Doncaster, UK – 17 November 2025: The Gresley Society is delighted to announce that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded a significant grant to support its year-long celebrations marking the 150^th anniversary of Sir Nigel Gresley’s birth in 2026. This funding will enable the Trust to deliver an enhanced programme of events commemorating the visionary railway engineer, whose designs include the famous steam locomotives Flying Scotsman, Cock o’ the North, and Mallard. The celebrations, under the strapline “A Legacy of Innovation, Speed and Elegance”, are organised in partnership with Doncaster City Council and other railway heritage organisations.

The grant will directly fund key elements of the programme, including the digitisation of the Trust’s extensive archive for wider public access, the production of a short film on Gresley’s life and achievements, and the creation of a new permanent exhibition at Doncaster’s Danum Gallery.

The centrepiece of the celebrations remains the Symposium and Gala Dinner on Saturday 20 June 2026 at the Mansion House, Doncaster. The day-long symposium will feature expert presentations on Gresley’s career, from his early days with the Great Northern Railway to his influence on the modern railway. The evening’s 1930s-themed gala dinner will evoke the glamour of LNER’s express trains, with menus inspired by ‘The Flying Scotsman’, ‘The Silver Jubilee’, and ‘The Coronation’. Tickets for the symposium are £25 (members) and £30 (non-members), while the gala dinner is £75 (members) and £85 (non-members), with limited spaces available.

Further highlights include a Gresley-theme to the Festival of British Railway Modelling at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February 2026; a special Thanksgiving Service and Talk on Saturday 11 April 2026, at St. Peter’s Church, Netherseal, Derbyshire – held close to the 85^th anniversary of Sir Nigel Gresley’s death and burial at St. Peter’s Church on 9 April 1941; and a commemorative logo for use by partner organisations. The Trust also cares for Gresley class N2 No. 1744, the oldest surviving Gresley locomotive, currently undergoing overhaul at the North Norfolk Railway and Gresley Buffet Lounge Car No. 1852 – the sole surviving vehicle from the 1938 Flying Scotsman train and subject of a future Heritage Fund bid.

Philip Benham MBE, FCILT, Chairman of The Gresley Society Trust, said:  

“The Heritage Fund’s generous support is a tremendous endorsement of Sir Nigel Gresley’s enduring legacy. His pioneering work revolutionised rail travel with innovation, speed and elegance, and this grant ensures our celebrations will inspire new generations. We are profoundly grateful and look forward to sharing his story through accessible, engaging initiatives.”

To register for the symposium and gala dinner, complete the RSVP form by 30 April 2026. For full details, visit gresley.org or email .

Network Rail is delighted to announce that Doncaster’s new railway training centre will be named The Gresley Institute – following a public vote, held in partnership with City of Doncaster Council, which attracted over 3,500 responses.

The three-storey building on Carolina Way near Lakeside is being brought back into use by Network Rail.

Formerly home to the National College for High Speed Rail, the building has been transformed into a modern centre for operational training, education and development.

The first training delegates began their learning on 6 October – and the centre will eventually train up to 1,000 rail industry colleagues each year.

There are 21 classrooms across two floors, with equipment such as signalling simulators – both traditional lever-pull models and modern systems with visual display units.

With strong links to existing educational provision and a focus on STEM learning (science, technology, engineering and maths), the centre will support training for Network Rail and the wider rail industry.

The Gresley Institute name honours Sir Nigel Gresley, the visionary chief mechanical engineer who designed both the Mallard and Flying Scotsman locomotives at Doncaster Works, revolutionising steam locomotive design. It was a clear winner with 57% of the vote in our naming campaign*.

Sarah Newman, Network Rail business change manager, said:

“We’re thrilled to see the transformation of the Doncaster site now complete, and just as excited that the public has chosen a name that reflects the city’s proud railway legacy.

“It has been wonderful to have thousands of people taking part in the vote. The Gresley Institute will become a cornerstone for training the next generation of rail industry professionals, and we’re proud to have worked with City of Doncaster Council and the wider rail industry to bring it back into use.”

Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said:

“It is truly fantastic to see this site that was established to support training in the rail industry continuing in that dedicated purpose.

