List of Thomas the Tank Engine characters

This is a complete list of characters who have appeared in Thomas the Tank Engine in order of appearance.

"Coffee Pots"
The Tidmouth, Knapford and Elsbridge Railway eventually became part of the North Western Railway, and was constructed with the help of the young Sir Topham Hatt, who also designed four small 0-4-0 tank engines with vertical boilers that were nicknamed "Coffee Pots". These engines were used by the North Western Railway to pull trucks from Anopha Quarry, but were worn out soon after Thomas was given charge of their branchline and withdrawn. They were not very well-documented, and were never even photographed before they were scrapped.

10751
10751 was the diesel who failed in Gordon the High-Speed Engine, forcing Gordon to take his railtour train.

10751 is based on a BR class 127 built at Metropolitan Cammell in 1959.

10751 is painted in a British Rail "Rail Blue" livery with yellow warning panels.

13
13 is a black saddletank engine with an open cab from the mainland. He is very unlucky, and when he first arrived he caused trouble for Donald and Douglas, had his firebox damaged and stuck in a landslide. The Fat Controller sent him to the Works, and although Donald and Douglas thought that would be the end of him he came back with a bigger firebox, which cured his unluckiness. After his repairs, 13 told Donald and Douglas that he came to Sodor as an unlucky engine, but returned to the mainland as a very lucky engine.

13 wears black livery with red stripes. He has a red "13" painted on each side of his saddletank.

13 presumably has a 0-4-2 wheel arrangement. He vaguely resembles Peter Sam and Stanley, minus a cab roof.

199
D199, nicknamed "Old Reliable" and "Spamcan", is a rude diesel engine.

D199 was built at Derby Works in 1960 and came on trial to Sodor in 1967 with another diesel engine, 7101. D199 soon made himself an enemy of the steam engines when he claimed that "steam engines spoil our image", and was swiftly quietened by 7101 and Duck.

The next day, 199 ironically failed and had to be helped home by Henry. He was soon sent home in disgrace.

D199 was pompous and rude, and sided with the general belief amongst diesels that steam engines are inferior to diesel power.

D199 is based on a BR Class 44 "Peak" 1Co-Co1.

D199 is painted in the British Railway's "Rail Blue" livery with yellow warning panels. D199's rear cab has a headcode reading "AC 10".

31120
31120 is a diesel who appeared in the last illustration of "Fire Escape". His headcode is "1X01", which is odd, as the "X" indicates "Royal Train" or "out-of-gauge load".

31120 is based on a BR Class 31 diesel locomotive, hence his number, built at Brush Traction in 1957.

98462 and 87546
98462 and 87546 are two blue tender engines who visited Sodor in 1922.

When the Reverend W. Awdry received correspondence asking about the other two engines in the shed - the other four being Edward, Henry, Gordon and the red engine - he replied that they were on the railway on trial, but were sent away for being rude and nasty. It is not known what happened to them since the decline of steam.

98462 and 87546 are rude, spiteful, impolite and nasty. Basis

98462 is an LNER B12 and 87546 is an LNER B17.

98462 and 87546 are painted blue with red and yellow lining.

A.J.R. No.1
A.J.R No.1 is a stationary steam crane, that works at the Wharf. It is painted black and has "A.J.R No.1" painted in white on its counterbalance.

Ada, Jane and Mabel
Ada, Jane, and Mabel are three open-sided carriages who where built for the Skarloey Railway while Skarloey was away. Ada was built at Skarloey Railway in 1955, Jane in 1956 and Mabel in 1957. They all arrived on Sodor in 1957.

Ada, Jane, and Mabel are used for tourist traffic when it is sunny. Sir Handel first considered the coaches trucks because they had no roofs.

When a documentary was made about the Skarloey Railway, the three had the honour of carrying the television equipment and cameras. They were later used for the same purpose when a documentary was made about Skarloey and Rheneas' hundredth birthday. They are pulled by Mighty Mac.

Ada, Jane, and Mabel are painted light blue (later cream and green) with their names written on their backs in cursive.

Ada, Jane, and Mabel are based on Talyllyn Railway's carriages 11, 12 and 13.

Adams
Adams, formerly 488, is an engine living on the Bluebell Railway. Stepney mentioned him while talking to Edward about the Bluebell Railway. He and Cromford did not have names then, so the others nicknamed him "Adams", after his maker. According to Stepney, his Controller is unaware of this name change.

"Adams" is currently requiring a new boiler barrel, but he can be seen on display at the Bluebell Railway along with other engines. The Bluebell Railway has not announced an exact date for his return to steam, but it will be several years at the least.

Adams is an LSWR 415 class radial tank engine, built at Robert Stephenson & Co. and designed by William Adamsin March 31st, 1885 for hauling goods. He was withdrawn in July 31st, 1885. His number is 488, previously 0488, EKR 5, 3488, and 30583.

Agnes, Ruth, Lucy, Jemima and Beatrice
Agnes, Ruth, Lucy and Jemima are coaches on the Skarloey Railway, whilst Beatrice is a guard's van. They are all named after Sir Handel Brown's daughters (with exception to Jemima).

The coaches like all the engines, Sir Handel least of all for referring to them as "cattle trucks". They also were mistrustful of Skarloey at first for being bouncy. Agnes is a deep-voiced first-class carriage who looks down on the others, who are third-class. Agnes appears to be the leader of the five. All four coaches look down on Beatrice, and claim that she "smells of fish and cheese". Beatrice is, however, very useful. She has a ticket booth and an emergency buzzer, and sometimes even carries passengers when the coaches are full.

Ruth, Lucy, Jemima and Beatrice are based on the Talyllyn Railway's first, second, third and fifth carriages. Agnes is based on the Talyllyn Railway's "Lulu". Jemima and Beatrice were built at Brown Marshalls in 1865, whilst Ruth, Lucy and Agnes in 1866.

Agnes, Ruth, Lucy and Jemima are painted blue with cream windows. Beatrice is painted all blue.

Alan
Alan was a dark green tank engine with an unusual box shape and a Scottish accent. He is a simple but kind engine who befriended Skarloey when he was young.

Skarloey said Alan was ugly but kind, and they soon became friends.

Alan was painted dark green with "S&M 3" written on his tank sides in yellow.

In Sodor: Reading Between the Lines Christopher Awdry states that Alan's class is unknown. However, he strikingly resembles a Neilson 0-4-0 box tank, a simple and robust class of engine built in Glasgow and sold all over the world. This would explain both his name and his accent.

