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71000 "Duke of Gloucester"
BR standard class 8P   4-6-2  built 1954
Farnborough
16 August 2006

71000 is pictured here between Farnborough and Fleet, heading "The Sunny South Special", (although carrying "The Cathedrals Express" headboard).

The Duke has a very interesting history. Built as one of a kind it had a comparatively short life with British Railways due, in part at least, to a mysterious boiler problem. Left to rust in Barry scrapyard for several years it was rescued in 1973 with many parts missing and over the next 13 years was rebuilt and redesigned to overcome it's original design and construction failings. For a fuller account of the history of this loco see  www.dukeofgloucester.co.uk