Homecoming celebrations for ex-Cambrian GWR Dukedog
THE sole-surviving GWR Dukedog has returned to a shed it called home during its working life – after going on loan to the Vale of Rheidol Railway for display in its new Aberystwyth museum.
The class combined components from two other classes of GWR 4-4-0s, namely frames from Bulldogs and boilers from Dukes, which is where the type’s nickname is derived from. Built at Swindon in 1938, No. 9017 was a collection of parts from the two locomotives it officially replaced, utilising the frames of No. 3424 (which had been built ONLY in 1906 itself ), while the boiler was meant to come from No. 3258 The Lizard (built September 1895). However, official records suggest that little – if anything – from The Lizard ended up being used, with the boiler and cab coming from No. 3282 Chepstow Castle.
Cambrian days
When the GWR absorbed the Cambrian Railways in 1923, the permanent way restrictions resulting from its light build meant that heavier locomotives could not be operated on the route. While the Dukes were allowed to run on it, by the 1930s they had surpassed their estimated life, with the frames in particular being found to be in poor condition. Simultaneously, the Bulldogs were being withdrawn, with that class having an improved straight-topped frame construction.
A successful trial of the combination, which produced No. 3265 The Duke in 1929, resulted in the first 20 examples of the class being outshopped in 1936-38, with the final nine following a year later.
No. 9017 entered service under the original GWR identity of No. 3217 and while it was intended to carry the name Earl of Berkley from new, many of the earls from which the locomotives were to take their names indicated to the GWR they would rather their titles were carried by a more prestigious class and so on this occasion the name was transferred to Castle No. 5060.
Meanwhile, No. 9017 spent the majority of its life working on the Cambrian route, being allocated to both Aberystwyth (6F) and its sub-shed at Machynlleth (which was shed code 89C until 1963) until it was withdrawn from service in October 1960 at Oswestry shed.
In 1961 it became the subject of the first ever appeal for funds to purchase a locomotive for preservation, destined for the Bluebell Railway, which, at the time, was its only suitable home.
Oswestry District traffic superintendent Oliver Velton was instrumental in its survival as he placed the locomotive in store at Oswestry works to allow sufficient time for funds to be raised to secure its purchase. Velton had done the same for the Welshpool & Llanfair railway Beyer Peacock 0-6-0Ts Nos. 822 The Earl and 823
The Countess.
Sadly, the appeal failed to raise the full amount required. To ensure the Dukedog’s survival, Tom Gomm (of enamel badge fame) and enthusiast Peter Summers stepped in to make up the difference, with Summers also covering the cost of transportation for No. 9017 to Sussex; it even arrived with its own supply of Welsh coal! Having adopted the Earl of Berkley nameplates for the first time in 1963, it has remained based in Sussex for its entire heritage-era life, with only short stints visiting other venues. The closest it got to returning to its former home shed was a visit to the Llangollen Railway in 2009.
Its loan to the VoR for display will also be the first time a class member has been seen in Aberystwyth since the last was withdrawn from there in May 1960.
Out of hiding
VoR managing director Llŷr ap Iolo said: “We are very excited to announce the loan of this locomotive to go on public display here in Aberystwyth. As part of the project to construct our new museum, standard gauge track was laid to facilitate this kind of visit; the Dukedog seemed the perfect choice to be the first standard gauge locomotive to be put on display. I am very grateful to the board of the Bluebell Railway for making this loan possible.”
No. 9017 was last operational in June 2011, when it was withdrawn pending overhaul following the discovery of several boiler and mechanical faults. It had been considered for overhaul by the group working on the new-build LBSCR Brighton Atlantic Beachy Head project but was subsequently displaced by the LSWR pairing of B4 0-4-0T No. 96 Normandy and 4-4-2T radial tank No. 488.
Bluebell operations and commercial director Neil Glaskin said: “Since 2011, the locomotive has been stored under cover and this has meant limited chances for the public to see it. By displaying the loco in the new museum, everyone will have the chance to admire this fascinating machine.”
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The news was welcomed by Aberystwyth resident John Davies, now aged 93 and due to celebrate his 94th birthday on March 23, shortly after this issue went to press. No. 9017 was one of many he worked on during his footplate career, which began in Aberystwyth in 1952, and he was reunited with the locomotive on February 28.
“I spent a glorious week in the summer of 1955 firing No. 9017 with driver Tom Phillips,” he recalled. “We worked the 9.55am all stations from Aberystwyth to Welshpool each day, where we serviced the engine. Our return working was the ‘Cambrian Coast Express’, all the way to Aberystwyth. Working with Tom felt like a holiday job because of his light handling of the loco.
“We were climbing Talerddig bank with No. 9017 when Tom said, ‘shall I show you how to get the best out of a Dukedog?’
“I stood in the driving position as he demonstrated the easiest way to fire it. It was one of the best working weeks of my life.”
No. 9017 will be on display for two years within the 1938 GWR locomotive shed, which will open in conjunction with VoR services starting on March 23. The shed has been transformed into a museum and events space as part of a larger project called Wales to the World, which is developing the terminus at Park Avenue into a GWR-style station suitable for the modern tourist.