All aboard for The Greatest Gathering!
Posted on 31st July 2025 at 5:07 pm
It’s been nine months since we shared the exciting news that 507001 would be attending The Greatest Gathering, the largest assembly of trains and railway-related exhibits in a generation.
Since then, we have been working hard behind the scenes to make sure your favourite EMU is ready for the 12,500 visitors who will pass through Alstom’s works at Derby Litchurch Lane over the three days. If you follow us on social media, you will have seen our regular updates as we have fixed minor defects on the unit and given it a thorough clean inside and out, ensuring it is in its best possible condition.
What better way to cool off in the hot weather than a nice shower? Team 507 were at Derby yesterday, continuing the work of cleaning 507001 ready for The Greatest Gathering.
— Class 507 Preservation (@class507.org.uk) June 22, 2025 at 12:43 PM
It’s been a long wait, but the time is nearly here and we are ready to show off 507001 to the world this weekend, from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd August.
Please note: tickets are sold out. Please don’t fall for scams online claiming to have tickets for sale, as you will only be disappointed. There is an official ticket resale site at seetickets.com – this is the only way to get tickets now.
The site is open from 10am to 4pm each day. Before you travel, we recommend you check out all the information on The Greatest Gathering website. In particular, the section “Ahead of your visit to Litchurch Lane” contains essential information on getting to the event, a what’s on guide and essential health and safety information. We strongly recommend you read it.
There are plenty of trains to see, but if you want to head straight for 507001, you will find it among the “Indoor Rolling Stock exhibits” in V Shop as shown on the above map. We will have a driving car open to the public with a display of artefacts from 50 years of Merseyrail history, and information boards explaining the train’s role in the development of Merseyside’s transport network. Be sure to visit the cab for a chance to sit in the driver’s seat!
Simulator and pit tours
Our simulator will be available in the History, Heritage & Preservation Zone (see below), offering you the chance to take the controls of a class 507.
We will also be offering pit tours, taking you into the inspection pit underneath 507001, with a guide explaining what the equipment does. It’s a side of 507001 that few people outside Birkenhead North depot have ever seen! (Due to health and safety requirements, children under 10 cannot do the pit tours, and older children must be accompanied by an adult).
Because we expect demand to be high, we will be operating a timed ticket system for both the pit tours and simulator, to minimise queues and the risk of disappointment. Please see a member of Team 507 to enquire about getting a free ticket for your time slot. For the pit tours, tickets will be available from the team aboard 507001. For the simulator, get your ticket from the sales stand. Tickets will only be made available at the beginning of each day (so you can’t get a ticket for Sunday on Friday, for example). Also, to avoid disadvantaging people who arrive later in the day, we will be releasing tickets in two batches. For time slots after 1.00pm, tickets will become available at 12.30pm.
Both the simulator and pit tours are free of charge, but if you enjoy them we would be grateful for a donation.
Other attractions
Outside the train, a camshaft will be set up to give demonstrations. You will be able to see how the 507 and similar electric trains used these devices to control the traction motors in the pre-electronics era.
Also on show will be “Dial-a-Destination”, a cusotmer information display from a 507 rigged up to a test unit to demonstrate how the system works. You will be able to program in the destination of your choice and set up the display just as Merseyrail train crew did.
Where do you want to go today? Dial-a-Destination, at The Greatest Gathering!
— Class 507 Preservation (@class507.org.uk) July 30, 2025 at 8:59 PM
And there’s still more! In the History, Heritage & Preservation Zone in U shop, we will have our stand with our range of souvenirs available. As well as existing items such as our 2026 calendar, we have a new mug design, t-shirts, and much more. Be sure to stop by to get that all-important memento of your day.
Members of Team 507 will be on hand aboard 507001 and at our stand, to answer any questions and talk all things 507 with visitors. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
