Duchess

## Duchess of Loughborough

### Family

Merlin Wilson (husband, in the fanfic), Duchess of Hamilton (sister), Henry (cousin)

### Friends

Thomas, Percy, James, Gordon, Edward, Henry, Emily, Rebecca, Nia, Toby, Sir Topham Hatt, Duck, Bill and Ben, Timothy, Rosie, Stanley, Ryan, Sonny, Diesel, Daisy, Salty, Porter, Paxton, Sidney, Philip, Victor, Skarloey and Rheneas, Whiff, Marion, Skiff, Hiro, Kenji, Mavis, Annie and Clarabel, Charlie, Billy, Terence, Bertie, Bulgy, Cleo, Ruth, Donald and Douglas, Cranky, Carly, Judy and Jerome, Elizabeth, George, Peter Sam, Sir Handel, Mighty Mac, Duncan, Freddie, Duke, Owen, Merrick, Harvey, Millie, Luke, Stephen, Glynn, Shane, Aubrey and Aiden, Tamika, Ace. Isla, Spencer, Henrietta, Hugo, Rocky, Harold, Flynn, Captain, Butch, Belle, Nelson, Jack, Alfie, Oliver, Max and Monty, Kelly, Byron, Ned, Isobelle, Patrick, Brenda, Buster, Darcy, Kevin, Oliver, Ashima, Rajiv, Noor Jehan, Shankar, Charubala, Lorenzo, Beppe, Gina, Stefano, Ester, Gabriela, Gustavo, Raul, Marcia and Marcio, Fernando, Hank, Sam, Gator, Norman and Dennis, Hong-Mei, Yong Bao, An-An and Yin-Long, Den, Dart, Beau, Toad, Lexi, Theo, Hurricane, Frankie, Beresford, Caitlin, Connor, Ferdinand, Bash and Dash, Emerson, Lei, Natalie, Cassia, 'Arry and Bert, Bert, Rex, Mike**Fanfic:** Ten Cents, Sunshine, Theodore, Emily, Hercules, Big Mac, Warrior, Grampus, O.J., Top Hat, Big Mickey, Sally, Boomer, Frank and Eddie, Oliver, Foduck, The Dispatcher, Izzy Gomez, Captain Star, Captain Zero, Zak, Zorran, Zebedee, Zip, Zug, Mighty Mo, Lucy, Phillip and Filmore, Hank, George

### Likes

Transports the Royal Family, being nice, Thomas**Fanfic:** Her husband, working for the Royal Family, her husband's performance

### Dislikes

Being rude, lateness, her safety valve burst, being stranded**Fanfic:** Thomas fell seriously ill

## Character's Bio

### Full name

Lorraine "Duchess" Nielsen-Wilson (fanfic, as a human)

### Birthdate

Sometimes between 1937 or 1948 (built)20th May 1937 (fanfic, as a human)

### Race

English, Danish and Irish (fanfic, as a human)

## Physical Apearance

### Hair Colour

Platinum blonde with cream highlights (fanfic, as a human)

### Eye Colour

Black (cartoon)Very light cyanish blue (fanfic, as a human)

### Complexion

Cream with gold lining and boiler bands (cartoon)Pale (fanfic, as a human)

### Status

Alive

**Duchess** (also known as **Duchess of Loughborough**) is one of *Thomas & Friends* characters. She was the large cream tender engine that lives in the Mainland. She appears in the special Thomas and the Royal Engine and her job is to transport the Royal Family.

She was voiced by British actress Rosamund Pike, who also portrays Sam Chamberlain from The World's End and voices Moominmamma from Finnish-British television series Moominvalley.

In the fanfic, *The Secret & Dearest Life of Everything in Sodor,* Duchess' married name, Bourdain, was a reference to late American chef, Anthony Bourdain, who died of an apparent suicide by hanging on 8th June 2018.

## Biography

### *Thomas & Friends*

Upon first meeting Thomas, Duchess mistook his coach for one of her own. Later, when Thomas went to the washdown, Duchess accidentally backed into him, causing him to be covered in coal dust. At the washdown, Duchess formally introduced herself to Thomas and apologized for her earlier behaviour, explaining that she had an important job and could not be late.

Duchess later met Thomas again on the Main Line, where the two briefly talked. Duchess continued on her way shortly after; however the two soon met once again when Duchess' safety valve burst and she was stranded. Upon learning that she was also headed to London, Thomas helped push Duchess and her train to Victoria Station. At Victoria Station, Thomas first learned of her status as a royal engine when Sir Topham Hatt noticed the crown on her buffer beam and the Queen stepped out of her coaches.

## Personality

Duchess is described as "a lovely, warm, bubbly sort of effervescent engine who is very anxious to get things right." Although friendly, she can be forgetful, and she strives to be on time. Her tendencies to hurry can sometimes make her seem like she has lost her manners. Despite this, she is good-hearted and very respectful, always looking to be the best she can.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Duchess is based on the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Coronation Class. Designed by William Stanier and built at Crewe Works between 1937 and 1948, these 4-6-2 tender locomotives were built for express passenger services and, on a test, were the most powerful steam locomotives ever used in Great Britain. They were in service until 1962 to 1964 when they were withdrawn from service and scrapped en masse. Three examples have been preserved, including No. 6229 Duchess of Hamilton at the National Railway Museum.

Duchess has some modifications from her original basis; her smoke deflectors are more akin to those on the Royal Scot Class, and she has an LNER corridor tender of the same design as Flying Scotsman's. She also has circular buffers as opposed to oval ones, as well as a single chimney as opposed to the double chimney used on the Coronation class.

## Physical Appearance

### Livery

Duchess is painted cream with gold lining and boiler bands. Her wheels, running plate, and buffer shanks are painted dark red, while her front bufferbeam is black. She has two golden nameplates with red backing, one on each side of her boiler, as well as a removable crown symbol on her front end when carrying the Royal Family. Her company's initials, LMS, are painted on her tender in gold with a red drop shadow, while her number is painted in gold on the side of her cab.

### Fanfic

As a human, Duchess has pale skin, platinum blonde hair with cream highlights, very light cyanish blue eyes, and bright wine red lipstick. She wears cream blazer with gold lining on each lapel, white shirt, red necktie, cream pencil skirt, light brown belt, pale beige tights and black high heeled shoes.

## Fanfics

The Secret of Dearest Life of Everything in Sodor

Duchess appears in the fanfic as a human and also married to her husband Merlin, who was a train driver and a magician. She works as the royal train driver in England. When Percy arrives with James, Rosie, Gordon and the others on Victoria Station in England. She tells them what they were doing in the station but Henry told her about Thomas. She was understand sadly that Thomas was seriously ill after days when he works at the Japanese Railway alongside Hiro and Kenji in Japan.