Engine Stories: Douglas - Talyllyn Railway

A FREE steam engine?! That's Douglas! Find out how this wayward Rock 'n' Roll star became one of the most reliable fixtures of the Talyllyn Railway in this episode of Engine Stories.
#PrideOfTheFleet
Engine Stories is a series that goes over the history of our well loved and famous little engines, written and narrated by Daniel Long.
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[@jacobchernack1055]

"Ah'm a plain, blunt engine - Ah speak as Ah find! Tunnels should be tunnels, an' no' rabbit holes!"

[@ultimatetyreboi7618]

"This railway is no good at all"

[@brandannaziel8355]

Don't be silly, snapped the driver, this tunnel is big enough for engines who don't rock&roll

[@MrJarckle7378]

"If it happens again,I will have to find ways to cut you down to size,In other words your career is ahem,on the line.Need I say more?"

[@tobys_transport_videos]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 *_DUNCAN!!!_* LMAO!!! 🤣😍🚂

[@MatthewsBranchLine]

“Listen to me! There is nothing wrong with that tunnel! You stuck in it because you tried to do rock n roll. Tunnels are not dance floors, and you are not a pop star!”

[@SodorTrain1225]

"I'm a free engine, and I believe in preservation." - Douglas

[@Ghost_train_1915]

Duncan: shut your mouth!

[@evertonmignac-D7101]

​@@Ghost_train_1915 *Douglas:* Aw,Is my dear brother a wee bit Jealous that I got a New repaint for our o'l service,ay?

[@hopebrown5141]

@@evertonmignac-D7101 Duncan: ach, aye! i'm a plain engine! and i believe in plain speakin'!

[@romycarldelacruz1980]

@@hopebrown5141 douglas: Come now brother it's been years when you were preserved yet you're still grumpy as a drunk Scottish man

[@hopebrown5141]

@@romycarldelacruz1980 duncan: ach, i geuss yer right, dougy. i remember when i was first preserved.

[@StanleyV64]

The way Wilbert Awdry adapted the real tales of the Talyllyn to fit in the Railway Series is phenomenal!

[@kevin-2.1]

Indeed

[@OmegaInfinityAlpha]

I appreciate the acknowledgment of Duncan and The railway series. A lot of people who cover locomotive history either ignore or make fun of the books, forgetting that those works are a large reason locomotive appreciation is still a thing today.

[@xavierjuno4572]

Why do locomotive historians make fun of the railway series. Don't they realize the books were written by a locomotive enthusiast himself

[@TuShan18]

@@xavierjuno4572 Being a children's book might have something to do with it. Though, I think hearing "oh hey, it's the Thomas character" got old. So they probably don't think much of us that got introduced to locomotives through the railway series.

[@JoesAnimationHub]

I've actually read the real life inspiration for "Passengers and Polish" with great detail from a book I got from the Talyllyn, "Talyllyn Revived", a most interesting read... it mentions how in 1961 a coach in the centre of the train derails (in this case it was a busted spring on a GVT coach in a consist belonging to Edward Thomas' 1.15 train, which goes on to Abergynolwyn with the front coaches) and Douglas comes to the rescue at Dolgoch, bringing the rear coaches home to form IT'S own train (the 3.55)... only to fall short of steam at Dolgoch once more... on the viaduct. So Talyllyn backs down light engine and pilots the train all the way to Abergynolwyn. I remember reading that and chuckled saying, "I wonder where we've heard THIS before"

[@cooperised]

@@xavierjuno4572 Most people probably don't realise that there's a difference between the original Railway Series and the asinine rubbish that passes for "Thomas and Friends" storylines these days.

[@MegaBanannaman]

Because they're mostly pompous prigs.

[@DKQuagmire]

whenever i hear the words rock n' roll, i always hear that famous theme song that plays in the Thomas season 4 episode by the same name, where Peter Sam warns Skarloey, who had just returned from the works, about the new engine "Duncan", who is known to Rock and Roll. Duncan is one of only 3 narrow guage engines in the whole model railway TV series, to get their own theme song!

[@templar_1138]

I visited the Talyllyn back in 2006. Never met Douglas, but Duncan was there. He even pulled my train, and I certainly didn't notice any rocking with the rolling.

[@jamessmithandgarrettsmith3623]

Probably the crews now know where to open and close the regulator to minimize the amount of rocking and rolling.

