Crewe home for Duke of Gloucester
THE Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust (RSL>) has secured a 10-year partnership with the BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust (BRC8SLT) for the operation of unique BR Standard Pacific No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester.
The loco, which has not worked since its boiler certificate expired in 2012, is in the final stages of an overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works. On completion of the work, No. 71000 will move to the Severn Valley Railway for testing and commissioning before relocating to Crewe later this year.
Main line operation
As part of an agreement which is designed to help ensure the mainline future of this iconic loco, the 4-6-2 will be primarily operated by Locomotive Services (TOC) Limited, hauling Saphos Trains’ railtours interspersed with periods of operation on heritage railways.
Trevor Tuckley, chairman of the BRC8SLT, custodians of
No. 71000, said: “We are delighted to be part of this stable of very special steam locos.‘The Duke’was built in 1954 and was intended to be the first of a class which would see steam continue until the mainlines were electrified. However, BR decided to introduce diesels instead. ‘The
Duke’ was then scrapped as the only unfinished prototype.
“Against the odds, Colin Rhodes decided that this machine should be saved for future generations to see in working order – and so started the ‘impossible dream’. He returned it to the mainline in the configuration it was scrapped, plus the addition of a Kylchap exhaust. This latest overhaul has carried out the improvements that we believe Robert Riddles, the designer, would have done if he had been allowed the time. This completes the ‘impossible dream’.”
Project support
Trevor added: “I would like to thank Michael Whitehouse and Alastair Meanley for their help and assistance during the Duke’s overhaul at Tyseley.”
Jeremy Hosking, trustee of the RSL> said: “No. 71000 is clearly supported and managed by a professional, dedicated and enthusiastic team, whose outlook is forward-thinking. I look forward to seeing ‘The Duke’ heading our restored Mk.1 carriages for everyone to enjoy.”
■ In the Railway Magazinebacked Shap Time Trials in
1995, Duke of Gloucester broke the record for the fastest northbound steam ascent, achieving the highest EDHP figures of 2300 average and a peak of 2803.