GWR Iron Duke class 4-2-2 Dragon at Taunton with the last broad gauge train to Paddington in 1892 (photo copyright expired, from Wikipedia)


1985-built replica of Iron Duke at Bristol for the Brunel 200 celebrations in August 2006. This locomotive was constructed from the parts of two Austerity 0-6-0STs (photo by Rod Ward)


An artists impression of how the new mixed gauge platform 1 will look at Toddington complete with Iron Duke arriving on a service train.

The GWR has fixed the date for a spectacular celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the Great Western Railway in 2010. The event is to take place from 23rd-31st May next year and the aim is to celebrate progress of the Great Western Railway from Brunel's celebrated broad gauge to the introduction of British Rail's HST on the Western Region.

The railway hopes to attract a wide range of locomotives - including the Iron Duke from the National Railway Museum. The GWR has been in exclusive talks with the Museum to put the Iron Duke in steam - and to run it over part of the GWR.  The recently-appointed Special Projects director of the NRM, Len Urbki, told 'Latest News': "We are delighted to be able to announce that we have obtained sanction from the Government to allow two miles of broad-gauge track to be laid between Toddington and Laverton in time for next year's celebrations. It's a little-known fact that the Act of Parliament that led to conversion of the Great Western to standard gauge from 1864 also made it illegal to lay tracks to Brunel's 7ft 0¼in gauge thereafter and special dispensation had to be obtained to allow this project to go ahead."

The NRM's replica Iron Duke class 4-2-2, built for the 150th anniversary of the Great Western, was completed in 1985 and it is currently 'out of ticket'. The locomotive is to be overhauled and returned to steam using outside contractors and the locomotive should be delivered to Toddington by 1st April next year for running in.

GWR engineering director, Andrew Goodman, says that this is the most exciting development in the heritage railway movement today. "Laying dual-gauge track between Toddington and Laverton presents a lot of interesting challenges - not least of which is the pointwork. The plan is to run the extra rail from the yard at Toddington, through platform 1 and on over Stanway Viaduct to Laverton."

Len Urbki added: "Once again it will be possible to enjoy the vision that I K Brunel had for the railways of Britain. We are putting every resource possible into this project so that it can be completed in time for the 175th Anniversary.

"Seeing Iron Duke running again - and being able to run at a reasonable speed rather than the short trips within the Museum or over temporary track - will be something that no-one alive today will have experienced."

The route of the Stratford to Cheltenham line, over which part of the present-day GWR operates, was completed in 1907 and was, of course, never built to Brunel's broad gauge. However, the broad gauge did reach Cheltenham St. James with a branch from Swindon via Stroud.

The Iron Duke class was originally introduced as a 2-2-2 in 1846.  The class underwent a number of modifications, including conversion to the 4-2-2 wheel arrangement to improve stability, eventually becoming known as the Alma class (the first locomotive was called Alma, after the Battle of Alma). In 1870, three members of the class were extensively rebuilt on the original frames.  Several further locomotives of this modified design, generally referred to as the Rover, class were built new.  At the time, these locomotives handled the fastest train services in the world , achieving speeds of up to 80mph.

The GWR is looking for support for this project - if you are interested in getting involved, or would simply like to know more, please click here.