Alaric
Alaric is a mountain engine mentioned in a conversation between Culdee, Wilfred and Ernest in Mountain Engines. According to them, Alaric is "nice and quiet".

Alaric was built at Winterthur in Switzerland in 1923 to a "super-heat" design. He arrived on Sodor in May 1962.

According to "The Real Lives of Thomas the Tank Engine", he and Eric have been "retired".

Alaric is painted purple with orange lining. In the magazines he is painted brown with red lining.

Alaric is based on the Snowdon Mountain Railway's Ralph, who was originally called "Aylwin" when built in 1923 and renamed "Ralph Sadler", before it was shortened to "Ralph".

Albert
Albert is a red tank engine who worked on the Furness Railway. He worked on the lakeside branch on the Furness Railway with Victoria and Helena. After snow fell on him as he set off with Victoria and Helena from Haverthwaite, he learnt to take more care in wintry conditions.

Albert's character appears to be like that of Thomas - Victoria described him as being gentlemanly and polite.

Albert is painted in the Furness Railway's red livery with "FR" written in yellow on his sides.

Albert is based on the Parker J1 2-4-2 class, rebuilt from the earlier E1 class of 2-4-0 tank engines of 1870, which were built originally by Sharp, Stewart and Co. and designed by Pettigrew. Seven of these were rebuilt into J1s in 1891. None have been preserved.

Albert
Albert is a blue narrow gauge engine built in 1903 that worked along with Duke, Stuart, Falcon, Jim, Tim and Jerry on the Mid-Sodor Railway. Albert is based on a Falcon Hughes loco, like Sir Handel.

Alf
Alf is a narrow gauge diesel, built by Hunslet Engine Co. and designed by Andrew Barclay in 1950, working on the Talyllyn Railway. He uses parts of another engine stored at Brynglas.

Fred is based on him.

Alfie
Alfie is an excavator whose motto is "More help means more dirt; more dirt means more fun!" He loves working hard, and handles even the toughest of jobs with ease, but he can be a really useful excavator.

Alfie is a friendly machine who gets on well with his work and never minds getting dirty or mucky during jobs.

Alfie is painted green with his number painted on his sides and on the back of his cab in white.

Alfie is based on a 1960 K1C10&K excavator.

Algy
Algy is a bus. When he first arrived he teased Bertie, but made up and became friends with him after breaking down. Algy now helps Bertie take passengers around Sodor.

When he first appeared, looked identical to Bertie, but with cream paint and a red stripe. The second and third time he was seen, he had a full cab and a light blue livery with a white stripe. His license plate is ALG85.

Alice
Alice is a young girl that lives near Thomas’ Branch Line on a Farm. She and Thomas are good friends. Thomas was desperate to give her, her birthday present on a rainy day but got blocked by a landslide. With the help of Rosie, she got her present.

Alice and Mirabel
Alice and Mirabel are two Great Western autocoaches pulled by Duck on his branchline. They were rescued from scrap by the Fat Controller, along with Dulcie, and given to Duck to use on the Little Western in 1968. They are to Duck what Annie & Clarabel are to Thomas.

Alice and Mirabel are based on Great Western Railway Suburban coaches and are painted in the Great Western's maroon and cream livery for coaches.

Alicia
When Alicia Botti came to Sodor, Thomas was chosen to take her with Annie and Clarabel. While being cleaned, a strange squeak came from the coaches. It kept up as Thomas went to Brendam and when he arrived, it was found that a small mouse had found it's way into Clarabel's compartment. The mouse was given a mousehole in Tidmouth Sheds, and was named Alicia by Thomas.

Alicia Botti
Alicia Botti is a world-famous Italian opera singer. When she first visited Sodor, Thomas was chosen to take her to the theatre, but after Alicia Botti discovered a mouse in Clarabel and screamed so loudly all the windows in Brendam were shattered, Percy was chosen to take her to the concert.

Amy
Amy is a Coach who operates with Alaric on the Culdee Fell Mountain Railway. Her fate since Alaric’s retirement is unknown.

Angus
Angus is a small red fire engine who works with the Sodor Fire Brigade.

Angus is based on an early Dennis Fire Engine. His license plate is FIRE 34.

Annie and Clarabel
Annie and Clarabel are Thomas' two coaches, whom he loves very much.

The details of Annie and Clarabel's lives up to 1946 are murky. In 1946, they were given to Thomas when he started working his branch line. They have had several adventures, such as losing their guard and becoming runaways.

Annie and Clarabel are respectful of all the engines, most of all Gordon and Thomas. They are Thomas' best friends, and are quick to rebuke him when he gets troublesome.

A coach that was to be the basis for Annie was first built by a teenage Reverend W. Awdry as part of a model railway layout.

Before their rebuild in 1984, they are a pair of bogie coaches (ie each coach is supported on a pair of four-wheeled bogies or "trucks").

Since their rebuild in 1984, they are a pair of four-wheeled coaches; they are rebuilt on a rigid chassis, with fixed axles, told apart by the fact that their names are painted on their sides.

Annie and Clarabel were originally painted orange; they are now painted maroon with a yellow stripe like the rest of the NWR coaches with their names written in white on their sides. They were refurbished in 1998.

Annie and Clarabel's old friend
Annie and Clarabel had an old friend, a coach who appeared in the magazine story An Old Friend. Annie and Clarabel were upset as he was going to be scrapped, but luckily for him a friend of Thomas' driver needed a tool shed, and the Fat Controller allowed him to use the coach as a tool shed.

Arry and Bert
'Arry and Bert are two diesels who work for the Sodor Ironworks at the smelters. 'Arry speaks with a North London accent while Bert speaks with a West London accent.

'Arry and Bert are simply downright villainous troublemakers. They have been known to attempt to scrap Stepney, make Percy and James "middle engines", and make the engines believe Neville was planning to bump them. According to merchandise bios, they also wish to scrap Oliver.

'Arry and Bert are unquestionably devious and scheming. Although at first they had a heartened dislike for steam engines, they appear to have accustomed to their smoke-puffing companions and now only have a "friendly rivalry" with them.

'Arry and Bert are BR Class 08 shunters, built at BR Works of Crewe, Darlington, Derby and Doncaster in 1953, approx. 29 ft 3 in long, and two which are part of the National Railway Museum, known by their numbers "08911" & "13079".

