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If there is anything else man has manufactured that oozes so much character as a steam loco then I am yet to see it...and this one is not even on the move yet! Recently returned to the main line is this truly impressive engine...71000 'Duke of Gloucester'. It is seen here on December 21st 2004 about to to take the Cathedrals Express from London Kings Cross to Ely. There was only one word to describe its departure from the 'Cross' and that was magnificent with impressive volumes of smoke everywhere that then continued to pour out of the nearby Gasworks Tunnel...just like the old days. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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71000, Duke of Gloucester, at the head of a northbound steam special at Culham, 7/4/90 Photo copyright Stephen Dance (sdance@esfplc.com)

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UK – Standish Junction: the unique British Railways Standard 3-cyl Pacific, 71000 Duke of Gloucester accelerates its train from Swindon towards Gloucester and South Wales. 1990 Photo and scan Roger Griffiths jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk

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71000 Upton Scudamore – Once described as “the irreparable hulk”, British Railways 3-cylinder Pacific 71000 Duke of Gloucester has emerged, Phoenix-like, as probably the finest steam locomotive built in Britain. Painstakingly and expensively restored over many years, the mistakes made in its original building have been put right and additional improvements added – for example, a Kylchap exhaust system. The result is that this Caprotti valve gear 4-6-2 today seems easily able to master any train weight, gradient and schedule that it is asked to deal with. Here the Duke takes on the four miles (6.4km) of 1 in 70 (1.43%) gradient to Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire, with consummate ease. The train is the return “Cathedrals Express” from Bristol and Bath, to London. 21 July 2005. Digital photo by Roger Griffiths; jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk