PEGLER’S DAUGHTER COMMITS HIS ASHES TO ‘SCOTSMAN’S’ FIREBOX

The Steam Dreams Rail Co. ‘Farewell Alan Pegler’ tour to York on October 13 celebrated the life of the man who saved Flying Scotsman from being scrapped, writes DANIEL PUDDICOMBE.

Many of Mr Pegler’s friends and family were on board, including his daughter, Penny Vaudoyer, who was entrusted with placing her late father’s ashes in the ‘Pacific’s’ firebox as it topped Stoke Bank, in accordance with his wishes.

“My father had always wanted his ashes to go into ‘Scotsman’s’ firebox and he talked to me about it many, many times. He died six years ago and it’s been in the back of my mind that we had to do this,” she told Steam Railway. “It’s taken a good year or more to get it going but my father’s wishes have now been carried out.

“It was a very emotional experience. It was a moment that he really wanted – going in the firebox and going up Stoke Bank. I also thought ‘I really hope that he can see what is happening from where he is’.”

IAN MACCABE Alan Pegler’s daughter Penny Vaudoyer at King’s Cross on October 13, together with the famous engine that her father bought from British Railways.