Alan Pegler

"I think the old Rev. Wilbert Awdry, the Thomas the Tank Engine Man, some it up awfully well...It had to be something pulsing and alive....and you get the impression that it is something living that is on front of the train. That's what I think a lot of the enthusiasm comes from."

- Alan Pegler mentioning Wilbert Awdry

Alan Pegler (April 16th, 1920 – March 18th, 2012) was a British businessman, entrepreneur, railway preservationist and actor. He was the Flying Scotsman's first owner (1963-1972), the second locomotive to travel 100 mph.

In 1962, British Railways announced that they would scrap Flying Scotsman. Proposed to be saved by a group called "Save Our Scotsman", they were unable to raise the required £3,000, the scrap value of the locomotive. Pegler stepped in and bought the locomotive outright, with the political support of Harold Wilson. He spent the next few years spending large amounts of money having the locomotive restored at the Doncaster Works, and then persuaded the British Railways Board to let him run enthusiasts specials, then the only steam locomotive running on mainline British Railways.

Bio in The Railway Series
In order to cheer Gordon up, Sir Topham Hatt arranged with Pegler to reunite Flying Scotsman with his only remaining brother. Gordon had been depressed with the "end of steam" on British Railways.

When reunited Flying Scotsman told Gordon that he had a rebuild made him look hideous. So his owner made Doncaster Works give him back his proper shape, and called him an extra special engine. Flying Scotsman was eventually sold to the National Railway Museum.

Trivia

 * The Reverend W. Awdry acknowledged the help given by Flying Scotsman's owner and his assistant, Mr. E. Hoyle, in the preparation of Enterprising Engines.