Duke (first released as Duke with Coal Car) is one of the oldest engines on the island who worked on the Mid Sodor Railway.
Product Description
1999 Character Card
The oldest and most experienced of engines, Duke (whose nickname is "Granpuff") enjoys teaching others the proper way to do things. He is gentle, but maintains his authority at all times.
2009 Character Card
Duke is the oldest of the narrow gauge engines and the most experienced. He enjoys teaching the others the proper way to do things, like in "The Good Old Days." Despite his 'head teacher' attitude he is gentle and kind to younger engines, but maintains his authority at all times.
Changes
- 1997 (wooden funnel)
- 1998 (plastic funnel)
- 1999 (redesigned plastic funnel)
- 2001 (names on chassis)
- Late 2002 (ledge removed)
- 2009 (new design with updated livery)
Availability
Trivia
- Duke's original prototype features a hand-sculpted face, sticker decals, and a tender with a more-rounded front.
- Duke was the first engine to have plastic coal in his tender, before all other tender engines were updated with it in 1999.
- Duke's tender is referred to as his "Coal Car".
- Duke was reintroduced in 2009 as a DVD tie-in product, along with Smudger.
- The 2009 Duke was never released in Europe, although his 2002 version was sold separately there at the time. This is also the case with Peter Sam and the 2001 Rusty.
- Duke's character card says that he is the oldest narrow gauge engine, despite the fact that Skarloey and Rheneas are older.
- In the 1997 Cross and Switch Expansion Pack Builder's Guide, a Duke with six wheels can be seen.