We’re proud to announce that Vanguard will be exhibiting at the Greatest Gathering, an event celebrating 200 years of railway innovation, bringing together the most iconic locomotives of forward-thinking pioneers that shaped the last 200 years. It’s an honour to stand alongside those who built the legacy of British rail. And it’s a privilege to represent the spirit of what comes next.
Powered by progress
Vanguard are a sustainable transport technology company, developing and implementing full-system solutions to decarbonise the rail networks across the world, using advanced hydrogen and battery drivetrain solutions integrated into fully net-zero transport systems.
Our work helps organisations extend the life of their rolling stock, cut emissions and take real, achievable steps toward net-zero. Because innovation isn’t always about starting over, it can also be about seeing potential where others might see obsolescence. Adapting the old with the ingenuity of the new and then creating transport systems that are cleaner, smarter and built for the journey ahead.
Meet the HydroShunter
On display at the event is our HydroShunter, a hydrogen and battery powered conversion of a Class 08 shunting locomotive. This isn’t just an engineering achievement. It’s a symbol of what can be done when you combine legacy infrastructure with bold thinking.
Designed in collaboration with Vanguard’s specialist partners, the HydroShunter doesn’t rely on diesel, instead using batteries, or a hydrogen fuel cell and batteries in a hybrid configuration. It’s modular, future-flexible and built to meet today’s exacting safety and operational demands – while pointing firmly towards the direction of tomorrow’s railways.
From past to potential
The Greatest Gathering isn’t just about remembering the engineering that changed the world. It’s about recognising the people, the skills and the technologies that will shape the next era.
At Vanguard, we’re committed to leading that charge. With pioneering spirit and principled engineering, we’re helping to accelerate the next chapter of the rail story. A story where clean technology powers progress whilst the legacy of railways in Britain, and railways around the world, are honoured not just in museums but in motion too.
Come see us at the event. Let’s talk about the next 200 years.