[@patrickd.3681]

And maybe, he was warned to be on his best behavior while on the Talylyn. 😉😄

[@Toast-com]

My favorite Talyllyn Railway loco is Tom Rolt, but Douglas is a second favorite. He looks really nice in blue.

[@class28studios78]

I'm a plain engine! And I believe in plain speaking! SPEAK UP!

[@mamodsteamreturns5492]

tunnels should be tunnels and not rabit holes !!! this is railway is no good at all !!! hehe

[@cloud564]

Was it ever revealed what happened to Douglas' sibling? If not, I like to imagine, at least in Awdry's books, that that was Duncan who was sent around the same time to Skarloey

[@FutureRailProductions]

I want to know that too!

[@jamessmithandgarrettsmith3623]

Scrapped likely.

[@beard3451]

From what I heard, 1432 never found a buyer, and was eventually cut up in 1956. My headcanon is that instead of this happening and 1432 wasting away, in the RWS universe around the same time 1431 was donated circa 1953, the engines twin brother 1432, who would be known as Duncan, was sold to a factory, and worked there until 1958, acquiring strong language and volatile temper. In 1958, Duncan was either bought or donated to the Skarloey Railway, and the rest is history!

[@FutureRailProductions]

​@@beard3451I like this.

[@quarrylocomotiveproduction5439]

​@@beard3451I quite like the idea of 1432 being Duncan

[@metal_wheels]

Ah yes, rock n roll. Absolutely wonderful looking engine. I wish i could meet Him, Duncan's brother.

[@damnedman0455]

I absolutely love how steam engines have such vivid personalities. Tom Rolt is a hard worker who can do anything and everything, whilst Douglas is an engine who loves to work but can be a little too eager and end up derailing. This is why steam has lasted so long and is adored as much as it is. These engines feel real, whilst Diesel engines have many great qualities but fall short of the human connection.

[@TuShan18]

Gotta say, Douglas looks great in every color. Green, maroon, yellow, but blue certainly looks the best in my opinion.

[@Darny3D]

It's a great privilege to see a Barclay locomotive still running. I actually live in the town of Kilmarnock, where Andrew Barclay's works was and still remains (now running as Wabtec) but the original building is still there.

[@AndreiTupolev]

What a great picture at2:58with no fewer than four engines and the classic ERF lorry!

[@thesudriana016]

Imagine a story about Duncan being painted blue to reflect his brother's heritage. I know there is a illustration of DeviantArt beforehand, but it would've been neat if someone could do an original story surrounding that.

[@parker-boy98]

I looked up when Douglas was built, and the old girl was built in 1918! Damn! She's 80 years older than I am! But is still pretty spry it seems.

[@citricamoeba]

This was brilliant! Before this Douglas was probably my least favourite steam engine on the railway, but this really showed why she's the pride of the fleet!

[@ciarangleeson2880]

You mean he.

[@citricamoeba]

@@ciarangleeson2880 well yes and no, steam engines are traditionally referred to as "she" much in the same way as boats are, but you wouldn't be wrong to say "he" given that Douglas is generally a male name. I suppose either works

[@itsjustspecial3231]

I was a volunteer on the TR in the 1960s and have great memories of Douglas in TR green. My name? Oh yes, best wishes and thanks. Douglas

[@eddierools]

Very interesting story detailing Douglas' history! Really hope we'll get to hear the history of Tom Rolt next, bet "HE'S" got a VERY interesting story to be told!

[@donpaterson9159]

Thank u Talyllyn Railway 4 yet another excellent, informative, delightful video - ... the loco connection 2 the RAF Rail connection @ Calshot & the flying boats is utterly new 2 me & also utterly fascinating - !! - Thank you so much - !!! - Don ('Wingco') Paterson Sunshine Coast QLD Australia 🇦🇺

[@paulshirley6383]

Engine Stories: Douglas - Talyllyn RailwayTalyllyn Railway love louis shirley

[@mamodsteamreturns5492]

absolutly amazing !! the old videos of her before coming to the railway are amazing thank you for shearing with us :)

[@mastertrams]

I think you meant "sharing"... Not "shearing"...

[@vincent-1]

When I read rock and roll i immediately thought of Duncan from Thomas

[@Blueheartsnroses]

I'd really love to visit this railway one day...

[@J0hn029]

Will always be my favourite

[@Anchovistic]

Douglas is my favourite narrow-gauge engine of all time.