'Arry and Bert are painted green-grey with yellow hazard stripes on their fronts and rears and yellow cabs. They have "Sodor Ironworks" written on their sides in white.

The two are not quite identical: 'Arry has narrow eyes, while Bert has stubble and a deep voice.

Arthur
Arthur is a burgundy tank engine from the LMS.

Arthur took great pride in his spotless record, which he soon lost after colliding with Duck's trucks in an incident largely provoked by Thomas; however, this spotless record was soon amended, after Thomas apologized to him for causing the accident.

He was bought to shunt and pull goods, but then was transferred to the coastal run, on which he enjoys working. He is responsible for this line, which is famous for its fish. Arthur is the only known engine (with the exception of Salty) to enjoy the smell of fish.

Arthur is a reliable, kind and helpful engine, and often careful to get his jobs done without fuss or mess. When he first arrived he proved to be somewhat gullible - something which Thomas used to his advantage. He dislikes things that are new and different.

Arthur is painted LMS burgundy with gold lining and "LMS" on his side in yellow. His livery is inauthentic: if Arthur had been one of the ten 2MT 2-6-2Ts built for the LMS, he would have been painted postwar black with "LMS" written on his tank.

Arthur is based on an LMS Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2 tank engine built at Crewe Works in 1946 and designed by H. G. Ivatt, approx. 38 ft 9 1/2 in, developed for the London Midland and Scottish Railway (hence the initials on his tanks).

Barry
Barry - named after Barry Island, the home of the scrapyard in South Wales where he was rescued from - is a red tank engine working on Duck's branch line. He is partnered with Donald and Douglas to help them on the branchlines. Barry is based on the LNER Class J94. He is painted NWR red with blue lining.

Bash and Dash
Bash and Dash are two new twin steam engines slatted to appear in Misty Island Rescue.

Bash and Dash are mischievous twins who always finish each others sentences. They were sent to Misty Island because they were naughty on the mainland, but now they always try to do their best for The Fat Controller.

Bash and Dash are based on the Bear Harbor Lumber Company's locomotive #1. This type of engine is known as a "gypsy". However, their gearing appears to be on their backs instead of their fronts and their cabs appear much sturdier, as opposed to the "open" cab that their real life counterpart possesses.

Bash's boiler, wheels, and lining are painted grey, his cab and dome are painted yellow.

Dash's boiler, wheels, and lining are painted yellow, his cab and dome are painted grey.

Bear
Bear, so named for the growling noises his engine makes, is a diesel engine. He speaks with a gruff Cockeny accent.

At this time, Bear was known by his number, 7101.

7101 came on loan to Sodor with another diesel named 199. 199 was blatantly arrogant and bad-mouthed the steam engines until 7101 and Duck shut him up.

The next day, 7101's injector failed while pulling the "Limited". Henry, who had a failed regulator and was towing 199, who had failed while pulling some oil-tankers, came to help; 7101 was still able to move by himself with some help from Henry. To the passengers' delight, Flying Scotsman took their train, while Henry helped 7101 home. The engines persuaded Sir Topham Hatt to let 7101 stay on, and renamed him "Bear". Bear liked this name, saying it meant he "really belonged".

In 1983, James had befriended Bear by this time.

It was revealed Bear pulls the Express when Gordon, Henry and James are busy in 1986.

In 1993, Bear did Henry's duties while Henry was at the Works.

Bear is loyal and friendly - even James, who was the last to accept diesels, couldn't help but like him.

Bear is based on a BR Class 35 "Hymek" Bo-Bo, built at and designed by Beyer Peacock Ltd in 1961, approx. 51 ft 8 1/2 long. His initial number, 7101, is an in-joke: the Class 35 numbers only went up to 7100.

Bear is currently painted in the livery he should have carried when first built: all-over B.R. loco green with a narrow band of lime along the bottom of the sides with cream window surrounds and yellow warning panels. When he first arrived on Sodor, he wore the B.R. "Rail Blue" livery with yellow warning panels.

Becky
Becky is a Great Western goods engine. She's one of the younger engines, and is Duck's girlfriend. Becky's best friends are Duck, Oliver, Molly and Thomas. Becky is based on the GWR 2301 Class Dean Goods.

Ben the Shepherd
Ben the Shepherd is a magazine character who looks after sheep and has a dog named Jess.

Ben is a fairly elderly man who once got trapped in a ditch. His dog, Jess, alerted Thomas and his crew who rescued him.

Bennett and Co.
Bennett and Co. is a truck with "BENNETT AND CO. Wagon Owner and Company" written on his sides. He was being filled with iron but got overloaded and fell into a river. In the end, he was rescued by a floating crane and got the rest of the day off.

Bert
Bert is the quietest of the Arlesdale Railway engines.

Bert was built at Duffield Bank, Derbyshire by Sir Arthur Heywood in 1894 as 0-8-0 tank engine with no cab named Merlin. He arrived in Ravenglass via the Gretna munitions factory in 1917 with Petit and was principally used on stone trains. He received a major overhaul and rebuilt at Murthwaite in 1927, becoming a 0-8-2 tender engine with a new boiler, longer frames, a cab and a a six-wheel tender and renamed Bert.

Bert worked on an unnamed line in England until 1967, at which time it closed down and he, Rex and Mike were sent to Sodor to work the Arlesdale Railway. Some time after his arrival, Bert took offence when the Reverend W. Awdry and the Reverend Teddy Boston accidentally sprayed him with mud while passing him in their car, and in retaliation Bert drenched the Reverend Teddy Boston with water when he took a ride in Bert's cab. However, both parties made up and Bert was as a result featured in the Reverend W. Awdry's next book, Small Railway Engines. For a long time Bert had trouble with steaming, but this has stopped since he was rebuilt into a narrow gauge outline with a taller chimney, dome and cab in 1972. In 1976, he was rebuilt with a larger boiler, giving his current appearance.

Bert is friendly, and somewhat clever and cynical.

Bert is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's River Irt, build at Duffield Bank and designed by Sir Arthur Heywood in 1894.

Bert is painted blue with red-and-yellow lining. He has a brass dome, red nameplates with yellow writing mounted each side of his smokebox and "Arlesdale" written on his tender in yellow.

Bert and Alf
Bert and Alf are two cleaners who washed Gordon down in Leaves after his dip in a ditch.

Bertie
Bertie is a red railway bus who works near Thomas' branchline.

After Thomas stuck in a snowdrift in 1948, Bertie came to rescue Thomas' passengers. He later raced Thomas after claiming he was the faster of the two, but lost after having to stop at a traffic light.

