Best of 2025 | UK Mainline and Heritage Railway Highlights

The past 12 months have witnessed some once in a generation events to celebrate the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, alongside the usual enthusiast galas and events, plus a selection of notable railtours to add.

The headline event for Railway 200 this year was The Greatest Gathering at Litchurch Lane Works in Derby. The event showcased over 140 railway exhibits, thought to be the largest display of rolling stock in history, dating from 1825 with the original Locomotion No.1, right through to current locomotives and units in use on today's mainline, many of which having been built in Derby at the Litchurch Lane site. Mainline stock movements for the gathering made for some unique viewing around Derby in the days running up to and after the event, including a quadruple headed steam locomotive move back to West Coast Railway's base in Carnforth.

With the 200th anniversary landing on the 27th September, that weekend saw the 1975 replica of Locomotion No.1 take to the mainline, running the modern day equivalent of the 1825 opening service from Shildon to Stockton-on-Tees. The anniversary day itself saw the replica make several run pasts over Skerne Bridge, the oldest surviving railway bridge still in use today, dating back to the S&DR's opening.

The mainline saw several other notable workings, including Peppercorn A2 60532 'Blue Peter's return to Shap after almost 24 years, BR Class 8 71000 'Duke of Gloucester's long awaited return to steam, and the farewell to long serving Pathfinder Railtours, after over 50 years in business, with a final farewell tour around Manchester and the Pennines by BR Class 52 D1015 'Western Champion'.

On heritage railways, the Railway 200 theme continued: The Bluebell Railway celebrated their 65th anniversary with a cavalcade through Horsted Keynes station, headed by new build LBSCR H2 Atlantic 32424 'Beachy Head', whilst The Spa Valley Railway marked 60 years since the closure of the line between Eridge and Polegate, with a gala featuring several locomotives in the guises of scrapped locos.

Peak Rail saw the two surviving Class 44s, 44044 'Great Gable' and D8 'Penyghent', running together for the first time in preservation. The Severn Valley Railway welcomed a Bulleid Merchant Navy for the first time, with 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental SN Co.' making a visit for the Autumn Steam Gala, with the East Lancashire Railway Autumn Gala taking on a strong LMS theme, with several engines taking on the Big Four era livery.

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VIDEO CONTENTS
0:00 - 7714 & 1450 - Severn Valley Railway
1:20 - 1369 - Bristol Harbour Railway
3:48 - 60532 - Shap Wells
6:25 - 44004 & D8 - Peak Rail
7:39 - 45699 (As 45627) & 45596 - Severn Valley Railway
9:48 - 7802 & 7812 - Severn Valley Railway
10:58 - 60103 & 4079 - Didcot Railway Centre
12:02 - 31806 (As 31803) - Spa Valley Railway
13:15 - 37057 & 37508 - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
14:22 - The Greatest Gathering - Litchurch Lane Works
18:34 - 35018, 46115, 45699 (As 45627) & 44932 - Milford Tunnel
19:13 - 34242, 75082, 34059, No.65, 33108, 80151 & No.72 - Bluebell Railway
20:37 - Railways at Work - Great Central Railway
22:35 - 1054 - Peak Rail
23:37 - 35006 - Severn Valley Railway
24:47 - Locomotion No.1 Replica - Shildon
26:52 - Locomotion No.1 Replica - Skerne Bridge
28:31 - 7138 & 12322 (As 12345) - East Lancashire Railway
29:53 - 13268 & 11243 - East Lancashire Railway
31:53 - 71000 - Beck Foot
33:08 - 71000 - Oxenholme Station
33:49 - D1015 - Walsden Station