Iron Duke is a broad gauge replica of a steam engine which used to work on the Great Western Railway. Iron Duke is part of the National Railway Museum collection.
Biography
The Railway Series
Iron Duke, the replica, was a top attraction at the National Railway Museum running on the broad-gauge demonstration line.
Thomas met him on his visit to the National Railway Museum. He told Thomas that his gauge was used on the Great Western Railway until a century ago. Thomas resolved to tell Duck later.[1]
Personality
Not much is known about Iron Duke's personality, though he appears to have a vast amount of knowledge on the history of the Great Western Railway and broad gauge. Thomas enjoyed talking to him while they were running across the demonstration line.
Technical Details
Real-life History
The original Iron Duke, designed by Sir Daniel Gooch and built by Swindon Works in 1847, could haul a large load at 60 mph (96 kph). The original Iron Duke was displayed at the Great Exhibition in 1851, and by 1855, Gooch had produced another twenty nine locomotives in this style.
Although the real Iron Duke did not survive into preservation, a replica was built. The replica was based at the National Railway Museum in York, but has since take up permanent residence at the Didcot Railway Centre running a broad-gauge demonstration line. The boiler of RSH Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST 7135 of 1944 was used on the replica Broad Gauge locomotive. Parts also came from another Hunslet Austerity.
The above technically makes Iron Duke the same class as Wilbert, Sixteen and The Austerity Engine.
Livery
Iron Duke is painted brown with a green tender and wheels and has gold lining. Iron Duke also has a walrus moustache and whiskery eyebrows. The buffer beams are painted red with black buffers.
Appearances
The Railway Series
Companion volumes
- 1995 - The Thomas the Tank Engine Man (mentioned)
- 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection
Trivia
- Iron Duke is the first engine to have a moustache in The Railway Series.
- If the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends television series is included, he is the second engine, the first being Earnest.
- Iron Duke is the first and, so far, only broad gauge engine to appear in The Railway Series.
Gallery
The Railway Series
Main Series
References
| Locomotives | Steam | 87546 and 98462 | Workshop Engines | Big City Engine | Jinty and Pug | City of Truro | Stepney | Bluebell and Primrose | Adams | Cromford | Captain Baxter | Flying Scotsman | Toby's Brothers | 8783 | 1020 | Stephenson's Rocket | Green Arrow | Boxhill | Iron Duke | Mallard | Duchess of Hamilton | Wilbert | Sixteen | Albert |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Diesel | Diesel 4711 | Diesel 199 | Diesel 40125 | Diesel 31120 | 10751 | |
| Rolling Stock | Helena | |
| People | Elizabeth II | The Thin Clergyman | The Fat Clergyman | |
| Stations | Barrow-in-Furness | Brighton | Carnforth | Crewe | Euston | Horsted Keynes | King's Cross | Lakeside | Norchard | Paddington | St. Pancras | York | |
| Railways | Bluebell Railway | British Railways | Corris Railway | Dean Forest Railway | Ffestiniog Railway | Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway | Snowdon Mountain Railway | Talyllyn Railway | Toby's Old Tramway | |
| Locomotives | Flying Scotsman* | City of Truro | Boxhill | Green Arrow | Duchess of Hamilton | Mallard | Stephenson's Rocket | Iron Duke | Puffing Billy | Eurostar |
|---|---|
| Coaches | Open-topped Carriages |