In 1953, Bertie tried to catch up with Edward while carrying Thomas' passengers.

In 1985, Bertie teased Thomas about being slow, but had to eat his words after breaking down.

In 2003, Bertie is continuously alluding to his race with Thomas and how he could win the next time. He actually raced Thomas again in the seventh season episode "Three Cheers for Thomas", but only won because Thomas was sidetracked with collecting the sport medals.

In 2007, Bertie was mentioned as being unable to help Toby and Henrietta with carrying the quarry workers.

Bertie is friendly, but can't resist teasing Thomas about being slow.

Bertie is based on an AEC Regal "T Class" London Country Area bus.

Bertie is painted in the common red livery of buses in the United Kingdom, mostly famously begin used by London Transport. His license number, "CRD54", refers to the fact his license plate was first seen in "Edward the Blue Engine", published in 1954 and illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby.

Bertram
Bertram, nicknamed "the Old Warrior" for his bravery, is an old narrow-gauge engine who worked in a quarry on the far side of Sodor.

Bertram was built at Boston Lodge in 1864. He was sent to Llanwinda in May 1876 to help with the construction of the NWNGR and was repaired with a set of brasses, set of brake blocks, 6 piston rings and 4 split pins. Bertram returned to the NWNGR on 9th July 1881. On his return, there was a long list of repairs including wheel turning, new pistons and piston rings, crankpins, neck rings, piston cotters, closing up slidebears, closing up eccentric straps, link motion overhauled, axle boxes refitted, reversing lever and quadrant overhauled, four mudholes re-tapped, new brakeblocks, new gauge glass and valves set up. It wasn't until 30th July that Bertram was fit for traffic. By 1879, his tyres were working loose, they tried fixing them in steel pins in October but by December the tyres had been replaced by those of Engineer. Bertram's cylinder then started to go, a brass patch was fixed on a cylinder, but it didn't hold, the cylinder burst in March 1880. A major refit followed with the cylinders, the smokebox, the sandpots, the crossheads and slidebars all being replaced. It was fitted with 'sham' saddle tanks made from cast iron (weighing 24cwt) to improve adhesion. The first of the original engines to be treated this way. Two new whistles were put on (only on previously). A year later it had a lubricator put on. From December 1881 there is a constant comment that it needs retubing, but in the end it was withdrawn for a complete new boiler in 1886. Bertram re-entered traffic in September 1888 and was rebuilt with both a saddle tank and an enclosed cab. In 1889, he was fitted with new sanding apparatus which seems to be steam powered. In 1891, his cylinders were in a very bad state. His valve port bridges were cracked and a piece of iron was bolted in. However, this was to no avail his cylinders finally failed in April. As part of the rebuild the opportunity was taken to shorten the length of the cab by 8 inches to enable it to have better access to the wharves at Arlesdale. Bertram seemed accident prone in the 1890s. In 1982, his axle broke (replaced by one from Little Ponder). In 1985, he was damaged by running into Quarrymans train at Oakleys curve. In 1897, he was damaged at Arlesburgh in July and at Marthwaite in December. In 1900, he was retubed with Red Metal tubes from Earl of Sodor who was retubed with new Red Metal tubes. From 1905, it started to get leaks from the firebox and he was coming out of service in October 1907. He was rebuilt in 1910 with a Low Moor Iron boiler. His cab and tank were set 1 1/2" higher and a new balance weight fixed to the front footplate.

Bertram used to work in a series of mines on Mid-Sodor Railwaywith other "little engines". His fate was unknown to many after the mine's closure, and it was assumed he was left to rust. However, Toby found him whilst watching over the quarry one night, and has since befriended him. He now works at the restored mines, taking passengers to the fairground within.

Nothing is known about Bertram's persona, other than that he is considered incredibly brave.

Bertram is based on Palmerston of the Ffestiniog Railway, but with a bunker.

Bertram is painted dark brown with red lining.

Bill and Ben
Bill and Ben are two tank engine twins that work for the Sodor China Clay Company, near Brendam, though they have also been known to work at Centre Island Quarry. They enjoy playing tricks and being cheeky to bigger engines. They speak with Cockney accent.

One day, Bill and Ben returned from shunting some trucks to find that some other trucks previously shunted by them were missing. Their drivers, after examining a puddle of oil on the ground, concluded a diesel was responsible. After the twins argued over who brought the "diseasel" into the yard, the drivers suggested they go looking the diesel. The twins were horrified at the possibility that the "diseasel" might magic them away like he did with the trucks, but their drivers quickly persuaded them otherwise, and so they set off.

At last, the twins found the "diseasel". While Ben ran behind, Bill confronted the "diseasel" over the theft. The "diseasel" claimed the trucks were his and ordered Bill to "go away"; Bill pretended to be frightened and slunk away, remarking, "You'll be sorry". With that, Ben ran up and accused the "diseasel" of being a "truck stealer", before running back so Bill could run up again. This continued until the "diseasel", under the impression that there was only one very swift and annoying saddletank, became so giddy that his eyes "nearly popped out", just as the twins puffed up beside him. The "diseasel", initially confused, laughed at his ignorance. When Edward arrived moments later, inquiring as to why Bill and Ben were not shunting, the twins angrily claimed that the "diseasel" had sneaked into their yard and stolen their trucks. Edward soon realized what was going on, and explained the situation. The twins, embarrassed, apologized to the "diseasel", who asked to be called BoCo, and then left to shunt some more trucks, leaving Edward and BoCo to laugh about the incident.

A few days later, after BoCo took the Express in James' "absence", Edward recounted what Gordon had said about branchlines to the twins. The next morning, after Gordon ended up at Brendam after a series of events involving poor preparations and a large floppy green hat, the twins snuck up beside him and loudly recounted what Gordon had said about branchlines. Concluding that the engine beside them could not be Gordon, the two declared he was nothing more than a pile of old scrap-iron, and began to contemplate what they should do (Bill was all for sending Gordon to be scrapped, while Ben favoured the more humane, or engane, option of dumping him in the sea), all the while ignoring Gordon's protests, until at last, BoCo arrived. Gordon begged him to save him, and so BoCo threatened the twins to leave with the trucks he had brought. The twins quickly left, leaving Gordon with BoCo. BoCo wisely neglected to tell Gordon the twins were joking.

