Duke

**Duke the Lost and Found Engine** is one of the deuteragonists and the eighth engine on the Skarloey Railway. He was also formerly the first engine on the Mid Sodor Railway.

## Backstory

### Main Timeline

Duke was the first engine for the Mid Sodor Railway and named after his Grace, the Duke of Sodor. He worked happily on the Mid Sodor Railway for many years and keep the other engines in order. He had a relationship with Jennings and acted as the grandfather figure to Falcon and Stuart. Unfortunately, the Mid Sodor Railway would fall in decline with many engines and rolling stock being sold off. Eventually, the railway closed altogether after Smudger (who had been converted into a pumping engine) broke down and the mines flooded. Falcon and Stuart were sold to the Aluminium Works whilst Duke was left behind and remained in his shed for many years. During that time, the shed was buried by the landscape. Then one day, Duke received a surprise when Sir Topham Hatt fell through the roof. Sir Bertram was part of a search party along with Mr. Percival, Lady Hatt, Mr. Peter Sam and Sir Handel Brown. After this, Duke was bought to the Skarloey Railway and was happily reunited with Falcon and Stuart (now called Sir Handel and Peter Sam).

## Relationships

### Skarloey

Skarloey and Duke usually get along pretty well. However, when Duke realised Sir Handel used his affectionate nickname for him on Skarloey by mistake, he assumed that Sir Handel wanted Skarloey as a replacement. However, the two old engines had managed to make peace with each other.

### Sir Handel

Although they butted smokeboxes at first, after he saved him from falling off a cliff, Sir Handel looks up to Duke as his dear 'Granpuff'. When the Mid Sodor line closed, Sir Handel was devastated that he wouldn't see him again. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise at Peel Godred, for Sir Handel feared Duke would have been scrapped there. However, on the Skarloey Railway, Sir Handel was dying to talk about Duke. This would be easier said than done as many factors held him and Peter Sam back. When the word was spread, Duke was finally reunited with his "Granchuffs". He was hurt, however, when Sir Handel had used his affectionate nickname on Skarloey by mistake. However, the two have since patched things up.

(Details regarding the Ulfstead Extras AU to be added)

### Peter Sam

Very much like Sir Handel, Peter Sam looks up to Duke as his dear 'Granpuff', even if he could be cheeky at times. When the Mid Sodor line closed, Peter Sam was devastated that he wouldn't see him again. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise at Peel Godred, for Peter Sam feared Duke would have been scrapped there. However, on the Skarloey Railway, Peter Sam was dying to talk about Duke. This would be easier said than done as many factors held him and Sir Handel back. When the word was spread, Duke was finally reunited with his "Granchuffs". Their relationship took a rocky turn after Duke learnt that Sir Handel had used the affectionate Granpuff by mistake but they soon patched things up.

(Details regarding the Ulfstead Extras AU to be added)

### Ivo Hugh

When Ivo Hugh was first built, he was assigned to work with Duke in double heading a train to Ulfstead Castle. Unfortunately, it was there that Duke learnt what had happened to the Duke of Sodor and left in a huff, leaving Ivo Hugh to his own devices and poor Ivo Hugh caused an accident as he did not know how to shunt. After this, Ivo Hugh did not trust Duke even after the old engine took over from Skarloey who had taken on the dirty water. The two engines would end up catching the saboteurs and later that evening, Ivo Hugh gave a small smile, saying that he forgave Duke.

### Bertram

(Details to be added)

(Details regarding the Ulfstead Extras AU to be added)

## Romance

### Jennings

Duke and Jennings were happy together and when Falcon and Stuart started calling Duke "Granpuff", Jennings became their "Puffma". When Jennings was withdrawn and went to a park on static display in a park, Duke was upset. But when he later found out that Jennings was moved to being on static display at the Rolling Hills Railway, Duke was very happy.

## Personality

Due to his status of the MSR's No.1 and being named after an important Sudrian figure, Duke took upon himself to act as a mentor to the younger engines. There was a particular bond with Falcon and Stuart who dubbed him "Granpuff". Although, Duke stood for no nonsense and found Smudger insufferable, he was shocked when the reckless engine was converted into a pumping engine. Although happy on the Skarloey Railway, his time in the shed has made him insecure and when he learns something upsetting, he will respond with anger. However, once he realizes his errors, he will apologize and work to make it up to the offended party.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Duke is based on the Ffestiniog Railway "Small England" class 0-4-0ST+T locomotives; more specifically, Prince. Unlike the real Small Englands, Duke is built to 2ft 3in gauge rather than 1ft 11½in gauge. Bertram shares the same basis, albeit modified with a small bunker in lieu of a tender.

Interestingly enough, in the books, Duke is much younger than Prince. Prince was built in 1863, while in the books, Duke was built in 1879. In this series, he was built in 1886, to keep with him being younger than Skarloey and Rheneas in this continuity.

### 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. He also originally had red bufferbeams, but he got buffers after his overhaul in the International Railway Series.

## Differences between the books, episodes and this series

* In the books, Duke spent 22 years (1947-1969) in the sheds before being bought to the Skarloey Railway. In the television series, it was not stated how long he was in the shed. In this series, Duke was in the shed for eight years (1977-1985).
* In the books and episodes, Duke told the story of Stanley/Smudger's downfall to set Falcon and Stuart straight and seem pleased about it. In this series, Duke was just as horrified as the other engines as he thought that was too harsh a fate for any engine.
* In the books, it was the Reverend Teddy Boston who found Duke, In the television series, Duke was found by a portly explorer. In this series, the person who found Duke was Sir Bertram Topham Hatt.

## Trivia

* Duke's preferred voice actor is Colm Feore, Toby’s voice from *Thomas and the Magic Railroad*.