Latest Duke News & Updates
WHERE & WHEN
Duke Roster – Q2 2026
It’s been very quiet in January through to March 2026. The Duke had no scheduled outings through the first quarter of 2026. The good news is
ON THE BLOG
Chairman’s Report
Member’s Day Opening Address Kidderminster, Severn Valley Railway, 20 April 2026 “In welcoming you to this exclusive Members’ meeting, a lot has happened since the
RUNNING REPORTS
Support Crew’s Perspective
A mainline locomotive requires a Service Crew. The Duke is no exception. The Service Crew are all volunteers (the Trust is entirely managed by volunteers).
This is rare footage on The Duke’s footplate during a run at the Severn Valley Railway Spring Steam Gala, 2026.
Taken with Permission
The Duke Hashtags we will be using in future
#71000TheDuke or
#BRC8SLT
See our other Duke Playlists on YouTube
Click the button to see a compilation of videos of The Duke on individual charters.
Why we Still need your support
The maintenance of The Duke is funded primarily by public support including membership subscriptions, donations and fares paid for rail-tours hauled by the locomotive.
The Duke is now based at the Crewe Depot of Locomotive Services Limited and is returning to mainline operations. During his latest heavy overhaul a number of modifications have been undertaken in order to maintain compatibility with the latest developments in railway technology. It was the objective of the Trust to have The Duke restored to as closely as possible to its original 1954 external condition and livery on completion of the overhaul.
The Trust is looking to pay for the wonderful paint job done by LSL and to build up sufficient reserves for future boiler maintenance and looking further into the future The Duke’s next heavy overhaul. Any support you can provide will be gratefully received.
How you can get involved
By becoming a member of The Duke family. To do this simply subscribe as a member of the Trust. See the Membership menu for details. You will be helping us to fund the ongoing running costs of The Duke and will be making a valuable contribution to the preservation of our railway heritage. There are also opportunities to have a more hands on involvement, for example, working with the support crew or as a member of the sales team.
Whatever you choose there will be a warm welcome for you within the new Trust.
Why be involved?
As a member you will receive exclusive updates about where and when The Duke is running, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses into the day-to-day work behind the scenes. But, most of all, you make a real contribution to safeguard this iconic engine for future generations. Find out more about Membership and how you can support this much-loved locomotive.
