Living up to its name

RICHARD WILCOCK joins the thousands at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane facility to celebrate 200 years of railway history

‘Black Five’ No. 44932, ‘A3’ No. 60103 ...

Ben Ando is the founder of Revolution Trains and a regular contributor to Model Rail .

It’s been billed as ‘The Glastonbury of Railways’ and the largest collection of historic and contemporary railway vehicles ever assembled. But how did it originate, and what was involved in putting it together? GARY ESSEX looks at the background and logistics of holding The Greatest Gathering.

ABOVE: On June 2, 1980, 20066 hauls a coal train from Markam Colliery formed of mineral wagons and hoppers at Barrow Hill, having just come off the line from Hall Lane Junction and Seymour Junction. C

There’s no escaping it. The issue with charter trains, and why they cost so much to run, is the lack of decent, suitable and accessible rolling stock. There is also a definite lack of really nice coac