- “That would never suit his grace!”
- ― Duke's catchphrase
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Duke, named after the Duke of Sodor and originally called The Duke, is considered a hero amongst the engines. He is also one of the oldest engines on Sodor.
Bio in the Railway Series
Duke was built at Boston Lodge in Minffordd, Wales in 1879 before being transported to Sodor for the opening of the Mid Sodor Railway in 1880.
In 1947, the line closed and Duke was sheeted and sheltered in the Arlesdale Sheds. He believed that The Duke of Sodor 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 later discovered by Mr. Francis Duncan, the Reverend Teddy Boston and the Reverend W. Awdry in 1969 and taken by road and rail to Crovan's Gate, where he was restored and returned to service in 1982. He now works on the Skarloey Railway.
Bio in the television series
Duke lived on the Mid Sodor Railway with several engines including Stuart, Falcon, and briefly Smudger, until the line went bankrupt and Stuart and Falcon were sold. Duke, however, was sheeted until a group of adventurers found his shed, buried under soil that had washed down from the mountains. Skarloey and Rheneas took him back to the Skarloey Railway, where he was soon returned to service.
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. Although once lost for many years in an old shed that nature tucked away and forgot, after the Mid Sodor Railway 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 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".
Basis
The story of Duke being rediscovered was based upon a true story about an engine abandoned in the Brazilian rainforest. Duke himself is based on Prince, a George England tender engine from the Ffestiniog Railway at Porthmadog, North Wales. Bertram is another member of this class.
Livery
Duke is painted brown with yellow lining in the television series and has two red plaques on either side of his saddletank with his name written in gold.
On the Reverend W. Awdry's model railway, he had "The Duke" written on his sides and "MS" written on his tender.
In the Railway Series, Duke was painted dark brown with red lining. On the Mid Sodor Railway, Duke was numbered 1. He is numbered 8 on the Skarloey Railway, but does not bear the number for unknown reasons. In the Railway Series, Duke's tender bears the Mid Sodor Railway's crest.
Appearances
Railway Series
Television series
He also appeared in two fifth and two sixth season songs. Duke's model was used for Bertram in the fifth season. The portrait of him that appeared in Bulldog was seen throughout the fourth and fifth seasons as well. Magazine stories
Duke also appeared in the magazine stories, Diesel Display and Hello, Skarloey!. |
Voice Actors
- Masaharu Satō (Japan)
Trivia
- Duke's current grace is Sir Robert Norramby.
- The official website states that Duke is the oldest of the narrow gauge engines. However, Skarloey and Rheneas are older, having been built in 1864 and 1865, respectively, while Duke was built in 1879.
- Duke is one of the only two narrow gauge tender engines on Sodor; the other is Bertram. Ironically, Duke's model was used to create Bertram as a last minute resort.
- The Reverend W. Awdry's model of "The Duke" was at the Reverend Teddy Boston's Cadeby Light Railway, before the railway finally closed in 2005.
- Duke was the first narrow gauge engine to not be based on an engine from the Talyllyn Railway.
- Unlike Duke's basis, Prince, who is built to the Ffestiniog Railway's gauge of 1'11 1/2", Duke was built to the 2'3" gauge of the Mid Sodor and Skarloey Railways.
Quotes
- Sometimes they would wink at each other and chant solemnly. "Engines come and engines go, Granpuff 'goes on' forever!"
- "You imprudent scallywags." Duke would say indignantly. "Whatever are young engines coming to nowadays?!"
- "Never mind Granpuff, we're only young once."
- "Well you better mind, unless you want to end up like No.2...."
- Stuart and Falcon teasing Duke, "Granpuff", "Duke the Lost Engine".
- Duke was alone locked up in the shed.
- "Where's his grace?" he wondered. "Its not like him to forget me."
- But his grace had been killed in the war. And the new Duke, a boy, hadn't heard of his little engine.
- "Oh well," said Duke to himself. "I'll go to sleep. It will help to pass the time."
- Years passed, winter torrents washed soils from the hills over the shed. Trees and bushes grew around. You wouldn't have known a shed was there, let alone a little engine asleep inside it.
- Duke alone locked up in his shed, "Granpuff", "Duke the Lost Engine".
Merchandise
- ERTL (normal and metallic; discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (two versions; discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)
- Mini Die Cast Collection (discontinued)
- Departing Now (discontinued)
- Trading Cards (discontinued)
- De Agostini (discontinued)
- Brio (discontinued)
- Nakayoshi (discontinued)
- Wind-up (Japan only)
Gallery
Merchandise Gallery
See also
| Locomotives | Duke | Stanley* | Smudger** | Falcon | Stuart | Albert* | Jim* | Tim* | The Mine Engine* | |
|---|---|
| Rolling Stock | Coaches | Saloon Coaches* | Coaches** | Cora* | Trucks (Slate Trucks) | Breakdown Train** | Gunpowder Wagons** | Flatbeds | Conflats | V-Tipper Wagons* | Brake Vans |
| People | The Mid Sodor Railway Manager |
| Locations | Arlesburgh (West, Bridge Street) | Ffarquhar Road | Marthwaite | Arlesdale Green | Arlesdale (Engine Sheds, Mines) | Cas-ny-Hawin | The Mountain Road | Ulfstead Road | Ballamoddey | King Orry's Bridge | Bertram's Old Mine** | Elm Farm** | Duke's Old Village** |