The Greatest Gathering rolls into Derby

All profits from The Greatest Gathering will be split between five charities chosen by Railway 200

An event marking the 200th anniversary of the world's first passenger train service has opened in Derby.

The Greatest Gathering is being hosted by train manufacturer Alstom for three days from Friday.

It has been billed by the organisers as "the world's largest-ever collection of historic and modern rolling stock".

The Flying Scotsman is among the famous locomotives making an appearance, while noted train fan and music producer Pete Waterman has brought his model railway.

The King's Messenger forms part of the display

Among the locomotives, modern high-speed trains, and technology on display at the Litchurch Lane factory will be the world famous Flying Scotsman

More than 140 locomotives and railway vehicles from different eras are on display as part of the event.

It is one of a number of shows as part of Railway 200, a nationwide year-long celebration commemorating the 200th anniversary of the world's first passenger railway journey with the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

It is the first time Alstom's Litchurch Lane Works - the only facility in the UK that designs, engineers, builds, and tests trains on a single site - has opened its doors to the public in nearly 50 years.

The event has already sold out, with more than 40,000 train fans due to attend.

There were reports of long queues when the event opened on Friday morning but wait times had reduced by the afternoon