Railway 200 : The Greatest Gathering of Locomotives

All aboard! Come and celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway at The Greatest Gathering this summer. Look forward to the country's biggest gathering of trains and rail-related exhibits ever, hosted by Alstom's historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works, open to the general public for the first time in 50 years. With 2025 marking 200 years since the UK's first passenger service, this fantastic event showcases 50 iconic locomotives from the past, present and future of our railways, from the LNER Class A4 Sir Nigel Gresley, Merchant Navy Class British India Line and Class 50 Defiance right through to the 2024-built Class 720 Aventra. Featuring rides along Derby's test track, unique entertainment, miniature trains in operation and more, don't miss this once-in-a-generation celebration of British rail!What's Included?
Includes- Return coach travel- Overnight stay at a selected hotel (JG3 or JG4 rating) with dinner & breakfast- Admission to The Greatest Gathering

Itinerary
ItineraryDay 1 - ArrivalFrom a morning pickup in your local area we travel by coach to our hotel, arriving in time for dinner.Day 2 - Railway 200: The Greatest GatheringAfter breakfast at the hotel, we make our way to Alstom's historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works, where we spend the day at the spectacular Greatest Gathering event as part of the Railway 200 celebrations. Open to the public for the first time in 50 years, discover this historic train factory and take the chance to see over 50 iconic locomotives that represent the past, present and future of British railways. Rides along Derby's test track, miniature trains, unique entertainment, fairground attractions, street food, live music and more all add to the celebratory festival feel. In the late afternoon we re-join the coach and head for home.Hotel
Selected HotelJG3 or JG4 ratingWe'll stay at a well-appointed hotel (JG3 or JG4 rating). All rooms are en suite and other facilities include a bar and restaurant.Your hotel will be confirmed approximately 3 weeks before departure, therefore we cannot guarantee that the hotel will have a lift and/or ground floor rooms and may be unsuitable for those with limited mobility.Hotel RatingJG3 ratingHotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service.JG4 ratingAccommodation in our JG4 category is of an even higher standard, typically offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms are designed to make your stay the most comfortable possible and the staff provide a service that reflects the detail and quality. You can also expect higher standards of food and beverages.