on display across the weekend including Drax gold Class 66 66301, DB Cargo green 66004, Freightliner Class 59 59201 and Freightliner Class 70 70008. Mike Wild.
Above: LNER's newly liveried Class 91 91150 (91105) which celebrates 50 years of the National Railway Museum was a late addition to The Greatest Gathering line up. Mike Wild.