“Doncaster has a long and noble history of rail and an even brighter one with this facility and the range of expertise in rail companies that call Doncaster home. Doncaster is the newest city in the north of England and has so many opportunities being developed to boost our economy, grow our industry specialisms and create a jobs, training and ambition.”

Philip Benham, chairman of the Gresley Society Trust, said:

“We are delighted to see such a clear result from the naming campaign in favour of The Gresley Institute. Sir Nigel Gresley lived in Doncaster for many years, and his greatest engineering achievements were created here – including in his streamlined trains of the 1930s, Britain’s first high speed trains.

“Development and innovation were at the heart of Sir Nigel’s designs, so it is entirely appropriate that his name should be associated with the Institute where the rail industry’s future professionals will learn their skills. Next year will see the 150th anniversary of Sir Nigel Gresley’s birth, so this naming is especially timely.”

The winning name was revealed at a ceremony held with rail industry and South Yorkshire dignitaries on Friday 31 October.

Doncaster, UK – 12 October 2025: The Gresley Society Trust is today announcing a nationwide appeal to uncover any existing recordings of the voice of the renowned railway engineer Sir Nigel Gresley, as part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of his birth in 2026.

Sir Nigel Gresley (1876–1941), one of Britain’s most celebrated engineers, is best known for designing the world’s most famous steam locomotives in Flying Scotsman, Cock O’ The North and Mallard, the latter holding the world speed record for steam locomotives. While numerous photographs and newsreel footage of Sir Nigel exist, no known recording of his voice has ever been identified. The Gresley Society Trust is launching this appeal to locate any audio recordings that may have captured his voice, offering a unique opportunity to bring this engineering legend’s legacy to life.

As part of the 2026 celebrations, the Trust aims to compile a comprehensive archive of Sir Nigel Gresley’s life and work, and a voice recording would be a priceless addition.

Philip Benham MBE, FCILT, Chairman of The Gresley Society Trust, said:

“Finding a recording of Sir Nigel Gresley’s voice would be to hear history speaking. It would give us a direct connection to the man behind some of the world’s greatest steam locomotives, and we urge anyone who might have such a treasure to come forward and share it with the world.

“The Gresley Society is calling on the public, historians, archivists, and collectors to search their collections, attics, and archives for any audio material – such as radio broadcasts, speeches, interviews, or private recordings – that might feature Sir Nigel’s voice.”

How to Contribute

If you have information about or access to potential recordings, please contact the Gresley Society Trust on.

All submissions will be carefully reviewed by the Trust’s archival team, and contributors will be acknowledged as part of the 2026 celebrations.

About Sir Nigel Gresley

Born on 19^th June 1876, Sir Nigel Gresley revolutionised railway engineering with his innovative designs. His locomotives, known for their elegance and performance, remain symbols of British engineering excellence. The Mallard’s record-breaking speed of 126 mph, set on 3^rd July 1938, still stands today. The Gresley Society Trust is dedicated to preserving his legacy and promoting interest in railway heritage.

Gresley 150th Anniversary: A Legacy of Innovation, Speed and Elegance

The centrepiece of the celebrations will be a Symposium and Gala Dinner on Saturday 20^th June 2026, at the Mansion House, Doncaster a date set to mark the 150th anniversary. The symposium will feature presentations by esteemed speakers exploring Gresley’s personal history, professional achievements, and enduring influence on modern railways.

Topics will include his early career, LNER locomotive and coaching stock development, the iconic streamliners, and his legacy in preservation and today’s railway industry. The evening’s 1930s-themed gala dinner will offer a nostalgic culinary experience inspired by menus from famous LNER trains, including the ‘Flying Scotsman’, ‘Silver Jubilee’, and ‘Coronation’. Tickets are priced at £25 (members) and £30 (non-members) for the symposium, and £75 (members) and £85 (non-members) for the gala dinner, with spaces limited to 100.

