Alstom’s Greatest Gathering event held in Derby over the weekend of 1st to 3rd August 2025 was aptly named. It was indeed the greatest railway gathering that is likely to be seen in this country for the foreseeable future. Locomotives, old and new, combined with carriages and multiple units of every description were gathered in and around Altom’s massive works complex. Several workshops were also filled with displays of every sort, including (in U Shop) a stand occupied by ASTT on which Revolution was proudly on display.
It is pleasing to report that Revolution attracted considerable interest, especially amongst younger visitors, despite it being in a state of incompleteness. In fact its incomplete state – in particular its lack of a boiler – made it easier to show how its suspension and traction system function, since these will be rendered largely invisible once the boiler is fitted.
Notwithstanding, several new (and novel) features were on display, such as:
- its novel elastomeric springing and its integrated suspension/traction system invented by Jamie Keyte;
- its modular valve gear, cleverly designed by Richard Coleby, such that it is pre-assembled as a unit before being mounted on the engine, with both left and right side mechanisms being identical;
- cylinders, showing the cavities for steam-jacket heating and tapping points for fitting pressure and temperature sensors.
- valve chests also with tapping points for pressure and temperature sensors and mountings for direct-delivery of lubricant to the liners;
- smokebox with removeable cover to facilitate changing of exhaust systems for performance monitoring;
- a near-complete tender (see below).
ASTT’s stand was manned by several volunteers, including John Hind (our chairman), Jamie Keyte (Revolution’s chief designer), Richard Coleby (who spearheaded the arrangements to secure a space for ASTT), Gwion Clark (who organised the banners for the stand), Alex Powell, Nigel Barnes, Owen Jordan, Mike Stockbridge and Chris Newman.
A new ASTT brochure was produced for the event together with leaflets, both describing ASTT’s aims and activities. The brochure (titled ASTT’s “2025 Prospectus”) is a 22-page document intended to be handed out to prospective new members, which sets out in more detail ASTT’s background, achievements and plans. Both the leaflet and the Prospectus are available to download by clicking on the links.
Printed copies of the Prospectus can be purchased via the Books for Sale page on an “at-cost” basis for £2 each plus postage.