Derby Seals 200th Anniversary Railway Time Capsule to Be Opened in 2075
A time capsule marking 200 years of modern railways has been secured in Derby, where it will remain for the next 50 years until the 250th anniversary of Britain’s railways in 2075. The Railway 200 capsule was handed over on Monday 8 December by Railway 200 programme manager Emma Roberts to Heather Kelly, deputy CEO at Derby College Group. It will be stored at the Roundhouse, the world’s oldest rail roundhouse, now part of the Derby College campus.
Derby was chosen as the UK location for the capsule due to its role as a historic and modern hub for rail innovation. The city has been selected as the headquarters of Great British Railways, building on its proud heritage in railway engineering. The Roundhouse, built around a central turntable for locomotives, symbolises the connection between Britain’s rail past and its future.
The capsule contains a wide variety of artefacts celebrating the bicentenary and looking ahead to the next chapter of rail. Items include: a letter from the Railway 200 team to the organisers of the 250th anniversary; a sealed personal letter from the Rail Minister to his successor in 2075; a commemorative coin from The Royal Mint; a selection of 200th anniversary pin badges; a newspaper dated 27 September 2025 covering the bicentenary celebrations; a commemorative poem from Poet Laureate Simon Armitage CBE; a train ticket and illustration from the Railway 200 exhibition train, Inspiration; a Railway 200 Challenge Badge for Brownies and Girl Guides; contributions from The Greatest Gathering festival; competition-winning entries from Northern and the Railway Photographic Society; news of the ‘Uniform of the Future’ competition winner; a letter from the Railway 200 Charity Partnership; and today’s speech notes from Jack Rhodes, rail apprentice at Derby College.
Jack Rhodes, 19, who works for Alstom as a rail apprentice at Derby College, said:
“As the railway looks towards its next 200 years, it will demand new skills and fresh thinking, and I’m ready to embrace that challenge. Railway 200 has shown me that this industry never stands still and I’m truly proud to be part of its next chapter.”
Emma Roberts commented on the significance of the capsule, saying:
“In time-honoured fashion the capsule captures the essence of what has been an amazing celebration of rail’s transformative impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. We’re delighted that it will rest in an iconic building in the new home of the railway, as the city helps to shape the future of a British invention that changed the world. When opened, in fifty years’ time, the Railway 200 capsule will be a poignant reminder of a landmark year in rail’s continuing development.”
Heather Kelly reflected on the capsule’s meaning for Derby College and the city’s future:
“It is an honour for Derby College Group to safeguard this time capsule at the heart of the world’s oldest rail roundhouse. As we mark 200 years of modern rail, we are not only celebrating a remarkable past, but we are also empowering the next generation who will shape its future. Our students, apprentices and industry partners are driving innovation every day, and this capsule is a powerful symbol of their ambition. When it is opened in 2075, I hope it shows how today’s commitment to learning, skills and collaboration laid the foundations for a greener, smarter and even more inclusive railway for generations to come."
Local leaders highlighted Derby’s continuing importance in the rail industry. Baggy Shanker, MP for Derby South, said:
“Derby is the past, present and future of Britain’s railways. Housing this capsule is a tribute not only to our historic strengths, but to the new opportunities ahead as we establish the GBR headquarters in our city. We have always been a place that makes things — and makes things happen. Our city's skills have powered Britain’s railways for generations, and they will shape the next 200 years. Looking forward, our priorities are clear: better services, greener technology and skilled jobs for the next generation. The future of rail is being written right here in Derby.”
Catherine Atkinson, MP for Derby North, added:
“This time capsule is a reminder that Derby doesn’t just preserve history – we make it. Our city is home to world-leading rail expertise, from cutting-edge manufacturing to the young people beginning their careers in the sector today. As we celebrate 200 years of rail, we’re also investing in the next generation, ensuring Derby remains a place where skills and innovation thrive. I’m delighted that the capsule will stay here at the Roundhouse until it’s opened by future engineers, students and civic leaders in 2075.”
Councillor Carmel Swan, cabinet member for climate change, transport and sustainability at Derby City Council, said:
“Derby isn’t just riding on the rails of history – we are laying the tracks for the future. The placement of this time capsule here, at the iconic Roundhouse, reaffirms our status as the unrivalled centre of the UK rail industry. We are forging a future where skills, high-tech manufacturing and global excellence ensure that when this capsule is opened in 2075, Derby will still be recognised as the place where the future of rail is always made.”
Image: Network Rail