Sometime later, a group of enthusiasts came to visit the railways of Sodor. When Edward brought them to Brendam, the twins took them to the China Clay Workings in a "brakevan special".

In 1988, Thomas was sent to work on Edward's branchline while repairs were carried out on the bridge. The twins were quick to tease him about his colour, but Edward was savvy enough to send the twins away before an argument broke out.

After Thomas returned to the Yard, covered in dairy from a collision with a farm lorry, the two teased him even more about his new livery. This continued until Edward announced a party of enthusiasts were coming, and threatened that he would not bring them to see the twins. The twins, excited, decided instead to worry about their own paint - ie, how clean it was - although one day, when the drivers remarked that "the enthusiasts [wouldn't] eat their dinner off [them]", Bill quipped that "They might if we were Thomas".

When, at last, the enthusiasts did arrive, a photographer with an "instant" camera began harassing Ben by continuously taking pictures of him, even after the remainder of the crowd went to watch Bill tug a boat into deeper waters. At last the photographer prepared to take one final picture, just as Bill's driver arrived to ask for assistance. Ben's driver turned on the steam just the photographer took the picture; disgusted with the poor quality of the shot, he abandoned it on the floor and left. The picture was later discovered by Bill's driver after the two rescued the boat.

The repairs to the bridge took a long time, and Thomas was still at Brendam when the rainy season came. At the "Drain", a hollow in the land where rainwater collected, the water even began to come near the rails, although no one took much notice. One particularly wet day, as Ben returned from the Workings, the wind whipped the rainwater into a wave which swamped Ben, dousing his fire. His fireman went for assistance, and brought Thomas to help. While Thomas dragged Ben out, Bill took away the trucks. When at last the water subsided four days later and Bill returned to Brendam, the two made a pact to never tease Thomas again.

Bill and Ben are cheeky and naughty and rather troublesome. According to Duck, Edward is the only engine who can keep them in order. Thomas and BoCo probably have the same effect over them too.

Bill and Ben are based on the Bagnall 0-4-0STs "Alfred" and "Judy" of Par, Cornwall, who are both preserved and in working order at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.

Bill and Ben are painted dark orange-yellow. Bill and Ben both have brown nameplates with yellow writing, "SCC" written on both sides in yellow and "Brendam Bay" on the front above their faces.

Billy
Billy is an orange tank engine with prominent buck teeth.

Billy was built in 1903 with a weather board, and later with a full cab. From the years 1903 to 1972 he worked at a colliery in Leeds before being arranged to go to the North Western Railway in December 2001. However, he was in a bad state and was in need of an overhaul, so he was given a new boiler and saddletank. he was eventually shipped to the island in 2007.

When Billy first arrived on the railway in June 2007, Thomas was asked by The Fat Controller to show Billy around. But Billy miscontrued Thomas' advice for bossiness and so refused to listen to him, causing Billy to fail to complete his deliveries. At last, Thomas lost patience and told Billy to do his own thing. Billy was delighted, but his happiness was short-lived as he swiftly ran out of coal and water. In future, Billy paid attention to advice and worked hard with every job he did.

Because of Billy's inexperience, he was disobedient and refused to listen to advice. After his mishap, he learnt to listen to advice.

Billy is based on a Manning Wardle L Class 0-6-0ST. Charlie is another member of this class.

Billy is painted orange with green and white lining and the number "37" painted on his cab side.

Blister I and Blister II
Blister I and Blister II, so named for the problems they have with starting due to their engine troubles, are small twin diesels who work on the Arlesdale Railway.

The Blisters were built by R. A. Lister in 1932 with open-sided cabs for a 2-inch gauge. When they arrived on Sodor in 1985, the volunteers of Arlesdale used parts to rebuild them with two 2-cylinder 12 h.p. Lister engines to rebuild them to a 15-inch gauge. They were repainted and fitted with a new cab and bonnet, in the style of a Lister Blackstone RM2. In 1989, they were refitted with two 20 h.p. Lister engines to improve performance. Both have full electrics, radios and air brake systems for working light passenger trains in emergencies.

The Blisters are based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's Cyril. Their trouble starting is based on the trouble experienced with the Muir-Hill Fordson granite tractors that worked at Ravenglass with stone traffic until 1953.

Blister I and Blister II are painted black with wasp stripes on their fronts.

Bluebell
After her calf was taken to market, Bluebell mornfully trotted onto the bridge at Rolf's Castle, stopping Gordon and Henry from passing. She didn't move until Gordon's guard and a porter brought her calf to the bridge and led them away.

Bluebell and Primrose
Bluebell and Primrose are tank engine twins who live on the Bluebell Railway. According to Stepney, they had no names at first so their Controller gave them names. He says it made them over-confident, but they still work hard. At present, Bluebell is undergoing an overhaul with completion planned for August 2010, whilst Primrose is out of service awaiting an overhaul.

Primrose is painted dark green with red and yellow lining and "SE&CR" written on her tanks. Bluebell was painted blue with white lining with a red nameplate with her name in gold when she was first acquired by the Bluebell Railway. In 1998 she was repainted in the livery she carried in World War I.

Bluebell and Primrose are based upon the SE&CR P Class built at Ashford Works in 1909-1910 for lightweight passenger trains and later used for shunting.

Bluenose
Bluenose is a very strict and Sargent-like engine. He is very bossy and caused a lot of mishaps - he scratches Oliver's oil tankers (on purpose), and caused a fire at the docks, nearly killing Cranky! After the wreck, he was in grave danger of being sold for scrap. Bluenose made up for it, when Gordon broke down pulling the express, and was soon excepted as a member of the Sodor railway.

He plays precisely by the rules and acts as a kind of stereotypical army sergeant towards the other tugs. He is annoying, bossy, pompous, and self-centred. He is notorious for putting orders before common sense. He speaks with a regimented Army English accent.

Bluenose is based on LMS Stanier Class 8F, and is painted grey-bluish with black lining.

