In a spectacular celebration of rail history, Alstom’s historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works has set a new world record for the “World’s Largest Railway Festival.” The event, named “The Greatest Gathering,” was held from Friday, August 1, to Sunday, August 3, drawing nearly 40,000 visitors to witness an unprecedented collection of rail vehicles.
As a centerpiece of the nationwide “Railway 200” celebrations—marking 200 years since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway—the festival showcased over 140 iconic trains and exhibits spanning the past, present, and future of rail transport. The event was officially certified as a world record by the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY, solidifying its place in railway history.
“The Greatest Gathering” also marked a significant milestone for the city of Derby itself, as it was the first time in almost 50 years that the historic train factory opened its doors to the general public. Visitors were given a rare opportunity to explore the 90-acre site, which is recognized as one of the world’s largest rolling stock factories and the only UK facility that designs, engineers, and builds trains for both domestic and export markets.
The event, which was a tribute to Derby’s continuous legacy of train building since 1839, offered a wide range of exhibits, from historic steam engines to modern high-speed electric trains. The festival atmosphere, complete with model railway layouts, live music, and family-friendly activities, transformed the industrial site into a vibrant hub for rail enthusiasts and the general public alike, inspiring a new generation to appreciate the rich heritage and future of the railway.
