Today marks the beginning of Alstom’s sold-out charity event, the Greatest Gathering, which takes place at its rolling stock factory on Litchurch Lane in Derby.
The event, which forms part of a year-long celebration of Railway 200, runs from 1–3 August, and will see the largest gathering of rolling stock from the past, future and present the world has ever seen.
One of the heritage locomotives on site this weekend is the LNER A2 No. 60532 Blue Peter steam locomotive, the only Peppercorn A2 left in existence.
Built at Doncaster Works in 1948; Blue Peter was built in accordance with an Arthur Peppercorn design and first entered operation along the East Coast Main Line.
Operating an express passenger service, the locomotive was allocated to Scotland in 1949 following an initial stint in York.
Blue Peter was saved for preservation by Geoff Drury in 1968 and has undergone a number of overhauls since its retirement, with the latest completed by Locomotive Services Ltd.
As of July 2024, the locomotive has returned to main line duties under its own steam power, with its display at the Greatest Gathering coming courtesy of Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust.
Other heritage trains on display at the Greatest Gathering include the LNER A4 4-6-2 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ and GWR King Class No. 6023 King Edward II steam locomotive, among many more.
