| For other uses, see Duncan. |
- “What's that about me? I'm a plain engine and believe in plain speaking. Speak up, and stop whispering in corners!”
- ― Duncan
Duncan is a grumpy Scottish red narrow gauge well tank engine on the Skarloey Railway.
Biography[]
Duncan was built by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. at their Caledonia Works in Kilmarnock, Scotland to their simple and straight forward industrial design in 1928 and worked in a factory. Peter Sam claims this to be the source for his strong language and volatile temper. Duncan is powerful and can haul all but the heaviest trains, but he had been given a short wheelbase that caused him to ride roughly at speed.
In 1958, Duncan was bought secondhand by Sir Handel Lloyd Brown as a spare engine, as the workload was too much for Sir Handel and Peter Sam to manage unassisted. He came soon after Peter Sam's accident with some slate trucks. Duncan was rude and arrogant at first. He often rocked and rolled along the lines, which everyone called "Rock-n-Roll." However, following accidents involving the tunnel and a worn stretch of track south of Cros-ny-Cuirn, he began to see sense and made up his feud with Rusty, whom he had detested for being a diesel. And he stopped rocking and rolling afterwards.
He was still selfish, being prone to temper tantrums and actually stalled on Rheneas Viaduct on the claims that he was overworked and not polished enough. Skarloey - fed up with his careless attitude - finally taught him sense with the story of Rheneas' single-handed running of the railway and how passengers are far more important than polish.
When some boy scouts were camping and volunteering for the Skarloey Railway, they were going to help fix a part of the line that was wet and mushy from the rain. When the scouts became thirsty, the leader stopped Duncan to help them find something for them to drink in fear that they might be dehydrated. Unfortunately, the Refreshment Lady ran out of drinks since the business was very busy for her, but Duncan suggested another tea shop near the station by the lake. They managed to pick up enough drinks and the boys cheered Duncan for helping them. He even replied by saying "It's only fair we should help you too!"
Duncan has visited the Talyllyn Railway in Wales as a tourist attraction. He was there in 2005, and has subsequently returned on several occasions, including the 2023 Awdry Extravaganza
Personality[]
Duncan is a Scottish narrow gauge engine with rough manners and a strong temper, making him the least social of the Skarloey Railway fleet. He was prone to boisterously bouncing about, which became known as "rock 'n' roll", whenever the mood took him, which once led to wedging in the north mouth of Rheneas Tunnel (probably caused by keystones knocked down by his funnel) and derailing on a stretch of line near Cros-ny-Cuirn.
While Duncan means well, he often grumbles and complains (usually about not being polished or being over-worked) and can be rude, rough, stubborn and bad-tempered. This can easily be seen in his dislike for Christmas for some reason. He claims to be a plain engine who believes in plainly speaking, an approach that can cause him to make callous or belligerent remarks. Duncan can be a competitive engine too, particularly with James. He can be impulsive, even more so than Sir Handel, and make rash decisions that usually lead to his downfall, (such as getting in arguments or short-lived feuds with Rusty). He is not always quick to apologise or realise the error of his ways. However, upon Skarloey recalling Rheneas' gallant act to get his passengers home, Duncan readily admitted he had the wrong attitude and tried hard to be a more useful, social and respectable engine in the future. When Rusty helped him after his derailment near Cros-ny-Cuirn, Duncan apologised to him and extended a wheel of friendship, proving he has gratitude.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
Duncan is based on the Talyllyn Railway's No. 6, Douglas, an Andrew Barclay "E" or "Light" Class 0-4-0WT. Between 2000 and 2007, Douglas was repainted as Duncan, complete with blue lining and name painted on the boiler, for special events associated with the franchise, known as "Duncan Days", After Douglas returned to service in 2013 he was repainted into a different red livery but still dressed up as Duncan for special events until 2015. Since 2016, Edward Thomas has performed this duty, dressed as Peter Sam. Several other engines of this class are also preserved.
2.jpg "Douglas(Talyllyn)2.jpg (185 KB)")
Livery[]
Duncan is painted in the Skarloey Railway (SR)'s standard red livery with blue lining and black wheels. His name is written on his boiler in yellow, while his number (6) is placed on his bunker in black-backed brass plates. He has a black running board and red bufferbeams.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series
Companion Volumes
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Official Description[]
From Official Media:[1]
| “ | Duncan (SR No.6): An 0-4-0 welltank engine built by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock to their simple and straightforward industrial design. Duncan was bought secondhand by Sir Handel Brown II in 1958 to provide a spare engine, as the growing traffic was proving too much for Peter Sam and Sir Handel to manage unassisted. Duncan is powerful and can haul all but the heaviest trains; but his short wheelbase gives him a tendency to ride roughly at speed. | ” |
From Official Media:[2]
| “ | Duncan (6): Duncan came to the Skarloey Railway second-hand through Sir Handel Brown in 1958 - he is a well-tank, built by the Kilmarnock from Andrew Barclay in 1928. Increasing traffic was providing too much for the two ex-MSR locomotives to cope with and Duncan was brought in to help. Coming from an industrial background he is, as he has been known to say "...a plain, blunt engine" and he is inclined to feel aggrieved about very little at times, but his heart is in the right place. Like Sir Handel and Peter Sam he has enjoyed a spell at the Talyllyn Railway, where he may be seen in 2005. | ” |
Trivia[]
- The Rev. W. Awdry's model of Duncan is currently on display at the Narrow Gauge Museum in the Talyllyn Railway.
- In some Japanese box art for The Railway Series, Duncan is incorrectly portrayed with an 0-4-2 wheel arrangement.
- Duncan's tendency to do "Rock-n-Roll" that resulted in incidents such as scraping tunnels with his cab and derailing were inspired from his real-life basis Douglas, who was known for being a "Rough Rider" with its short wheelbase.
- Ted Robbins does not give him a Scottish accent in the audio narration for the story Pop Special.
Quotes[]
- “Who is Duncan?"
"He came as a spare engine after my accident".
"Is he useful?"
"He'll pull anything and I'm sure he means well, but he's bouncy and rude. He used to work in a factory and his language is often...strong".
"I understand", said Skarloey gravely.” - ― Skarloey and Peter Sam talking about Duncan, "Home at Last", "The Little Old Engine"
References[]
| Locomotives | Steam | Skarloey | Rheneas | Sir Handel | Peter Sam | Duncan | Ivo Hugh | Duke |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Rusty | Fred | | |
| Other | Ivo's Flying Bedstead | Skarloey Funicular Railway Cars | |
| Rolling Stock | Passenger | Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy and Beatrice | Ada, Jane and Mabel | Cora | Gertrude and Millicent | Saloon Coaches | Quarrymen's Coaches |
| Goods | Slate Trucks | Open End Door Wagons | Plank Trucks | V-Tipper Wagons | Side Tipping Wagons | Mineral Wagons | Vans | |
| People | The Owner (Sir Handel Brown I, Sir Handel Brown II) | The Thin Controller (Mr. Mack, Mr. Robert Sam, Mr. Peter Sam, Mr. Roger Sam) | Mr. Hugh (David Hugh I, Ivo Hugh, David Hugh II) | |
| Infrastructure | Stations | Crovan's Gate | Cros-ny-Cuirn | Glennock | Rheneas | Lakeside | Skarloey |
| Sheds | Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds | |
| Tunnels and Bridges | Rheneas Bridge | Rheneas Tunnel | Rheneas Viaduct | |