Model railway created by Pete Waterman to be showcased at our organization's Grand Event in Derby, known as The Greatest Gathering
Get ready for an unforgettable event as we welcome you to The Greatest Gathering, taking place from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd August 2025 at our historic Litchurch Lane Site in Derby. This three-day sold-out charity festival promises to be the world's largest-ever gathering of historic and modern rolling stock.
A Partnership for Model Railway Excellence
Our company has partnered with Key Model World for a special feature at The Greatest Gathering: the Model Railway Village. This collaboration will showcase new and exclusive model railway layouts, as well as offering the opportunity to purchase newly developed modular building kits. Key Model World will debut a new OO gauge layout based on Derby Litchurch Lane Works, featuring laser-cut modular building kits developed by PJM Models.
Pete Waterman's Making Tracks 3
A central highlight of the Model Railway Village will be Pete Waterman's Making Tracks 3 layout. This highly detailed railway model, created by the legendary music producer and renowned railway modeller, will be one of many high-quality miniature layouts on show. Pete Waterman has expressed enthusiasm about bringing Making Tracks 3 to The Greatest Gathering and encourages both seasoned modellers and newcomers to visit the Model Railway Village.
The Model Railway Village and Beyond
The Model Railway Village is just one part of the wider festivities for Railway 200, a year-long celebration marking the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825. The event will feature more than 100 rolling stock exhibits from the past, present, and future of the railways. The Model Railway Village will also feature Mick Bryan's Deadmans Lane, Eric French's London Underground layout - Harefield Road, Key Model World's own Twelve Trees Junction, and Mark Pearson's Welby Lane RTC.
In addition to the Model Railway Village, The Greatest Gathering will feature up to 20 trade stands offering product insights from leading brands including Hornby, Bachmann, Accurascale, Heljan, Revolution Trains, and Cavalex Models.
Derby Litchurch Lane Works: A British Rail Icon
The site of our company's Derby Litchurch Lane Works, covering 90 acres, is one of the world's largest rolling stock factories. Derby was chosen by the Government as the home of Great British Railways in 2022, making this event even more significant. Derby Litchurch Lane Works is the only UK facility that designs, engineers, builds, and tests trains for domestic and export markets.
A video series on the Derby Litchurch Lane Works model railway will be released by Key Model World this summer, providing a closer look at this iconic British rail facility. A full series build of the Derby Litchurch Lane Works model railway will also be featured in Key Publishing's Hornby Magazine from July-September.
Join us at The Greatest Gathering and immerse yourself in the world of model railways, British rail history, and the future of rail transport. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to witness the best of model railways and rail history in one of the most significant locations in the industry.
[1] Source: Company press release [2] Source: Key Model World press release [3] Source: The Greatest Gathering official website
- The Model Railway Village, a collaboration between our company and Key Model World, will showcase sustainable model railway layouts, such as the OO gauge layout based on Derby Litchurch Lane Works, featuring home-and-garden style modular building kits.
- Participants at The Greatest Gathering can look forward to the integrated lifestyle of model railways and sports, with a variety of talented modellers, including Pete Waterman, demonstrating their expertise in creating detailed miniature layouts like Making Tracks 3.
- In addition to the Model Railway Village, the event offers a glimpse into the mobile and sustainable future of transport with the display of modern trains, reflecting the commitment to mobility and a greener lifestyle, as seen in the construction of Derby Litchurch Lane Works, Britain's benchmark for rail technology and innovation.
