World leader in smart and sustainable mobility Alstomis set to host a unique event in Derby to celebrate the richness and future of railway history. Dubbed ‘The Greatest Gathering’, the three-day festival will be the largest ever gathering of historic and modern railway vehicles, showcasing their importance in railway history over the last 200 years. The event is an annual celebration of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825, which gave birth to the modern railway. Railway 200 part of the festivities.
The Attraction of Narrow Gauge Railways
Ahead of the “Greatest Meeting” to be held at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Ground in Derby, A railway track with a gauge of 2 ft (610 mm) This line will be built with the world's oldest narrow gauge locomotive, built in 1863. Princewill be able to carry passengers on the original carriages of the Ffestiniog Railway. A team of volunteers from Alstom will build the demonstration line in collaboration with the Ffestiniog Railway and Statfold Stable Railway.
Prince was recently refurbished to take part in the 200th anniversary celebrations of both Railway 70 and the Ffestiniog Railway. An important part of the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway since its delivery 160 years ago, Prince was in fact the first steam locomotive to operate on Welsh railways when it was saved from closure 70 years ago. After the event, Prince will return to his home in North Wales to recreate the first steps in preserving the UK’s railways.
Narrow gauge railwayis a type of railway where the rail gauge is less than the normal 4 ft 8 ½ in (1.435 mm) standard gauge. An important part of the railway story of the last 200 years has been that of the many and varied small gauge railways, which carried goods and passengers, often over more difficult terrain than their larger, standard gauge cousins. In Britain alone, there were over a thousand narrow gauge railways, serving everything from slate pits to seaside resorts. These lines were often the lifeblood of the communities they served, and many have since become beloved heritage attractions.
The locomotive that will accompany the Prince on the show circuit is the last narrow-gauge steam locomotive produced for industrial use in Britain in 1971. Trangkil No. 4 Built in Leeds and exported for use at the Trangkil Sugar Mills in Indonesia, the locomotive returned to the UK in 2004, where it became part of the Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth.
Minimum Gauge Railways and Accessibility
In addition to the 2ft railway line, the UK's biggest railway celebration will feature a design inspired by Sir Arthur Heywood's experimental railway at Duffield Bank near Derby, A railroad track with a minimum gauge of 15 inches (381 mm) will also be presented. The first locomotive of this line, Katie, was built by Sir Arthur for the Eaton Hall Railway in 1896 and is now owned by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Preservation Society. Katie was given a tour of the Exmoor Steam Railway, built over 100 years later and operated on Litchurch Lane. Anne The minimum gauge railway will also feature an adapted carriage that can offer level boarding for those with mobility difficulties, while the rail itself will be sourced from Cleethorpes Coastal Light Railway.
Program and Exhibitions of the “Greatest Meeting”
“The Biggest Meeting”, Friday, August 1, Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3, 2025 will take place at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Site in Derby on . Britain’s oldest surviving train factory, it is a showcase of the past, present and future of railways. More than 50 railway vehicle exhibits will host the event, and the site itself will be opened to the public for the first time in almost 50 years.
In addition to the heroes of the narrow-gauge train, Locomotion No. 1, LNER Class A4 Sir Nigel Gresley and standard gauge train legends such as the world's fastest diesel locomotive are also confirmed to participate in the event.
Miniature Railways and Engineers of the Future
Visitors can also view models of what are usually categorized as full-size prototypes miniature railways They will dive into the world of For example, Derby Model and Experimental Engineers Association and a show Ground Level 5” Gauge Main Line Union (GL5), will take place along the length of one of Litchurch Lane's huge workshops.
Elsewhere, participants Railway Struggle – Organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (iMechE) – it will showcase the skills, expertise, knowledge and business acumen of rising stars in the rail industry. The event, now in its 14th year, requires participants to design and build a 10 ¼” gauge railway locomotive to a strict set of rules and a detailed technical specification. Derby University students, together with Alstom apprentices and graduates Derby Express and will be presenting at the ‘Biggest Meeting’ next to the University of Sheffield’s locomotive.
