A global leader in smart and sustainable mobility Alstom, one of the most iconic pieces of railway history The 200-year-old steam locomotive Locomotion No. 1, announced that it will take part in the “The Greatest Gathering” exhibition to be held in 2025. This exhibition, Celebrations of the National Railway Museum's 50th anniversary It will take place alongside other historically important railway vehicles in the UK National Collection.
Historical Meeting Within the Scope of Railway 200 Celebrations
“The Greatest Gathering” event, Celebrating the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825 and the birth of modern railways It is being held as part of a year-long celebration programme called “Railway 200”. Locomotion No. 1 was the first locomotive to run on the S&DR and the first company in the world to be established specifically to manufacture railway engines, based in Newcastle Robert Stephenson and Company It was built by Robert Stephenson and Company. Through successive mergers, Robert Stephenson and Company became part of Alstom in 1989. This historic link gives Alstom a direct link to the dawn of the railway and a mission to be the custodian of a unique heritage.
Managing Director of Alstom UK and Ireland Rob Whyte“We are thrilled that Locomotion No. 1 will join an unprecedented roster of historic and modern rolling stock at The Greatest Gathering. It is nothing short of poetic that one of Britain’s oldest steam locomotives will stand proudly in the same factory where some of Britain’s newest trains are designed, engineered, built and tested.” Whyte thanked the National Railway Museum and other partners in the UK rail industry for supporting this huge event for Railway 200 and added that they were looking forward to welcoming ticket holders to Britain’s biggest celebration of rail.
Britain's Biggest Railway Celebration: The Greatest Gathering
“The Greatest Gathering”, Friday 1st August, Saturday 2nd August and Sunday 3rd August 2025 at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Ground in Derby The site, Britain’s largest and oldest surviving railway plant, will be opened to the public for the first time in almost 50 years. The event will showcase the railway’s past, present and future. More than 50 railway vehicle exhibits will host.
In this special event, a Derby-built steam locomotive from the National Collection, Locomotion No. 1 Midland Railway 1000 Class No. 1000 Designed by Samuel Waite Johnson and built in 1902, this locomotive was selected for preservation in 1951. No. 1000 was the first steam locomotive to arrive at Litchurch Lane ahead of “The Greatest Gathering”. It is also the first production Class 37 diesel heritage Alstom locomotive D6700's It was previously confirmed that the D1959 would also be attending the event. Manufactured in 6700, the DXNUMX was preserved as part of the National Collection after being withdrawn from service and is still operational.
Statements from the Director of the Railway Museum
Director of the National Railway Museum Craig Bentley“The Greatest Gathering promises to be a milestone event in this historic year for the railways. We are delighted to be able to showcase these historically significant vehicles from three distinct eras of locomotive design, from the early days of passenger travel through the golden age of steam and the transition from steam to diesel,” he said.
The National Railway Museum is based in York and has a sister site, Locomotion, in Shildon, County Durham. The museum is part of the Science Museum GroupThe National Collection holds around 280 pieces of railway vehicles. Locomotion No. 1 is currently at Locomotion and will be leaving the North East of England for the first time in a century to join this special exhibition. The museum also plans to sell special items to commemorate Locomotion No. 1’s participation in The Greatest Gathering.