Bob
Bob, the second workshop engine, is a blue 0-8-2 tank engine based on LNWR 1185 Class built in 1911 by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), who looks like Thomas but bigger. This tank engine was first seen in the background of the second and third illustrations of "Troublesome Trucks" in James the Red Engine, and he was described as "a little tank engine" when he asked James about his bootlaces. He is described in Troublesome Engines as looking anxious when the Fat Controller arrived. He makes a cameo in Henry the Green Engine passing the Engine Sheds in the first illustration of "Gordon's Whistle". He make a cameo in the fifth illustration of "Dirty Objects" in Toby the Tram Engine pulling the breakdown train. He takes Thomas to Crovan’s Gates for a new shape after broke down near Ffarquhar. However, Bob is mentioned as "another engine", who blew his whistle causing confusion for the signalman in James and the Diesel Engines. Probably, the second workshop engine was responsible for taking the Breakdown Train from Crovan's Gate to the scene of disaster and back to the Works. Bob's role was most likely taken over by Wendell the Works Diesel. By now, Bob is probably working at Tidmouth as a shunting engine, arranging all manner of rolling stock. As well as retaining his blue paintwork, Bob probably retains the sign-writing of "Croven's Gate Works" painted on his side tanks.

BoCo
BoCo is a diesel who works on Edward's branchline.

BoCo arrived on Sodor in 1965. He once accidentally took Bill and Ben's china clay trucks in 1966. They decided to play a trick on him, playing on their identical looks to make the diesel think that one engine was disappearing and reappearing around him. Edward was nearby to sort out the confusion, and Bill and Ben soon came to respect BoCo.

Duck, who was suspicious of diesels due to his own experience, nevertheless took quickly to BoCo when the diesel took trucks to Tidmouth. The two started talking in the shed, but were interrupted when James arrived and called BoCo a "buzzbox". Ironically, James was attacked by a swarm of bees the next day, and so BoCo had to take the Express. Gordon was furious that a mere branch line diesel got to pull a mainline train. Gordon was later stranded on Edward's branch line due to a signalman's error. Bill and Ben were quick to tease Gordon, and jokingly threatened to haul him away as scrap. When BoCo arrived with some trucks, he sent Bill and Ben to work, and the relieved Gordon felt he owed his life to BoCo.

When Edward had trouble pulling an enthusiasts' train, BoCo helped Duck to shut the big engines up, who said Edward should be preserved. BoCo later filled in on the branchline while Edward was at the Works. Donald and Douglas were the last engines to accept him.

In 1983, BoCo showed Old Stuck-Up around, but abandoned him when the new diesel insulted Sir Topham Hatt for keeping steam engines in service. Things had been smoothed over between James and BoCo by this time.

In 1987, BoCo tried to cheer Gordon up when he got into trouble for spraying ashes onto a wedding party, and later helped Gordon to Barrow-in-Furness when his firebars collapsed.

In 1995, BoCo also helped Edward to the Works when his bogie wheel snapped off, and ran the branchline while Edward was undergoing an overhaul. He later met Victoria when Edward stopped at Wellsworth with her in 2007.

In 1991, Bill and Ben were once called to the yard to help shunt trains for BoCo. The two began fighting after an incident with the turntable and soon began to give each other the silent treatment. Edward thought this attitude was counterproductive, so BoCo came up with a plan: convincing the Fat Controller to let him take a special, BoCo's own heavy goods train was left behind, with only Bill and Ben to pull - neither would be strong enough to pull the train himself, so the two had to compromise to finish the job.

Eventually in 1998, BoCo lost his buffer in keeping the twins in line and the Fat Controller decided to bring in a new diesel, Derek. Derek, however, had major teething troubles, and was prone to overheating. BoCo had to bring workmen to help Derek when he first broke down.

Although BoCo came across as bullying at first, he was still new to Sodor and turned out to be a good sort who was easy-going and good-natured.

BoCo is based on a BR Class 28 Co-Bo diesel-electric engine, built at Bowesfield Works and designed Metropolitan Vickers in 1958, approx. 56 ft 7 1/2 in long. His name is derived from his Co-Bo wheel arrangement, reversed in a way that Reverend W. Awdry thought sounded more affectionate.

BoCo was not immune to the mechanical failures of his real-life model, according to the Awdrys - however, the Fat Controller eventually found a fix to prevent this malfunction.

In the annuals, BoCo mentions a brother of his - D5705, a real preserved locomotive. In another annual, BoCo claimed to have a twin called "CoBo" in order to play a trick on Bill and Ben.

BoCo is painted in the green livery of British Railways in 1960s with yellow warning panels and has a grey face to match the other characters.

Bolster wagons
Bolster wagons usually carry long objects like logs, girders and pipes, although they were once used to carry saplings to the forest for planting.

Boulder
Boulder is a giant boulder who lives high in the mountains of Sodor. His home was reached by the Skarloey Railway, who then preceded to build a quarry on the cliffside below it. Rusty was suspicious of it, and thought that it may have been watching him. Later, the drilling into the mountain by Thumper caused vibrations that shook Boulder loose from his perch and sent him on a path of destruction along the Skarloey Railway, finally terminating by destroying the standard gauge sheds. After this, the Fat Controller closed the quarry and had Boulder moved to a new mountain, near Boulder's old one. It still stands there to this day.

Boulder is perfectly round, and has moss clinging to him in some places. A mysterious face sometimes appears on him. His persona is described as proud and silent.

It is assumed that Boulder's face was utilised from Gordon's face.

Boxhill
Stepney's brother, Boxhill, is an LBSCR 0-6-0T (for a time a 4-2-0T) A1 of 1872 who retained his original boiler, although he received a new funnel from the Southern Railway. He was converted to 2-4-0T in March 1905 for auto-train trials. He was restored to 0-6-0T in 1913. He was mentioned in Thomas and the Great Railway Show.

Brakevans
The brakevan, also known as the guard's van and the caboose (in American releases), is an important part of a goods train. It carries the guard and is equipped with a strong brake to assist with slowing and stopping the train. From here, the guard can keep an eye on the train in case of problems.

Bridget
Bridget is Edward's love-interest. She is a very shy and timid engine, but when she meets Edward, she gains confidence. Bridget is based on the LNER Gresley Class D49.

Bridget Hill
Bridget Amanda Hatt is Sir Topham Hatt's granddaughter. She is two years younger than her brother, Stephen.

She is first seen on holiday in East Anglia, where she offended Toby by asking if he was "electric".

Bridget Hill's friends
Bridget Hatt's friends are first seen going to Bridget Hatt's birthday party. Their favorite color is pink.

Bulgy
Bulgy is a double-decker bus who once was very opposed to railways.

Bulgy hated railways, and believed that someday they would all be replaced by roads. He even carried a poster on his side telling people to "JOIN THE ANTI-RAIL LEAGUE". His favourite phrase is "Free the roads!"