[@gojicrushers]

3:24 this whistle sounds like Douglas whistle (number 10 , also no pun intended)

[@crystalrock18]

When I was stationed in East Anglia I wanted to go to Wales to go on this railroad but as a young airman I didn’t make much in the USAF. Maybe one day I can travel over to Wales and take a ride on this line.

[@beard3451]

Does anyone know what happened to Douglas' sibling? I would like to think that if it was scrapped, in the RWS universe, it was sent to Sodor as Duncan, but it is mentioned that Duncan previously worked in a factory, so I am not so sure. If Douglas' sibling was scrapped, its a real shame that it went to waste like that. Imagine if Abelson had donated BOTH engines to the Talyllyn Railway. It would have been cool to see the railway own two steam engines of the same class: they could have been twins!

[@quarrylocomotiveproduction5439]

the other engine 1432 is Duncan in my AU

[@samueljackson8020]

What amazing engines

[@Living_Life_RN]

Lovely video there! Was the sibling loco scrapped or was it sold by Abelsons to another company? I’ve not heard of it being preserved so I assume it was scrapped at one or the other locations.

[@Gameboy_1992]

Another Subscriber (member) Joined the club!!!🥳

[@StapleFilms]

This is such a visually pleasing engine.

[@eldmusic]

Absolutely love to hear the real history behind these historical engines! Well done, and I hope one day in the distant or not so distant future I can pay a visit!

[@geordieceltic2]

Great video, thank you.

[@TheKaidynB]

He’s a beauty!!!

[@Sam_Dabboi]

"you are an engine, not a pop-star!"

[@Gameboy_1992]

I feel like listening to a RWS story

[@swtransport099]

Very good! I love Douglas

[@henryandoliverfan3115]

This was very interesting, I wonder if Douglas still rock'n'rolls herself from the rails, by accident of course

[@Wildcatt1999]

"I'm overworked and I won't stand it!"

[@brianpugh887]

Douglas is a type of Loco originally built in Germany pre WW1. During that war Andrew Barclay copied the design and built several of them. After the war Barclays had to pay royalties to the German company!

[@JrtheGreenFox]

I can't wait for Sir Haydn's story

[@malcolmbrown3532]

I ask out of curiousity. What happened to Douglas'sister engine left at Abelsons;....?

[@karenfan010]

he went to sodor and became duncan

[@JosephRailwayStudios2000]

Possibly went to the factory in Scotland been named Duncan and then in 1959 he was sold to The Skarloey Railway to become the railways number six.

[@Ghost_train_1915]

Rock n roll brothers-smuger/Duncan

[@robertbalazslorincz8218]

Nice, though.. any knowledge about what happened to 1432?

[@bryantan863]

I hope the next engine story will be Dolgoch, Sir Haydn or Midlander.

[@bryantan863]

I forgot to include Tom Rolt.

[@Apollo_Vanron]

I like it!

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

3:50 Sleepers and ballast! I’m off!

[@engie809]

And he was

[@skarloeyfan01adventures]

I like Douglas 😍

[@watershipfalls5520]

I was at the Talyllyn Railway today and I took a tiny photo of Douglas, you can see it on my instagram.

[@ryleeculla5570]

Now I remember why I think Duncan worked for the RAF

[@NewController01]

Is Douglas still fitted with the A4 whistle it was given at one point?

[@jaybuttster3769]

Andrew Barcklay? Is Chucky a part of the Tallyln Railway XD

[@bigteddyproductions3829]

"They'll spook you and you're special funnel, ooooh!"

[@1981deloreanfan]

What happened to the sister engine? The merchant bought both engines from the RAF and the merchant only donated Douglas. Where is the sister engine?

[@mistermadmachine6311]

Who to think such a rich history came from the real life basis of Duncan

[@norrambyproductions8364]

What happened to the other loco Abelson acquierd?

[@mcbenman1793]

What about Douglas’ sister locomotive? What happened to that?

[@muhammadfadhiil5992]

Was 1432 scrapped?

[@MrJamos779]

Douglas origin story!?!?!?

[@LolLol-xy4rh]

But what happened to 1432?

[@jackchatfield5464]

What happened to 142?

[@thebritishengineer8027]

Anyone ever notice the glaring similarity between Douglas and LGB's (the model train people) famous Austrian 0-4-0 Stanz Loco. Did the original manufacturer just build an Austrian Loco from available plans..??

[@itsconnorstime]

What became of the sister engine?

