In 2026, under the strapline “A Legacy of Innovation, Speed and Elegance”, the Gresley Society is planning a year-long celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of the legendary railway engineer on 19th June 1876. The Society, 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.
The centrepiece of the celebrations will be a Symposium and Gala Dinner on Saturday 20th 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:
- The creation of a commemorative logo for partner organisations.
- A new plaque at Doncaster station unveilled on 19 June 2025, marking Gresley’s birthday.
- A special Thanksgiving Service and Talk on Saturday 11 April 2026, at St. Peter’s Church, Netherseal, Derbyshire, close to the 85th anniversary of Sir Nigel Gresley’s death and burial at St. Peter’s Church on 9 April 1941.
- 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 7thand Sunday 8th February 2026 featuring award-winning Grantham: the streamliner years’ layout.
Gresley 150 news
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Thanksgiving service to celebrate Sir Nigel Gresley’s 150th anniversary
Doncaster, UK – 19 December 2025: The Gresley Society Trust is delighted to announce a special Thanksgiving Service and Talk on Saturday, 11 April 2026, at St. Peter’s Church, Netherseal, Derbyshire, to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the legendary railway engineer.
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The Gresley Society Loans Nameplate of Gresley class A3 No. 2555 Centenary to Doncaster’s Danum Gallery
Doncaster, UK – 29 November 2025: The Gresley Society today loaned the nameplate from Gresley Class A3 No. 2555 Centenary to Doncaster’s Danum Gallery. The handover took place during the Society’s AGM and was presented to Councillor Tim Needham, the City of Doncaster’s Civic Mayor, to mark the start of Sir Nigel Gresley 150th Anniversary Celebrations.
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The National Lottery Heritage Fund Awards Grant to Gresley Society Trust for Sir Nigel Gresley’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations
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 150th anniversary of Sir Nigel Gresley’s birth in 2026.
Gresley 150 events
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Thanksgiving service
11 April 2026 12:00pm
St. Peter’s Church, Netherseal, Derbyshire, and nearby village hall
The Gresley Society is holding a special Thanksgiving Service and Talk on Saturday, 11 April 2026, at St. Peter’s Church, Netherseal, Derbyshire, to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the legendary railway engineer.
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Gresley 150th anniversay symposium and dinner
20 June 2026 10:00am
The Mansion House, Doncaster
We are delighted to invite you to a special symposium and gala dinner to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Sir Nigel Gresley’s birth, honouring his remarkable life, achievements, and enduring legacy. This milestone event promises to be a memorable occasion for the Gresley Society and its members.