'''[[British Railways]] (BR) standard class 8''' number '''71000''' and named '''''Duke of Gloucester''''' is a preserved British [[steam locomotive]]. The only member of its class, it was the prototype of but dieselisation of BR saw that more were never built.
Actually, what I meant was, if you'd like to know something. Ask!
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[[User:ZackStone|ZackStone]] 17:50, 9 October 2005 (UTC)
71000 has recently been run on UK mainlines after major rebuilding and astonished onlookers with her performance. Hauling a 12 coach, fully laden enthusiasts train, 71000 stormed up the infamous West Coast Shap incline in Cumbria, maintaining 50mph at the summit, a speed not equalled by the modern Diesel Multiple Units on this line.
71000 was a unique variant of the Britannia class British Railways passenger express locomotives. Errors during building prevented her from achieving design performance. These errors in the firebox and blast tube were corrected during initial conservation, revealing the most powerful steam locomotive ever to run on UK railways.
== External links ==
* [http://www.dukeofgloucester.co.uk The Duke of Gloucester website]
