The Flying Scotsman steam locomotive was built in 1923 and its centenary was celebrated in 2023. There is a weak link with Penistone from when a train hauled by the Flying Scotsman visited our station in the 1960s, and it became an excuse for yet another long-winded but (hopefully) informative and interesting page on this website. A tenuous but enjoyable connection. The locomotive is now a popular exhibit at the National Railway Museum, York.
The Flying Scotsman
The Flying Scotsman was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and built in 1923 at the Doncaster works as the first locomotive for the newly-established London and North East Railway Company (LNER) company. As an 'A1 class' locomotive, it was one of the best steam locomotives of the era. It entered service on 24th February 1923, numbered 1472. As such a fine steam locomotive, it was chosen in 1924 as an exhibit for the British Empire Exhibition of that year, held in Wembley. It caught the attention of the public and it soon became both famous and popular; acquiring the name 'The Flying Scotsman' and being redesignated 4462.
The regular London to Edinburgh sheduled railway service, in operation from 1862, was well-known the 'Flying Scotsman' train and this led to the name of 'Flying Scotsman' being given to the locomotive. The service was famous before the locomotive had gained the same name.
Alan Pegler
Alan Francis Pegler was a businessman, entrepreneur and railway enthusiast. His family name adorns many a water tap, including those in Penistone's Royal British Legion. He had been a member of the post-war British Transport Commission, set up in 1947. As a railway enthusiast he use of his position on the Board and managed to ride the footplate of the 'Sir Nigel Gresley' LNER A4 Class locomotive when, at 112 mph (180 km/h), it broke the postwar steam record.
He was also a supporter of steam preservation. He helped to finance and by 1954 gained control of the derelict and debt-ridden Ffestiniog Railway which had originally been built to convey slate from a slate mine. This was a 13-mile, narrow guage railway. There was much work to be done with the line, including a diversion, but it would eventually open to the public in 1982. It didn't really go anywhere but it soon became a popular tourist trip for visitors to Wales.
Pegler was impressed with the Flying Scotsman locomotive when he visited the British Empire Exhibition in 1924. When British railways announced that it would scrap the locomotive in 1962, a campaign started to raise the £3,000 scrap value and rescue such a great example of British workmanship from the scrapyard, and perhaps its ultimate fate of being converted to razor blades. Pegler had recently come into some money and, with the political support of Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson, bought the loco outright with a view to reconditioning it and hopefully running it again.
It was taken to the Doncaster works where it would be extensively refurbished, costing Pegler a huge amount of money. With the newly-refurbed loco back in action, Pegler managed to secure permission from BR to run special excursions for railway enthusiasts. At that time, it was the only steam locomotive allowed on the mainline railway system.
The Disastrous USA Tour
From 1969 to 1973, the locomotive across the Atlantic to tour the USA and Canada and to support interest in British exports. It was modified to acceptable US standards, with a cow-catcher, US couplings and other fittings being added. The tour was a disaster and several states imposed conditions to prevent its operation as a steam engine. In some places it was had to be pulled by a diesel engine, somewhat undermining its main point of interest as a working steam locomotive. Some objectors considered it to be a fire hazard, although others might have suspected other motives.
The UK's Labour Government became ousted in the 1970 General Election and Mr Heath's Conservative Government withdrew support (and funding) from the tour. This ruined the finances and put Mr Pegler in a tight spot. By 1972, he became bankrupt through the cost of the tour. The loco had to be kept in a US army depot to protect it from creditors. A campaign was started in the UK to rescue the loco and return it to its rightful place. Railway enthusiast and construction businessman Sir William McAlpine was tits salvation when, in 1973, he purchased the loco and brought it home.
Alan Pegler was so short of money that he worked his way home on a P&O liner giving lectures on trains and travelling. Having being declared bankrupt in 1972, he was reduced to living in a rented room above a London fish and chip shop. He returned to P&O to continue his public and very popular lectures. He died in March 2012 and his ashes were put in the Flying Scotsman's firebox in 2018 on a trip to York, thereby fulfilling his wishes.
Further Reading
The Flying Scotsman wiki.
Photos
These shots come from the 1960s, when the LNER Flying Scotsman passed through Penistone station. Many thanks to Stephen Glover for sending them in .
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