York's National Railway Museum (NRM) has launched an appeal to mark the Flying Scotsman's 93rd birthday.
The engine, which retired from service in 1963, has been restored for the NRM in a decade-long, £4.2m refit.
On Saturday it ventured on to the mainline network for the first time in 40 years as it took a test run through Cumbria and Lancashire.
Last month, the locomotive emerged into the East Lancashire Railway's Bury Bolton Street station after the final stages of the work at a nearby yard, thrilling hundreds of rail enthusiasts.
It is due to be painted in its new green livery on Wednesday and have its nameplates reattached before making its journey between London Kings Cross and York on 25 February.
Public services will begin later this month, alongside an exhibition at the museum.
Former fireman John Morgan, from Peterborough, said he was looking forward to seeing the Flying Scotsman steaming between the two cities again.
The 77-year-old became a fireman at 16 and worked on some of the most famous locomotives of the age, including the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard, the world's fastest steam train.
"I have a lot of very good memories of 60103 [Flying Scotsman's British Rail number]," he said.
"I did a lot of trips on the footplate and shovelled a lot of coal.
"There was a lot of interest, even back then. Whenever we'd back up into King's Cross there'd be a crowd of people around wanting to get up into the cab."
Bob Gwynne, associate curator of collections and research at the NRM, said: "As we've been planning our highly anticipated Scotsman Season, many people have already approached us with their special connections to the iconic steam locomotive and the famous train it was named after.
"We've heard from crew members that worked on board and their families, and even of some babies born on the train."

Darren Jones brought down Jobi McAnuff in the penalty area and O's top-scorer Simpson took his season's tally to 22.
The win means the hosts rise two places to sixth in the League Two table as new player-manager Kevin Nolan enjoyed a second successive victory.
Newport produced a battling performance, but remain 20th after a night of few chances.
Nolan sent in the telling cross towards McAnuff for the game's deciding moment and referee Andy Davies awarded a spot-kick for the challenge by Jones.
Newport manager Warren Feeney told BBC Radio Wales: "That's possibly one of the worst decisions I've seen in the game.
"People say players have bad performances, but you've got to watch what you say about these people (referees).
"I wouldn't mind if he's consistent, but through the whole game, I thought he was poor from the start.
"I'm gutted for the players because I don't think they deserved that."
People with links to one of the world's most famous locomotives are being urged to come forward with their memories.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A contentious Jay Simpson penalty was enough to earn promotion-chasing Leyton Orient victory over Newport County.