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Description
Duke was built at Boston Lodge in Minffordd, Wales to the order of John Arnold Norramby, Earl of Sodor and Chairman of the MSR, in 1879 for the opening of the Mid Sodor Railway in 1880. The Board of Directors named him in honour of the Earl and rostered him to haul the Opening Train. He worked with several other engines on the Mid Sodor, including Falcon, Stuart and Freddie. (The former two were later named Sir Handel & Peter Sam respectively, while Freddie was rebuilt as Ivo Hugh eventually). Although he had mentored a decent amount of engines over the years, he was most fond of Falcon and Stuart, and they were fond of him too.

Soundly built, Duke was well maintained and kept in service until 1947 when the railway closed. While Stuart and Falcon were sold, no buyers were interested in him, so he was left oiled, greased and sheeted up in Arlesdale Sheds, where he was all but forgotten. He believed that the Earl would come to rescue him, or that Falcon and Stuart would spread the word of what had happened, but as time went on, he did not show, and Duke began to have doubts which grew stronger and stronger. He was unaware the Earl he knew had been killed during the Second World War, and that his successor was just a boy, who did not know of Duke. As for Falcon and Stuart, they wanted to speak, but various things from bad working conditions at the Aluminium works to the many overhauls and rescues of the SkR hindered them. The modifications they had and rescues of coaches also held them back.

He was later discovered by Mr. Fergus Duncan, the Reverend Teddy Boston and the Reverend W. Awdry in 1969 and taken by road and rail to Crovan's Gate. There Duke was restored and rebuilt, through the kindness and generosity of Sir Topham Hatt and the present Earl of Sodor, who shared the cost with Sir Handel Lloyd Brown and the Thin Controller. He was finally re-united with Sir Handel and Peter Sam and for the first time in its history the Skarloey Railway had motive power to spare. In 1982, Duke's overhaul was complete in time for Sir Handel to be sent to the Talyllyn Railway while Talyllyn himself was out of service. Soon after Sir Handel returned, he listened to his stories of his visits in Wales, and agreed with him that it was good to be home.

He attended Ivo Hugh's naming ceremony in 1996.

Sometime after that, Duke had gotten into a rift with Sir Handel and Skarloey when he had heard his driver reading the story "Old Faithful" to his nieces and heard the 'Best engine in the world' comment, and with Duck about the 'engine dukes being scrapped' comment from back when. But what Duke didn't understand, was that Sir Handel had thought highly of both engines, and Duck hadn't meant to upset Peter Sam. Duke was still cross later that day, and the trucks had taken this opportunity to have him crash into some buffers. Because he had no buffers of his own, he tilted toward the side of the track, his front wheels coming off. Luckily, Sir Handel and Skarloey were close by, and managed to pull him back. Duke apologies to the two engines, and they explain their situation. He then apologises to Duck at the works when he's getting some minor repairs done. Duke also gets some new buffers fitted, and changes his livery to the Skarloey Railway red and blue.

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 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 younger days. Despite their teasing ways, Sir Handel and Peter Sam have grown to become very fond of Duke and dearly nicknamed him "Granpuff" for his long service to the railway.

Description
Duke was built at Boston Lodge in Minffordd, Wales to the order of John Arnold Norramby, Earl of Sodor and Chairman of the MSR, in 1879 for the opening of the Mid Sodor Railway in 1880. The Board of Directors named him in honour of the Earl and rostered him to haul the Opening Train. He worked with several other engines on the Mid Sodor, including Falcon, Stuart and Freddie. (The former two were later named Sir Handel & Peter Sam respectively, while Freddie was rebuilt as Ivo Hugh eventually). Although he had mentored a decent amount of engines over the years, he was most fond of Falcon and Stuart, and they were fond of him too.

Soundly built, Duke was well maintained and kept in service until 1947 when the railway closed. While Stuart and Falcon were sold, no buyers were interested in him, so he was left oiled, greased and sheeted up in Arlesdale Sheds, where he was all but forgotten. He believed that the Earl would come to rescue him, or that Falcon and Stuart would spread the word of what had happened, but as time went on, he did not show, and Duke began to have doubts which grew stronger and stronger. He was unaware the Earl he knew had been killed during the Second World War, and that his successor was just a boy, who did not know of Duke. As for Falcon and Stuart, they wanted to speak, but various things from bad working conditions at the Aluminium works to the many overhauls and rescues of the SkR hindered them. The modifications they had and rescues of coaches also held them back.

He was later discovered by Mr. Fergus Duncan, the Reverend Teddy Boston and the Reverend W. Awdry in 1969 and taken by road and rail to Crovan's Gate. There Duke was restored and rebuilt, through the kindness and generosity of Sir Topham Hatt and the present Earl of Sodor, who shared the cost with Sir Handel Lloyd Brown and the Thin Controller. He was finally re-united with Sir Handel and Peter Sam and for the first time in its history the Skarloey Railway had motive power to spare. In 1982, Duke's overhaul was complete in time for Sir Handel to be sent to the Talyllyn Railway while Talyllyn himself was out of service. Soon after Sir Handel returned, he listened to his stories of his visits in Wales, and agreed with him that it was good to be home.

He attended Ivo Hugh's naming ceremony in 1996.

Sometime after that, Duke had gotten into a rift with Sir Handel and Skarloey when he had heard his driver reading the story "Old Faithful" to his nieces and heard the 'Best engine in the world' comment, and with Duck about the 'engine dukes being scrapped' comment from back when. But what Duke didn't understand, was that Sir Handel had thought highly of both engines, and Duck hadn't meant to upset Peter Sam. Duke was still cross later that day, and the trucks had taken this opportunity to have him crash into some buffers. Because he had no buffers of his own, he tilted toward the side of the track, his front wheels coming off. Luckily, Sir Handel and Skarloey were close by, and managed to pull him back. Duke apologies to the two engines, and they explain their situation. He then apologises to Duck at the works when he's getting some minor repairs done. Duke also gets some new buffers fitted, and changes his livery to the Skarloey Railway red and blue.

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 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 younger days. Despite their teasing ways, Sir Handel and Peter Sam have grown to become very fond of Duke and dearly nicknamed him "Granpuff" for his long service to the railway.