City of Truro

"Chattering all night, keeping important engines awake! Who is he anyway?"

- Gordon, "Duck and the Diesel Engine"

    City of Truro 
 * Number: 3440, originally 3717
 * Built date: 1903
 * Builder: GWR Swindon Works
 * Designer: George Jackson Churchward
 * Configuration: 4-4-0
 * Gauge: 4' 8.5"
 * Leading wheel size: 3' 2"
 * Driver size: 6' 8.5"
 * Locomotive weight: 55 long tons 6 cwt
 * Locomotive and tender combined weight: 92 long tons 1 cwt
 * Fuel type: Coal
 * Cylinders: Two, inside
 * Cylinder size: 18" x 26"
 * Top speed: 100 mph
 * Tractive effort: 17 800 lb/f
 * Locomotive brakes: Steam
 * Train brakes: Vacuum
 * Retired: 1961
 * Restored: 1984

"City of Truro" is a steam engine who holds the record of being the first engine to attain the speed of 100 mp/h. He was designed by George Jackson Churchward and built at GWR Swindon Works in 1903.

Bio in the Railway Series
"City of Truro" first appeared in "Duck and the Diesel Engine" when the Railway Society visited. Duck, although shy at first, quickly befriended him, but Gordon was jealous of his record and attempted to go as fast as him, only to have his dome blown off on a viaduct.

"City of Truro" was later referenced in "Thomas and the Great Railway Show" as being a member of the National Railway Museum.

Bio in the television series


"City of Truro" also appeared in the third season episode "Gordon and the Famous Visitor". His name was not mentioned (though it appeared on a banner) and didn't speak, but, according to Duck, he is a celebrity.

Gordon was jealous of the engine and tried to beat his speed record, only to have his dome blown off.

Merchandising
"City of Truro" is available as a Bandai Tecs model. His ERTL model has been discontinued.

Trivia

 * "City of Truro" is a real engine - a GWR 3700 "City" Class 4-4-0.
 * "City of Truro" did have a face, but this was not shown in the Railway Series. In the television series, he appears to have a black face with glasses. He was to have a proper face, but they thought it would be inconvenient to have a face on such a famous engine and for one that only appeared for 30 seconds. So they removed it at the last minute, but it was made and used on ghost trains seen in seasons 5 and 6.
 * City of Truro's model was a static "dummy" model, meaning it had no motors or driving gears in it. It was later repainted and used a a "scrap" model in later episodes.