Flying Scotsman Stories Revealed At Swanage Railway
The daughter of the former owner of the Flying Scotsman revealed that her father’s ashes were once fed into the engine’s firebox.
Flying Scotsman stories Penny Pegler put her father’s ashes in its firebox!
Penny Pegler spoke to me today about the day when her father Alan’s ashes, were placed into the fire of The Flying Scotsman.
Back in October 2018 she rode on the engine with his ashes. That were then placed onto a shovel and gently lowered into the glowing red hot firebox.
At this time the engine was travelling on Stoke Bank. Which was the location where the Flying Scotsman reached 100mph in November 1934. A record for a steam engine, and the first ever to do so.
Flying Scotsman Swanage.
This unique coming together of The Flying Scotsman and this rare former Pullman coach ‘Devon Belle’ at Swanage was the reason that Penny visited this Dorset town.
Flying Scotsman Stories From The 1960’s Tour
Other memories came flooding back for her as this combination of The Flying Scotsman and the Devon Belle where used on a massive British publicity and export drive across the USA and Canada in 1969. Both being in pride of place on the tour which lasted several years.
Flying Scotsman stories. Swanage.
As a teenager Penny travelled around the USA and Canada in the train that included the former Pullman observation car that acted as a place for the official receptions. Many celebrities, politicians and leading business figures used it. Which was once a World War One ambulance carriage bring the wounded back from France to the UK.
Flying Scotsman stories. Swanage.
It was later brought by the Pullman company along with a number of others and this one was converted into an observation carriage. It later formed part of the make up of the trains that took holiday makers from London to the Devon coast.
Volunteers help with the Flying Scotsman stories.
At that time it ran from Waterloo to places like the coastal town of Ilfracombe in North Devon.
Observation Car Once an Ambulance And Bar
Devon Belle became separated from the engine when the tour ran into financial difficulties. The observation car itself ended up being used as a static bar. Swanage Railway volunteers rescued it in 2007. And cost around £60,000 to return it to the UK.
Flying Scotsman leaves Swanage attached to the Devon Belle.
Its wheels were resting in concrete. A large hole punctured one side. Restoration by teams of woodworkers, fitters and painters have brought the carriage back to what it was. When it ran under the Pullman brand. Even hand painted badges adorn the observation car.
After restoration in the railway works in Derby it was returned to Swanage. In 2008 it started to run on the line. It met up with Flying Scotsman again in 2019 and this latest meeting has certainly been memorable for the former owners daughter who no live in Portugal.
Great views from Devon Belle Pullman observation car.
Rescue for the engine came when it was brought back in 1973 by rail enthusiast and business man the Sir William McAlpine. Following his involvement it passed through several other owners. It now belongs to the National Railway Museum in York.
Gavin Johns Chairman of Swanage Railway Trust.
Swanage Railway are running a whole series of trips on their line. Lavish champagne and canapés style tours that can be enjoyed in what is called Car 14. Until the end of October.
Swanage Railway Trust Chairman said ” We cannot run such events without the hundreds of volunteers that support the whole operation.”
The Flying Scotsman will reach a special milestone next year as it will be 100 years old in 2023.
