Duke

**Duke**, named after the Duke of Sodor and originally called **The Duke**, is an orange-brown narrow gauge tank-tender engine, who is widely respected and considered a hero amongst all the engines.

## Biography

Duke is one of the oldest, wisest and most experienced engines of the Skarloey Railway. He is also the mentor of Peter Sam, Sir Handel and Freddie, from their younger days on the Mid Sodor Railway. Being the oldest engine on the line, Duke liked everything to be "just so". Although once lost for many years in an old shed that nature tucked away and forgotten about after the Mid Sodor came to an end, he was found by rescuers, although quite by accident when one dropped in through his shed roof. He may have a headteacher attitude and maintain his authority at all times, but can be quick to apply his knowledge and years of experience to help guide and correct any younger engine. He is proud of his name and keen to uphold the respect it merits. He can often be heard to say "That would never suit His Grace!" upon hearing or seeing something that he takes disapproval to, or pedantically stating how he thinks someone would have adhered to the rules and regulations in his younger days. Despite their teasing ways, Sir Handel, Peter Sam and Freddie have grown to become very fond and deeply respect Duke and dearly nicknamed him "Granpuff" for his long service to the railway.

Duke was built at Boston Lodge in Minffordd, Wales to the order of John Arnold Norramby, Earl of Sodor and Chairman of the MSR, in 1880 for the opening of the Mid Sodor Railway. The Board of Directors named him in honour of the Earl and rostered him to haul the Opening Train. He worked with several other engines on the Mid Sodor, including Smudger, Freddie, Falcon and Stuart (later named Sir Handel and Peter Sam, respectively).

Soundly built, Duke was well maintained and kept in service until 1938 when the railway closed. While Stuart, Falcon and Freddie were sold, no buyers were interested in him, so he was left oiled, greased and sheeted up in Arlesdale Sheds, where he was all but forgotten. He was unaware the Earl he knew had been killed during the Second World War and that his successor was just a boy, who did not know of Duke.

He was later discovered by some rescuers in 1958 and taken by road and rail to Crovan's Gate. He was finally reunited with Sir Handel and Peter Sam and for the first time in its history.

After the fourth season, he was sent away to Boston Lodge on the Ffestiniog Railway for a five year overhaul, and he later returned to the Skarloey Railway in the ninth season in time's for the railway's 100th anniversary, along with Freddie who was recently being transferred from the Welsh Highland Railway. Both engines returning created a huge increase in passengers visiting to see him and Freddie.

In the eleventh season, when Ulfstead Castle was being restored, a new narrow gauge line was built, so that Duke can take passengers from the Skarloey Railway to the estate, and also to transport stone from the Blue Mountain Quarry. Duke was chosen as the castle-link engine because his tender proved ideal for the long distance.

## Basis

Duke is based on Prince, an 0-4-0ST+T small England engine from the Ffestiniog Railway at Porthmadog, North Wales.

## Livery

Duke is painted orange-brown with yellow lining and has two red plaques on the sides of his saddle tank with his name painted on them in gold. When he returned from his overhaul in the ninth season, he had the number 7 painted in yellow on both sides of his tender,

## Appearances

### Season 4

* Granpuff
* Sleeping Beauty
* Bulldog
* You Can’t Win
* Trucks *(cameo)*

### Season 11

* Santa's Little Engine *(does not speak)*

## Trivia

* Duke's current grace is Sir Robert Norramby.
* Duke is the only narrow gauge engine in the series to have a tender and like the other Mid Sodor Railway engines, has no buffers.
* Duke was the first narrow-gauge engine on the Skarloey Railway to not be based on an engine from the Talyllyn Railway.
* Duke's nickname "Granpuff" was the endearment given to Rev. W. Awdry by his grandchildren because the smoke from his pipe looked similar to a steam engine.