File:Iron Duke - 33809022288.jpg

English: Footplate of replica of GWR Broad Gauge (7') Gooch "Alma" or "Iron Duke" Class 4-2-2 "Iron Duke" with wood clad boiler and firebox at the Great Western Society's Didcot Railway Centre, 20 April 2019. Based on the 1846 2-2-2 (later rebuilt to a 4-2-2) 'Great Western', 29 'Iron Dukes' were built in 1847-1855 and they proved very successful. The "8 Foot Singles", as they were known, were enormous for their time, very powerful and the fastest in the world (78.2 mph was the fastest recorded). They 'ceased work' 1871-80 and then in 1871-88 24 were 'renewed' (by Armstrong and Dean), which supposedly meant rebuilt, for accounting purposes. In reality little, if anything, of the original locomotives were re-used in the 'renewals'; they were reclassified the 'Rover' Class. What were really new engines were almost identical to the original locos save for slightly improved boilers with metal sheething over the wood cladding, longer wheelbase, weather boards on earlier renewals and cabs (of two kinds) on later examples, and larger, more modern tenders. One 'Rover' reached 81 mph. Due to the conversion of the Broad to the Standard Gauge, some 'Rovers' had a very short life - all were withdrawn 1890-92.