Bulgy tried to steal Duck and Oliver's passengers by pretending to be a railway bus. Bulgy was determined to get the passengers to Tidmouth before Duck, but got stuck under a bridge after attempting to take a short cut. His lies were exposed, and soon "nobody would believe his destination boards". Eventually he was turned into a henhouse and placed near the bridge, now nicknamed "Bulgy's Bridge".

Bulgy was later brought back to the road to help with passengers while Thomas and Emily needed repairs, but the chickens who had lived in him nestled in his luggage racks and caused trouble the following morning. He was then turned into a mobile vegetable stand. Bulgy enjoys his work delivering vegetables, because they don't lay eggs and they never complain.

Bulgy is a very rude and bad-tempered double-decker bus. After being restored, he saw the error of his ways and changed his attitude.

According to the "Character Cube" bonus features in the "Thomas Gets Bumped" and "Thomas and the Toy Workshop" DVDs, Bulgy "has no scruples" and "knows how to tell a lie when he is in a tight jam", and is friends with Diesel.

Bulgy is based on an AEC Routemaster bus.

Bulgy was previously painted red and cream, but after becoming a Vegetable Bus he was painted green and cream. His license is BLG 1.

Bulgy's friend
Bulgy's friend is a red doubledecker bus. He was mentioned by Oliver in Oliver the Western Engine and the third season episode Bulgy.

Although the friend was not seen in either of the above mentioned stories, the replacement bus did appear in the 'Thomas Story Library' book about Bulgy. However, the bus did not appear anthropomorphized.

Bulgy's friend is based on an AEC Routemaster bus, like Bulgy.

Bulgy's hens
After Bulgy was turned into a henhouse, these hens took up residence in him. When Bulgy was eventually restored, the hens snuck in and roosted in his luggage racks. When Bulgy swerved suddenly the next morning, the hens woke up and caused chaos in Bulgy.

It is unknown whether or not the chickens ever received a replacement henhouse.

Bulstrode
Bulstrode is a highly disagreeable barge.

Bulstrode was used to carry cargo like coal and stone, but always complained about not being loaded fast enough. This annoyed the trucks, but one day Bulstrode ended up getting what he deserved when Percy accidentally pushed trucks off the quay and into his hull. He was then towed to Knapford beach, where he was turned into a children's playground. He remains there today, still expectedly grumbling.

Bulstrode is bad-tempered and never stops complaining.

Bulstrode is painted cream, black and red. In the "My First Thomas" range he is painted orange, blue and green.

Bulstrode is based on a 1920s self-propelled coastal barge.

Buster
Buster is a simple steamroller who goes about his job with pride and content. What Buster lacks in imagination, he makes up for with heart, commitment and hard work, and is liked by all the machines, for his wonderful enthusiasm and kindness to help with everything.

Buster likes to think of himself as the "world's fastest steamroller", and often dreams of winning races. This came true when he won a race against Max and Monty on the newly completed Sodor Rally Track.

Buster is a hard worker with heart and commitment in what he does and he is a good dreamer.

Buster is based upon an Aveling and Porter steamroller.

Buster is dark red-orange with yellow lining.

Butch
Butch, also known as the "Sodor Heavy Recovery Unit", is a breakdown vehicle. He is kept busy clearing rubble, towing broken-down or stranded vehicles or assisting in engine rescues. He also helped with the demolition of Tidmouth Sheds in Calling All Engines.

Butch is based on a Scammel tank recovery vehicle. According to the official website, he was constructed out of parts from a diesel, a lorry and a crane.

Butch is painted yellow with a navy flatbed and "Sodor Heavy Recovery Unit" written on both sides in white. His license plate is "BRK 03".

Byron
Byron is a large bulldozer with a big blade and a deep, booming voice. He carries out bulldozing work along with levelling the ground.

Byron can be a bit pompous and loud, but likes to be useful, enthusiastic, reliable and wise.

Byron is yellow with a black cab with a number 18 painted on the sides of his cab in yellow.

Captain
Captain is a new lifeboat character slated to appear in Misty Island Rescue. He is part of the Search and Rescue Team.

Captain is very confident and is always in control when faced with emergency situations.

Captain is painted yellow, blue, and red with white lining.

Captain is based on the 1954-built 35ft 6in Liverpool Twin-Screw Lifeboat called "Grace Darling".

Captain Baxter
Captain Baxter is an 0-4-0 Dorking Greystone Lime Company Engine. He was built by Fletcher Jennings in 1877 and spent his working life at the Dorking Greystone Limeworks at Betchworth Station; it was here that he gained his mannerism of strong language.

In 1960 Captain Baxter came to the Bluebell Railway, and returned to service in 1982 after a comprehensive overhaul. He was later overhauled in 1990, and is currently nearing completion of an overhaul. Railway volunteers are seeking to appoint the restoration team who repaired Stepney's brother Fenchurch.

Stepney mentioned Captain Baxter while talking to Edward about the Bluebell Railway. He says that they are friends, and both miss pulling trucks. Stepney goes on to describe him as a tough, rude engine who worked in a quarry, which gave him bad manners, and rough language.

Caroline
Caroline is an elderly vintage car owned by a cricketer from the Elsbridge cricket club.

Caroline always refers to her driver as "Master". She does not like high speeds as these overheat her motor. She also disliked engines until Stepney brought her back to the Elsbridge cricket field, at which time she admitted engines had their uses (in her own words, saving "the wear and tear on a poor car's wheels").

Caroline later helped the Fat Controller to Lady Hatt's birthday, until she broke down again.

Caroline is based on a 1941/1928 Oxford Cabriolet "Bull-nosed" Morris Oxford.

Caroline is painted red and gold. Her license plate reads URA 1.

Carols on Wheels
The "Carols on Wheels" truck is a Thomas and Friends magazine character.

Catherine
Catherine is a coach who operates with Culdee on the Culdee Fell Railway. Over the years, she and Culdee have built up a strong working relationship, so he immediately knows if anything is wrong. She is very safety-conscious, and was upset by Lord Harry's risk-taking when she worked with him.

Cattle trucks
Cattle trucks are used to carry cows and other animals; some even carry animals for the circus. A herd of cows once broke through a train of these being pulled by Edward.

Sir Handel has been known to insult Agnes, Ruth, Lucy, Jemima and Beatrice by referring to them as "cattle trucks".

Champion
An inquistive bull who once strayed from some farm labourers and ran away. He eventually came across the railway and, seeing grass on either side, began to eat. Daisy tried to shoo him away, but was intimidated by Champion and backed away.

