Penny Pegler, daughter of Alan Pegler,who saved Flying Scotsman from being scrapped, waved off the LNER A3 on the first train of the day at Swanage station on Saturday 22nd October 2022.
Penny made the journey to Dorset from her home in Portugal to wave off the first train, before travelling on the second train of the day in the Swanage Railway's Pullman observation car No. 14.
15 year old Fredrick Sills from Wareham played the bagpipes as Flying Scotsman departed.
A clearly moved Penny said: “It was wonderful to wave off ‘Flying Scotsman' on the first train of the day from Swanage because the locomotive has such a special place in my heart.
“It's great to see so many people coming to see and enjoy ‘Flying Scotsman' almost 60 years after my dear father saved her from going to a scrapyard. It's a very special day for me,” she added.
The Swanage Railway Company's volunteer chairman, Robert Patterson, said: “It was wonderful to welcome Penny Pegler and watch her delight in the sight and sound of ‘Flying Scotsman' while riding with her in our newly refurbished and overhauled ‘Devon Belle' Pullman Car 14 was thrilling and a real privilege. Penny is a wonderful ambassador for ‘Flying Scotsman',” added Robert who is a volunteer Swanage Railway station porter.
To find out more about the visit of ‘Flying Scotsman' to Dorset's Isle of Purbeck, go on-line to swanagerailway.co.uk.
Excellent pictures. All credit to the photographer.
Andrew is dedicated to the craft at Swanage. He must have taken tens of thousands over the years!