Alstom has announced that its record-breaking Railway 200 event, The Greatest Gathering, has raised over £100,000 for good causes.
The world’s largest-ever gathering of historic and modern trains was held at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works in the UK between Friday 1 and Sunday 3 August 2025. More than 40,000 rail fans got to witness in excess of 140 rail vehicles at Alstom’s biggest rolling stock factory, while millions more enjoyed the award-winning festival virtually around the world.
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, The Greatest Gathering also marked the first time in almost 50 years that the Derby site had opened to the public.
“Raising over £100,000 is an outstanding result and a testament to the generosity of railfans, partners and the hundreds of volunteers who made The Greatest Gathering possible. We’re proud that these funds will support national charities and the heritage organisations that keep Britain’s railway story alive,” said Andy Butters, managing director Derby Litchurch Lane Works at Alstom.
He added: “Opening our Litchurch Lane Works to the public for the first time in almost 50 years was a special moment for Derby, Alstom and the wider industry. It allowed us to celebrate two centuries of innovation made here, across the country and around the world, and this fundraising milestone shows how powerfully our railway heritage continues to inspire.”
On Monday 8 December, The Greatest Gathering Organising Committee presented a giant cheque, signifying the more than £100,000 raised from the event’s ticket sales, vendor fees and merchandise. Revenues will now be split between Railway 200’s five chosen charities – Alzheimer’s Research UK, Railway Benefit Fund, Railway Children, Railway Mission and Transport Benevolent Fund CIO – alongside more than 50 railway heritage organisations that took part in the event itself.
“We are immensely proud to have been included in this once-in-a-lifetime, record-breaking event, and we share this moment in history with the fantastic organising team. Supporting the railway family will always be our priority, and the proceeds raised will directly allow us to give the people behind the UK’s railways and their families a helping hand when they face difficult challenges, such as illness, injury or financial hardship. This will make a real difference right away,” said Jo Kaye, chief executive officer of the Railway Benefit Fund.
She added: “Finally, thank you again to Alstom and the organising team for creating an event that will inspire the next generation, showcasing the incredible community and encouraging young people to become the railway talent of tomorrow.”
Official artwork
At the same time as the fundraising announcement, The Greatest Gathering’s official artwork – a large oil painting by the event’s artist in residence, Tim O’Brien – went on display for the first time. The Nottinghamshire artist attended the entire festival where he worked ‘en plein air’ – the practice of painting outdoors – and his finished piece captures, in meticulous detail, the rolling stock and diverse groups of people that made Alstom’s festival so special.
More than 500 Alstom colleagues volunteered as part of The Greatest Gathering, with many of them coming along to the grand unveiling of the official artwork in J shop; a large, open-plan office space situated at the heart of Alstom’s 90-acre Derby site. The painting proudly sits below a large aluminium train headboard, designed, manufactured and finished for the festival by Chesterfield-based Newton Castings.
The artwork was unveiled by legendary music producer and rail enthusiast, Pete Waterman OBE. As well as bringing his 64 ft-long OO gauge Making Tracks 3 model layout to The Greatest Gathering, he is also Charity President of the Railway Benefit Fund. Furthermore, Pete can even be spotted in Tim’s painting, alongside other UK household names such as broadcaster and former politician Michael Portillo and journalist and presenter Jeremy Vine, who also attended The Greatest Gathering. The artist even captured the colourful participants of the world’s first Pride parade on a train, which took place on the Saturday of the three-day festival.
Class 507
Following the presentation in J shop, Alstom colleagues were invited to visit the site’s 1.6 km-long Test Track, where they became among the first people to ride in preservation on one of the exhibits from The Greatest Gathering, former Merseyrail Class 507, No. 507001.
507001 carried Queen Elizabeth II when she officially opened the Merseyrail network in 1978. After a 46-year career, the unit retired in November 2024 before being bought by the Class 507 Preservation Society for just £1. Volunteers and Alstom apprentices are carefully restoring the three-carriage train before it moves to a permanent home. The Class 507 Preservation Society will also receive a portion of The Greatest Gathering proceeds to help their heritage work going forward.
Award-winning event
Last month, The Greatest Gathering secured two national awards; a Project Team Award at the RailStaff Awards 2025 and the Star Team Award at the Railway Benefit Fund’s 2025 Heart of Gold Awards. Looking ahead, The Greatest Gathering has been nominated for two Rail Business Awards, and has been shortlisted for Festival or Event of the Year in the Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards. Alstom’s charity extravaganza has also been nominated for the Steam Railway Magazine Award as part of the Heritage Railway Association (HRA) Annual Awards 2026.
Image credit: Alstom
