Return of the Duke
They were a classic example of British ingenuity that would now surely be referred to as “upcycling”.
And now after more than 60 years, one of the trains that ran the length and breadth of the Cambrian line is back in Aberystwyth.
Made up of two types of locomotive that were at the end of their life, the “Dukedog” class engines would eventually serve the Cambrian line for more than 20 years.
Comprising the boiler from a 'Duke' class loco, combined with the bottom end from a 'Bulldog' class loco, the Dukedogs were rare at the time as an engine still light enough to safely operate over Barmouth Bridge, compared to the heavier locomotives that were more popular at the time.
Those Duke and Bulldog engines had been built in the 1890s, with the conversions taking place in the 1930s at a time they could have expected to be replaced.
And now the only preserved “Dukedog” is taking pride of place at the Vale of Rheidol’s brand new museum, a short walk from Aberystwyth Railway Station.
The Earl of Berkley 9017 was eventually withdrawn from service in 1960 but was kept looking its best by the Bluebell Railway in Sussex.
With the engine on loan to the Vale of Rheidol Railway, people living in and visiting the area are able to once again enjoy seeing a locomotive which was once a mainstay on the line, making trips to Machynlleth, Pwllheli and further east towards Newtown and Welshpool.
Llŷr ap Iolo, Managing Director of the Vale of Rheidol Railway, 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.”
Transport for Wales’ Heritage and Sustainable Impact Manager Dr Louise Moon said it was “fantastic” that there were so many well-preserved engines around Wales.
She said: “There is so much interest and passion for this golden generation of steam engines and it is fantastic that many are so well preserved. The Dukedog class was a great example of ingenuity and engineering to solve a problem and it is well worth a visit to Aberystwyth to see.”
As well as the Dukedog, the new museum boasts locomotives and carriages from across the world, making it a fascinating trip into railway heritage as we prepare to celebrate Railway 200 in 2025.
