World famous loco to appear at rail celebration as more tickets released

The world’s most famous steam locomotive – the Flying Scotsman – will make an appearance at a major celebration of rail hosted by Alstom.

The record-breaking steam engine will join others from the UK National Collection for The Greatest Gathering, a three-day festival taking place in August and hosted by the train-maker’s historic Litchurch Lane Works.

When tickets were first released for the event, which is part of Railway 200, a year-long celebration of 200 years of the modern railway, they quickly sold out.

However, to celebrate the Flying Scotsman’s appearance, Alstom has released an additional 2,500 tickets for each day, which are now on sale.

Rob Whyte, managing director at Alstom UK and Ireland, said: “Flying Scotsman’s attendance is a powerful tribute to Britain’s steam legacy and a moment of railway history not to be missed.

“While we proudly honour icons of the past, like Flying Scotsman, we also hope The Greatest Gathering will ignite the imagination of tomorrow’s engineers, as we showcase the latest sustainable and digital rail innovations across our Derby site.”

Railway 200 marks the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on 27 September 1825 – and a journey that gave birth to the modern railway.

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, Flying Scotsman was built almost 100 years later and became the first locomotive to officially reach 100 mph (160 km/h) in 1934.

The steam engine went on to operate in service until 1963 and later in preservation, which included tours of the US, Canada and Australia.

Flying Scotsman also holds the world record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive – set in Australia in 1989 – with a 422-mile trip.

Ticketholders to The Greatest Gathering will get to see Flying Scotsman across the event’s three days (1 to 3 August), where it will be joined in a steam cavalcade by fellow LNER Pacific locomotives, A1 No. 60163 Tornado and A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley.

They will be among more than 100 rolling stock exhibits from the past, present and future of the railways at The Greatest Gathering.

Joining Flying Scotsman from the National Collection at The Greatest Gathering will be the 200-year-old steam engine, Locomotion No. 1

Furthermore, Derby-built steam locomotive, Midland Railway 1000 Class No. 1000, and D6700, the first-built Class 37 diesel, will also be visiting The Greatest Gathering from the National Collection.

Craig Bentley, director of the National Railway Museum, said: “Flying Scotsman has captured the public’s imagination for over a century.

“We are proud to be able to share this icon of the track, along with other historically significant locomotives from the National Collection, at this landmark event that celebrates the past, present and future of the railways.”

For a full list of exhibits and to book tickets for The Greatest Gathering, visit http://www.alstom.com/greatest-gathering.