The replica of Gooch’s 7ft 0¼in gauge Iron Duke in steam and working over a temporary stretch of broad-gauge track in Kensington Gardens, London (Photograph courtesy National Railway Museum/SSPL)  


Replica of Iron Duke shortly after completion by Resco Railways in 1985. The exposed nature of the footplate – with no attempt at protecting the crew – is evident. Life for footplatemen on the 19th Century Broad Gauge must have been challenging in cold, wet or snowy weather given that these locomotives were capable of speeds up to 80mph (Photograph courtesy National Railway Museum/SSPL)  

The Iron Duke class, designed by Brunel's friend and right-hand man Daniel Gooch, quickly established the early Great Western Railway's reputation for speed on Brunel's impressive 7ft 0¼in gauge main line from Paddington to Bristol.  The first member of the class was built in 1846 as a 2-2-2 and named Great Western, but it was soon converted to the 4-2-2 wheel arrangement, along a rigid wheelbase.  Interestingly, the huge single 8ft-diameter driving wheels were flangeless which aided navigation of curves.  The class quickly developed a reputation for fast running, albeit with relatively light loads and speeds of up to 80mph were recorded.  The Great Western Railway was very good at promoting its achievements and with the 'Flying Dutchman' express hauled by an Iron Duke locomotive, it made the most of the fact that this, for many years, was the fastest train in the world.  It covered the 194 miles from Paddington to Exeter at an average speed of 53mph.

Iron Duke itself, named after the Duke of Wellington, was built in 1847 and lent its name to the class, which eventually numbered 30 locomotives.  From 1871, some of the Iron Duke class were extensively rebuilt to form the Rover class, which were more reliable and capable of handling heavier trains.  Iron Duke class engines that were not so rebuilt (including Iron Duke itself, which was withdrawn in 1871) were broken up although parts were incorporated into the improved locomotives.  The name Iron Duke went on to be carried by one of the Rover class.  All of the Rover class engines were withdrawn in 1892 when the Great Western was forced to re-gauge to the 'standard' gauge of 4ft 8½in that was used by the rest of the UK.

None of these locomotives survived although Iron Duke class Lord of the Isles, which was withdrawn in 1884, was retained for preservation at Swindon works and occasionally exhibited - including at the World's Fair in Chicago.  It appeared in public for the last time at Earl's Court in 1897.  However, in 1906 Churchward decided that there was no further use for it and, unfortunately, it was scrapped although its giant 8ft diameter flangeless driving wheels survived and are exhibited at STEAM in Swindon.

Iron Duke is exhibited by kind permission of the National Railway Museum.