Additional highlights of the celebrations include:

• A new plaque at Doncaster station unveiled on 19th June 2025, marking Gresley’s birthday.
• An exhibition at the Danum Gallery, Doncaster, showcasing Gresley’s life and works, with part becoming a permanent display.
• A series of events with partner organisations, including those connected to Gresley’s class A4 No. 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley and the LNER Coach Association on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
• The digitisation of the Gresley Society Trust’s archive to ensure broader access and long-term preservation.
• A short film on Gresley’s life and achievements.
• A Gresley-focused theme at The Festival of British Railway Modelling at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February 2026 featuring award-winning Grantham: the streamliner years’ layout.
• The creation of a commemorative logo for partner organisations.

To register for the symposium and gala dinner, please complete the RSVP form available from The Gresley Society Trust by 30^th April 2026. For more details, visit Gresley.org or contact The Gresley Society Trust, c/o City of Doncaster Archives, Chequer Road, Doncaster DN1 2AE.

Join the Celebration

The discovery of Sir Nigel Gresley’s voice would be a historic moment for railway enthusiasts and historians alike. The Gresley Society Trust invites everyone to join this nationwide effort to uncover a missing piece of his legacy and celebrate his remarkable contributions to engineering.

ENDS

Doncaster, UK – 9 August 2025: The Gresley Society Trust, founded in 1963 to honour the life and works of Sir Nigel Gresley, is delighted to announce a year-long celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of the legendary railway engineer in 2026. Renowned for designing iconic steam locomotives including Flying Scotsman, Cock O’The Northand Mallard, Sir Nigel Gresley’s contributions to railway engineering continue to inspire the world. Under the strapline “A Legacy of Innovation, Speed and Elegance”, the Trust, in collaboration with Doncaster City Council and other partner railway organisations, will host a series of events to commemorate his extraordinary impact that continues to endure. An application has been submitted to the Heritage Fund to support the celebrations.

The centrepiece of the celebrations will be a Symposium and Gala Dinner on Saturday 20^th June 2026, at the Mansion House, Doncaster. The symposium will feature presentations by esteemed speakers exploring Gresley’s personal history, professional achievements, and enduring influence on modern railways. Topics include his early career, LNER locomotive and coaching stock development, the iconic streamliners, and his legacy in preservation and today’s railway industry. The evening’s 1930s-themed gala dinner will offer a nostalgic culinary experience inspired by menus from famous LNER trains, including ‘The Flying Scotsman’, ‘The Silver Jubilee’, and ‘The Coronation’. Tickets are priced at £25 (members) and £30 (non-members) for the symposium, and £75 (members) and £85 (non-members) for the gala dinner, with spaces limited to 100.

Additional highlights of the celebrations include:

• A new plaque at Doncaster station unveilled on 19 June 2025, marking Gresley’s birthday.
• An exhibition at the Danum Gallery, Doncaster, showcasing Gresley’s life and works, with part becoming a permanent display.
• A series of events with partner organisations, including those connected to Gresley’s class A4 No. 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley and the LNER Coach Association on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
• The digitisation of the Gresley Society Trust’s archive to ensure broader access and long-term preservation.
• A short film on Gresley’s life and achievements.
• A Gresley-focused theme at The Festival of British Railway Modelling at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 7^thand Sunday 8^th February 2026 featuring award-winning Grantham: the streamliner years’ layout.
• The creation of a commemorative logo for partner organisations.

The Gresley Society proudly owns Gresley class N2 No. 1744, the oldest surviving Gresley locomotive, nearing the end of a major overhaul at the North Norfolk Railway, and Gresley Buffet Lounge Car No. 1852, the sole surviving vehicle from the 1938 ‘Flying Scotsman’ train, soon to be the subject of a Heritage Fund bid for restoration. The Trust has also commemorated Gresley with plaques at sites like Doncaster and Edinburgh Waverley, and a statue at King’s Cross station.

Philip Benham MBE, FCILT, Chairman of The Gresley Society Trust, said:

“Sir Nigel Gresley’s visionary designs, from the world-famous Flying Scotsman and record-breaking Mallard through to the streamlined trains of the 1930s, transformed the railway industry and continue to captivate enthusiasts worldwide. This 150^th anniversary celebration is a fitting tribute to his legacy of innovation, speed and elegance, bringing together our members, partners, and the wider railway community to honour his remarkable contributions.”

To register for the symposium and gala dinner, please complete the RSVP form available from The Gresley Society Trust by 30^th April 2026. For more details, visit Gresley.org or email .