The operator for 71000 Duke of Gloucester has been confirmed today, 14th February 2024.
The BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust has signed a 10 year agreement to allow the locomotive to operate the locomotive on the mainline, once the overhaul is complete, with The Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust.
The agreement will see the locomotive join the fleet at Crewe, including 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, 60532 Blue Peter, and others under the Locomotive Services Group belt.
71000 will move to the Severn Valley Railway once complete for testing and commissioning before moving to Crewe to start the next chapter.
Trevor Tuckley, Chairman of the BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust, custodians of 71000, said: “We are delighted to be part of this stable of very special steam locomotives. 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 converted to electric traction. 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, the final design of British Express Steam Locomotive, and so started the “Impossible Dream”. He returned it to the mainline in the configuration it was scrapped in, plus the addition of a Kylchap exhaust. This latest overhaul has carried out the improvements that we believe Riddles, the designer, would have done if he had been allowed the time. This completes the “Impossible Dream”.
“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 Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust and Chairman of Locomotive Services (TOC) Limited, said: “We are delighted to have been given this wonderful opportunity to work with a like-minded organisation, who clearly share our passion for the protection and careful use of iconic steam locomotives. 71000 is a locomotive with a unique story, offering a vision of what might have been. It is clearly supported and managed by a professional, dedicated, and enthusiastic team, whose outlook is forward-thinking whilst also pragmatic, values we hold dear at RSL> and within the Locomotive Services Group. I very much look forward to seeing “The Duke” heading our restored Mark 1 coaches for everyone to enjoy.”
Always saw the Duke on the Mid Day Scot at Berkhamstead in my train spotting days a distinct sound of power.
Would love to see the Duke again on the mainline.
Be great to see the Duke power up the Devon banks!
Ooh, Seattle to Carlisle with the “Duke” That should get my steam mileage up..😉
That’s a lot of very rare mileage, or do you mean Settle? 🙂
Great to hear that another steam engine has been allowed to run on the mainline, it’s ok looking at a train in a museum, but a steam engine comes alive when allowed to stretch it’s legs on the main line rather than just trundled down a heritage line at 25mph. Lets hope it comes north and tackles Shap and the Seattle to Carlisle lines.
don’t you mean Settle?