The delightfully vintage GWR 3200 Class, universally known as the "Dukedog", was one of the most ingenious recycling projects in British railway history. Introduced by Charles Collett in 1936, this small fleet of 29 engines was built at Swindon Works by mounting "Duke" Class boilers onto the outside frames of redundant "Bulldog" Class locomotives. This hybrid design provided lightweight passenger power for weight-restricted routes, most famously dominating the Cambrian lines in mid-Wales. Whilst initially named after living Earls, the aristocratic directors reportedly objected to their names being carried by such archaic-looking engines, forcing a swift transfer of the plates to the prestigious "Castle" Class.
 

This gallery celebrates a wonderfully unique piece of Great Western resourcefulness, focusing on a class that retained Victorian outside frames until its final retirement in 1960, leaving a single precious survivor preserved today.