LNER 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ “Farewell to Alan Pegler” at York 13/10/2018.

Following on from last week’s triumphant visit to Devon and Cornwall, today sees ‘Flying Scotsman’ return to the somewhat more familiar territory of the East Coast Main Line to pay tribute to one of her former owners.
Sadly, Alan Pegler passed away in 2012 and never lived to see ‘Scotsman’s return to national prominence since 2016. Nonetheless, most people reading this will be familiar with the role Alan Pegler played in saving ‘Flying Scotsman’ when he purchased the locomotive outright from British Railways in early 1963. Whilst Pegler’s ownership of ‘Scotsman’ ended somewhat ignominiously, it is worth recounting the importance that Pegler and ‘Scotsman’ played in the embryonic steam preservation era. Having bought the locomotive, Pegler then used his clout to persuade a reluctant BR to allow him to run privately-organised rail tours using ‘Scotsman’ and thus set the trend of the whole ‘take some privately owned heritage traction and run it on the mainline for enthusiasts’ model which still exists today in the form of the mainline steam hauled charter train.
Today’s journey is, inevitably enough, a blast down the ECML from Kings Cross to York, and is somewhat fitting as Alan Pegler’s greatest achievement with ‘Scotsman’ was his successful recreation of her non stop run from London to Edinburgh in 1968- 40 years to the day after she first accomplished it- over these very metals. In accordance with Mr Pegler’s wishes, his ashes were placed in ‘Scotsman’s’ firebox as she climbed Stoke Bank; the very place where she entered railway history in 1938 when she broke the 100 miles per hour barrier.
Modern day steam tours involve the precarious task of trying to thread a train worked by an inherently old, and occasionally temperamental, piece of machinery through the modern day intense timetable. Thus things don’t always go off without a hitch and so it was today, with 60103 running some 45 minutes down at one point- skipping a few pathing stops allowed her to make up about 25 minutes or so by the time she reached York. Of course, she looks utterly stunning on arrival, and huge crowds throng Platform 10-11 to catch a glimpse of The World Famous ‘Flying Scotsman.’
As was the case when she steamed into Waverley in 1968, there was a Scottish pipes and drum band there to greet her. Whilst bagpipes can be a bit ‘Marmite’ to some, I happen to really like them (being married to a proud Scot probably helps!) so I include some here for you pleasure.
Also included at the start of the video are a few other workings including:
43319 & 43299 1Y84 York to Kings Cross
67022 5G10 Heaton to Bounds Green
91110 ‘Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’. The nameplate is reminiscent of the plates carried by the Southern ‘Battle of Britain’ Class Pacifics.
Hope you enjoyed the video.
Ross.

[@JoshHemingwayMetcalfe96]

Wonderful video of Flying Scotsman in York out there Sir, he does looks lovely colours on his engine and tender. Thanks for sharing. From ... Josh

[@SimonTog]

Great video Ross, thumbs up :)

[@30453trains]

SimonTog cheers 👍🏻🚂

[@southweststeamscenes7668]

super vid ross thanks for sharing , great see these diffrent locations , we were lucky enough as you know have 60103 in south west last week , thanks again

[@30453trains]

Southwest Steam Scenes thank you for the kind comments. York is a fantastic place to see the railway at work, a magnificent station, loco hauled trains, freight and of course steam specials. Cheers. 👍🏻

[@JulianThurgood]

Very good Ross - looks like we were not far apart on the same platform at York!

[@30453trains]

Julian Thurgood Yep, looks like I was just a bit further along Platform 9

[@gamingvlogs432]

I was there as well or to put it another way I’m in the video when the Scotsman pulls onto the platform I’m on the side on the Scotsman in a white hoody

[@rickcooper388]

I was there, First!