507001 joins Alstom’s Greatest Gathering
Posted on 5th November 2024 at 8:15 pm
We're pleased to share with you all that the Class 507 Preservation Society will be a part of the Railway 200 celebrations in 2025. Railway 200 is a year-long programme of events marking 200 years since the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened, considered by many to be the start of the modern railway era.
As part of Railway 200, Alstom UK will be hosting The Greatest Gathering at its Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, from 1st-3rd August 2025. This will see the largest temporary assembly of rolling stock and railway-related exhibits in a generation and is sure to attract visitors from far and wide.
We're excited to announce that 507001 will be one of the attractions at this once in a lifetime event, rubbing shoulders with some of the most iconic trains in British railway history.
Historians will also note that Derby Works was where the 507s' predecessors, the class 502s, were built, making the presence of a Merseyrail unit even more appropriate.
This means that 507001 will not be moving to the Tanat Valley Light Railway immediately. After withdrawal from service on Merseyrail, 001 will go to Litchurch Lane, where it will be looked after by our friends at Alstom until August 2025. TVLR are aware of the change in plans and are supportive.
We would like to offer our sincere thanks to Alstom for inviting us to be a part of their event and for offering to take care of 507001 between now and then.
More details about The Greatest Gathering will be announced in January. It is sure to be an event to remember!
