Derby is built on railway heritage

Railways came to Derby in 1839 with the opening of the Midland Counties Railway. Ever since then, it’s been a centre of rail administration, manufacturing and innovation.

Key historic milestones in Derby’s rail history include:

  • 1839 – Railways commence operating in Derby and carriage building starts 
  • 1844 – Midland Railway established (Derby HQ) 
  • 1851 – First locomotive, 147, built in Derby  
  • 1947 – Britain’s first mainline diesel-electric locomotive, 10,000, was built in Derby 
  • 1957 – Last of 2,941 Derby-built steam locomotives, 73154  
  • 1963 – Last steam locomotive repaired, 75042 
  • 1967 – Last new diesel locomotive (number D7677) – over 1,000 built in Derby 
  • 1975 – World’s most iconic and successful diesel passenger trains - InterCity 125 (HST) – designed and coaches built in Derby 
  • 1989 – UK’s first aluminium-bodied train (Class 158) designed and built in Derby 
  • 2022 – Derby designed and built Class 345 trains go into service on the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) in London 

Steam engine
The last steam engine built in Derby in 1957 - number 73154
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