GWR "City" Class No. 3440 City Of Truro is a Great Western Railway (GWR) 3700 (or 'City') Class 4-4-0 steam locomotive, designed by George Jackson Churchward and built at the GWR Swindon Works in 1903. (It was rebuilt to a limited extent in 1911 and 1915, and renumbered 3717 in 1912).
The "City of Truro" also developed the official name for the type of GWR steam locomotive (similar to the Iron Duke Class), as well as being one of the very first major, mass-produced, types of steam locomotives that was standard-gauge as opposed to broad or wide-gauge.
It is also one of the contenders for the first steam locomotive to travel in excess of 100 miles per hour (160.9 km/h). Its maximum speed has been the subject of much debate over the years.
The locomotive is now preserved, and operates various steam excursions around the country.
In fiction
City of Truro appears in the Railway Series book "Duck and the Diesel Engine". Here, he is visiting the Island of Sodor, and isn't shown with a face, but still has the ability to talk. Because of their great western nature, he and Duck became friends. Gordon, however, got jealous of his speed record, and tried to break it. Doing this, however, results in Gordon's dome blowing off. His visit made Duck proud to be a great western engine. He also appears in the television series, but has no lines, and is not referred to be name (except the banner that rests atop Tidmouth Sheds). He is called the "famous visitor" in the TV series adaption. An ERTL model of him was produced, but was later discontinued. Along with this City of Truro made appearances in Thomas and Friends magazine story's and in the 1980 Railway Series annual.
City of Truro also appeared in the 1957-8 serial "Will o'the Whistle" in the D.C.Thomson comic "The Wizard". In this comic, it was home to resistant fighters after the Kushanti invasion of Britain.
Trivia
- New York Central No. 999 is also one of the first ever locomotives to travel at a speed of 100mph.
- Before the City of Truro was painted in BR Black, during its refurbishment in 1985.
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