Sir William McAlpine, 1936-2018
The Chairman of the Railway Heritage Trust, Sir William McAlpine, died on March 4 after complications following an infection in December.
McAlpine, a former director of the family construction company, was a huge railway enthusiast and chaired the Railway Heritage Trust from its foundation in 1985.
He became known in railway circles for his purchase of Great Western Railway ‘Castle’ 4079 Pendennis Castle in the 1960s and later for the repatriation of ‘A3’ 4472 Flying Scotsman from the US in 1972, following its tour of North America which bankrupted its first private owner Alan Pegler.
At his estate in Fawley Hill, Buckinghamshire, McAlpine built up a collection of railway artefacts from the 1960s into what became known as the Fawley Hill Railway.
The railway includes the former Great Eastern Railway station from Somersham, Midland Railway signal box from Shobnall Maltings, and the footbridge from Brading on the Isle of Wight. It also had a museum building containing an extensive collection of historic railway objects.
Paying tribute to McAlpine, RHT Executive Director Andy Savage said: “His leadership has been invaluable to me and both my predecessors throughout that period.”