Duke of Cornwall Earns Its Wings: Lappa Valley Unveils New Look for Historic Locomotive in Support of Cornwall Air Ambulance
At Lappa Valley, we’re proud to have revealed a vibrant transformation for one of our most iconic locomotives — in tribute to an airborne cousin.
Our much-loved “Duke of Cornwall” has been repainted in the striking red and yellow livery of the Cornwall Air Ambulance, serving as a powerful symbol of our Charity of the Year partnership for 2026.
The idea was inspired by a visit to the Cornwall Air Ambulance headquarters earlier this year, where our team discovered that one of the charity’s two lifesaving helicopters also carries the name “Duke of Cornwall”.
In tribute to its airborne cousin, we spent around six weeks carefully repainting our 10¼-inch gauge locomotive in-house to match the famous emergency aircraft.
It was clear from our recent Charity Day just how much affection our visitors have for Cornwall Air Ambulance. “Duke of Cornwall” already holds a special place in the hearts of so many families, and giving the locomotive an important new role in these famous colours feels like a wonderful way to help keep the charity’s lifesaving mission at the forefront of people’s minds throughout our 2026 season.
The locomotive itself has a long and fascinating history. Built in 1981 by Severn Lamb, it originally carried thousands of families along the Carlyon Bay Railway before moving to Lappa Valley in the mid-1990s. When the Newlyn Downs Branch Line opened in 1995, “Duke of Cornwall” became its original and sole locomotive, creating memories for generations of visitors.
While the locomotive remains officially out of regular service pending a future mechanical overhaul, its new role is to help raise awareness for Cornwall Air Ambulance, which must raise more than £9 million this year to keep its helicopters flying.
Today, “Duke of Cornwall” can be found on static display at the entrance to East Wheal Rose, where it welcomes visitors alongside information boards sharing both the history of the locomotive and the vital work carried out by Cornwall Air Ambulance.
The charity provides critical care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by air and by road, responding to around 1,000 missions as part of its 365-day, 19-hours-a-day service.
Visitors can see the newly repainted “Duke of Cornwall” from the middle of next week (W/C 18th May).
Read more about our charity partnership with Cornwall Air Ambulance here.
