Duke

* **Class**: "Small" England
* **Designers**: George England and CM Holland
* **Builder**: FR Boston Lodge Works
* **Built**: 1879
* **Restored**: 1970
* **Gauge**: 2ft 3in
* **Configuration**: 0-4-0ST+T
* **Top Speed**: 35 mph
* **Arrived on Sodor**: 1880

"*That would never suit his grace!*"
— Duke

**Duke**, originally known as **The Duke**, is a narrow gauge tender engine, who is considered a hero amongst the other engines.

## Biography

Duke and his siblings Duchess and Bertram were built at Boston Lodge in Minffordd, Wales to the order of John Arnold Norramby, Earl of Sodor and Chairman of the MSR, in 1879 for the opening of the Mid Sodor Railway in 1880. 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 Falcon and Stuart (later named Sir Handel and Peter Sam, respectively).

Soundly built, Duke was well maintained and kept in service until 1947 when the railway closed. While Stuart and Falcon 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 believed that the Earl would come to rescue him, but as time went on, he did not show, and Duke began to have doubts which grew stronger and stronger. 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 Mr Fergus Duncan, the Rev. Teddy Boston and the Rev. W. Awdry in 1969 and taken by road and rail to Crovan's Gate Works. There Duke was restored and rebuilt, through the kindness and generosity of Sir Topham Hatt and the present Earl of Sodor, who shared the cost with Sir Handel Lloyd Brown. He was finally re-united with Sir Handel and Peter Sam and for the first time in its history the Skarloey Railway had motive power to spare, which allowed Sir Handel to be lent to the Talyllyn Railway in 1982, while Sir Haydn was out of service for repairs.

## Persona

Duke is one of the oldest and most experienced engines of the Skarloey Railway. He is also the mentor of Peter Sam and Sir Handel, from their younger days on the Mid Sodor Railway, when they were called Stuart and Falcon respectively. He may have a head teacher 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 a disapproval to, or pedantically stating how he thinks someone would have adhered to the rules and regulations in his young days. Despite their teasing ways, Sir Handel and Peter Sam in particular have grown to become very fond of Duke and dearly nicknamed him "Granpuff" for his long service to the railway. He, in turn, commonly refers to them by their old names.

## Livery

Duke is painted brown with yellow lining. His tender bears the MSR crest and he has red and gold name and number plates on the sides of his saddletank and cab respectively. While on the Mid Sodor Railway, he lacked lining.

## Trivia

* He is the brother of Bertram.

**Mid Sodor Railway**

**Skarloey Railway**