14/10/2026
Duke the Lost Engine is the twenty-fifth book of The Railway Series.
Foreword: Dear Friends,
An engine lost in the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways was found after 30 years. A tree had grown through its chimney and hornets nested in its firebox. When mended it gave good service for 30 more years.
"The Duke" was lost too; not in the jungle, but in his own shed which a landslide had buried. Not long ago he was dug out and mended. His own railway had been pulled up, so he is now at the Thin Controller's.
The Author
Stories
Granpuff: Duke, Falcon and Stuart were three engines who lived on the Mid Sodor Railway. Named after His Grace the Duke of Sodor, Duke was wise, but Falcon and Stuart were young and cheeky and often made fun of "Granpuff", as they affectionately called him. This went on until Duke told them the story of a reckless engine named Stanley, otherwise known as "No. 2", who was rough and often derailed and was punished by being turned into a pumping engine. The three had many adventures together until their line closed. Falcon and Stuart were purchased and in due course wind up on the Skarloey Railway, where they are painted red and re-named "Sir Handel" and "Peter Sam" respectively, but Duke was not wanted and was sheltered in the Arlesdale shed. Duke, unaware that His Grace was killed in the war and that the new Duke was only a child unaware of his existence, went to sleep...
Bulldog: In the old days of the Mid Sodor Railway, when Sir Handel was blue and named "Falcon", the Manager arranged for him to double-head with Duke to learn the mountain road. Falcon ignored Duke's warnings and when they reached a sharp part of the line, he derailed and hung dangerously over the edge. Duke held back but was in need of more water to build up more steam. With the help of the passengers gathering water from a cottage, he gathered enough strength to pull Falcon back. Falcon was grateful, but Duke was modest and said he only did what he did because he did not want Falcon's paint spoilt if he rolled down the mountain.
You Can't Win: Duke was old and Stuart jokes he may had to be kept in order. Duke merely laughed, but later his valves began leaking, and Falcon and Stuart came to the rescue. The cavalcade split up at Marthwaite, as Falcon took Duke's passengers to catch their boat at Arlesburgh, while Stuart took Falcon's train with Duke coupled behind. Duke and his driver, hearing Stuart's triumphant chortles, made a plan, and gave a great effort on the last hill. At Arlesdale, a boy inquired as to why there were two engines, to which his father replied that Stuart needed assistance, and so Duke came to help.
Sleeping Beauty: His Grace finally learns of Duke from the engines and staff of the Skarloey Railway, and he in turn informs the Small Controller, whose railway is built on remnants from the Mid Sodor Railway. The Small Controller organises a search party, consisting of himself and both the Thin and Fat Clergymen, and they enlist Rex, Bert and Mike to help them find Duke, promising to include them in the book if they are well-behaved. After a long, initially fruitless search, the Fat Clergyman crashes into Duke's shed, landing on his boiler. Duke is apprehensive, but cheers up when he told that the Duke is being brought to meet him. Duke, to his dismay, is sent to Arlesburgh by lorry, but is happier to discover he is still popular, and Donald carries him to the Skarloey Railway on a flatbed, where he is greeted by a large crowd of admirers. Sir Handel and Peter Sam find him beside the shed and tease him by saying they can now keep him in order. Duke plays along and falls asleep happily in the sunshine.
Thomas & Friends Milkshake Mattel