[@Caledonian905]

We need an engine story on Dolgoch.

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

So did Douglas actually scrape through a tunnel in Scotland and derail on the Talyllyn?

[@dasmann3904]

I hope midlander will get an episode at some point .-Das Mann

[@adamhickey396]

"I'm a plain speaking engine and I believe in plain speaking! Speak up!"

[@katerinakittycat3849]

"I'm a plain engine and I believe in plain speakin speak up"

[@SaltyVan]

A plain speaking engine nice

[@jeffreymonroe4776]

Im actually Curious what happened to No. 1432 where is she at now?

[@lnerj50productions32]

Can you talk the engines that were sold

[@sparkstechnology]

1:08 I spy my father, he could of taken two steps to his right 😅 I was the camera side and didn't know he would be in a photo, let alone one that would be used 🤦‍♂️

[@ryleeculla5570]

Carful what you say the little engines in the Skarloey won’t hear the end of it from Duncan

[@jongaming5637]

i feel like the engines genders should be the engines of TTTE's gender of the narrow gauge

[@michael32A]

Do I assume sister loco AB wn 1432 didn't survive?

[@bridazzel7588]

Nothing’s happened! Nothing’s happened! Silly old diesel! Clever me!

[@jamessmithandgarrettsmith3623]

And he began to rock and roll along the line.

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

So what was Duncan named after?

[@JosephRailwayStudios2000]

Possibly he was named after someone who worked at the factory

[@Treneboah]

Douglas

[@SimpyCopper.]

Duncan moment

[@EthanTheEngine7]

*ROCK AND ROLL!*

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

When your behaviour is so outrageous they put you out for free:

[@Thomasdatankengine]

DUNCAN?!

[@daniela-tj1cu]

3:41 SHES JUST LIKE HER BROTHER

[@mlp-hot-rod5824]

What became of her twin?

[@loganBolfcraft64]

What happened to 1432

[@loganBolfcraft64]

@@KingGodzilla4634 know I have a head cannon that Dunken was 1432

[@loganBolfcraft64]

@@KingGodzilla4634 ^^

[@ReallyUsefulPinkEngine29]

Duncan!

[@eggballo4490]

What happened to his sibling?

[@gojicrushers]

“PLS NO! I DONT WANT TO SHARE A SHED WITH DOUGLAS! SHES TOO TROUBLESOME S AND DOSENT BELIVE IN PLAIN SPEAKIN!”

[@ThomastheE2]

“I’m a plain engine, and I believe in plain speaking. Speak up!”

[@dennytherandomcroat6426]

#PrideOfTheFleet

[@BelcarrigFarm]

PAAAAHH

[@pikachuthebananasplit9061]

You better be careful when riding this engine I hear this engine likes Rock n Roll!

[@bowser679]

Bro is that Sam’s Trains as narrator lol

[@onetrackmind3558]

Why does she have a target in the side of her boiler tho?

[@captaincool3329]

It's the RAF roundel. The RAF were Douglas' first owner.

[@TalyllynRailway1865]

That's the logo of the Royal Air Force!

[@gwrstudios5181]

So she’s a war dog atleast that’s what I call locomotives built for war

[@TTTEFan84]

Whatz zat about me I'm a plain engine and I believe in plain speaking

[@tatarada2877]

эстонииславаруснюдопэкла

[@poindextersheelturn436]

Douglas is usually a male name but calling the train a she???? Weird.

[@tomakacap8405]

Alot of vehicles are known as “she” because their owners take care of them, keeping them well maintained, clean and pretty.

[@csignorelli1]

Most people in the rail preservation community are straight men. They talk about their locomotives the same way they talk about women -- as objects they adore and take pride in caring for. Personally, I think it's an outdated concept that should be left in the past.

[@poindextersheelturn436]

@@tomakacap8405 I get it, but I got into trains by way Thomas so I see these great locomotives as male, great work horses keeping the nation moving forward.

[@poindextersheelturn436]

@@csignorelli1 I have no issue calling a loco a female but ALL of them??? I grew up with Thoams the Tank engine and I mostly see engines as male locos who work hard for the company ie the railway, like me in the transportation business.

[@csignorelli1]

@@poindextersheelturn436 The mechanical shops of most heritage railways (at least here in the US) are overwhelmingly masculine, blue-collar environments. Locker room talk is the norm. Personally, I refer to locomotives as "it". For all their character and charm, they are just machines at the end of the day.