Charles
Charles is a mixed-traffic engine. He had problems on his first day, but he did well the next day, and even made the trucks behave. Charles is based on the LNER Class C1.

Charlie
Charlie is a little purple tank engine.

Charlie is always up for an adventure; while he is a small engine, he likes to have a lot of fun and cause mischief. Who owns Charlie is unknown, as it is said that he is owned by the Mainland Controller, yet he carries the number fourteen for the Fat Controller's railway.

Charlie is based on a Manning Wardle L Class 0-6-0ST. Billy is another member of this class. He has a brother called "Sharpthorn" who resides on the Bluebell Railway.

Charlie is painted purple with gold and light purple trim, a gold headlight and red wheels; he has the number fourteen painted in gold on his sides.

Chelsea
Chelsea is an tender engine. She was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1920. During the Second World War, she and her good friends Molly the D16 and Gordon the A3 were used for taking British soldiers to battle. Some of Chelsea's class was re-built by Edward Thompson in 1945.

In 1950, Chelsea was allocated to the eastern part of Sodor, before being withdrawn in 1961 due to bad condition. In 1975, she was found by Thomas and Percy, and was given an overhaul at the Crovans Gate Works, and emerged with a new coat of NWR green, and the number 16 on her tender side.

Chelsea now works on the mainline, hauling the express with Gordon, Henry, Spencer, and Bear, but sometimes works on the Little Western, and has found Duck the 57xx tank engine a great Western boyfriend.

Chelsea has a lot to learn, but she has a big heart, and feelings for Duck. Chelsea's best friends are Thomas, Emily, Molly and Gordon.

Chelsea is based on an LNER Gresley Class K3 tender locomotive.

Chelsea is painted NWR green with yellow lining and the number "16" painted on her tender sides in yellow with a red border.

China Clay trucks
The Sodor China Clay Company owns several trucks used to carry china clay, though they have been seen carrying scrap and other materials on occasion.

City of Truro
City of Truro is a steam engine who holds the record of being the first engine to attain the speed of 100 mp/h. He was designed by George Jackson Churchward and built at GWR Swindon Works in 1903. He was retired in 1961 and restored in 1984.

City of Truro arrived on Sodor when the Railway Society visited. Duck, although shy at first, quickly befriended him, but Gordon was jealous of his record and attempted to go as fast as him, only to have his dome blown off on a viaduct.

Coco the Clown
Coco the Clown is a clown featured in the Thomas and Friends magazines.

Cora
Cora is a guard's van who was built by Falcon Works in 1885. She worked with Peter Sam on the Mid Sodor Railway when he was known as Stuart years before. She came from the Mid Sodor Railway while Skarloey was away in 1954. She is used for maintenance and goods trains. Cora and the narrow gauge railway breakdown train are usually pulled by Rusty.

Cora is based on a brakevan from the Corris Railway that now runs on the Talyllyn Railway.

Cora is painted blue (later grey).

Cranky
Cranky is a grumpy crane who arrived on Sodor in 1998. He bullied Thomas and Percy by delaying their loads, but later got his comeuppance after the trampsteamer crashed into him and had to be rescued by the two tank engines.

The reason Cranky is so grumpy because he is kept working day and night without rest.

Cranky loves teasing the engines, and has an intense dislike for Salty's stories.

Cranky is painted olive with black and brown pullies amongst his mechanism and two work plates on each side that reads "CRANKY".

Cream Tankers
These trucks are used to transport cream. They are painted white with milk churns pictured on the sides.

Cromford
Cromford is an NLR 0-6-0 goods tank engine. He was built in 1880 and was used to shunt and pull light passenger trains around Derbyshire in Devon. He was loaned to Barrow Hill Engine Sheds in 1999, and returned to the Bluebell Railway in 2008. He is currently in need of an overhaul.

Stepney mentioned "Cromford" while talking to Edward about the Bluebell Railway. Then, he and "Adams" had no names, so the others nicknamed him "Cromford". According to him, the Controller was not aware of the name change.

Cromford is painted black with red and white strips, which is the BR goods livery. He formally carried the number 2650, and presently carries 58850.

Culdee
Culdee is a mountain engine named after Culdee Fell, the mountain his railway climbs.

Culdee was built at Winterthur, Switzerland, in 1896, and was the first to be used in the test runs on the Culdee Fell Railway. He was also the last mountain engine on Sodor to travel to Switzerland for an overhaul, in the 1960s. Culdee has his own coach, named Catherine.

Culdee is careful, cautious and friendly, filled with advice to give to the other engines.

Culdee is based on "Snowdon" of the Snowdon Mountain Railway.

Culdee is painted purple with orange lining. He carries the number 4.

Cyril
Cyril is a Diesel engine working on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

Named after former company employee, Cyril Holland, Cyril is owned by the Murthwaite Locomotive Group, formerly named "Shabtrak", and is one of many industrial narrow gauge diesels built by R.A. Listers. It was built in 1932, used on a Peat Bog railway not far from Manchester and first preserved at the Moseley Railway Trust, in Stockport, in its original form of an open sided cab and on 2' gauge. When the engine arrived on the Ratty in 1985, the volunteers of "Shabtrak" used parts from another Lister locomotive and a 2-cylinder, 12 horsepower Lister engine to rebuild it to 15" gauge, and fitted a new cab and bonnet, in the style of a Lister Blackstone RM2. The engine now has full electrics, radio and air brake systems for working light passenger trains in emergencies, and in 1989 was re-engined with a 20 h.p. Lister engine to improve performance. It was rebodied in 2006 by Ian Page Engineering of Millom. It is currently painted dark green.

Blister I and Blister II are based on him.

Cyril
Cyril is a fogman who lives in an old cottage in Misty Valley. When there is fog about, he puts detonators on the tracks to warn the engines. One time, he was replaced by a foghorn, but saved the day when the foghorn caused a landslide with its vibrations and made Thomas crash. Cyril was soon given the job back, and has proven to be useful.

D5705
D5705 is BoCo's brother, who was only mentioned in an annual. D5705 is in fact a real diesel engine preserved at the East Lancashire Railway. He was designed by Metropolitan Vickers and built at Bowesfield Works in 1958.

D5705 survived by historical accident as a technical services engine and then carriage heating unit TDB968006 before being preserved in 1980. The Class 15 Preservation Society has signed an agreement with the owners of D5705 to become its custodians during its restoration and operation for the next ten years, although funding will remain separate.

D5705 is painted in the green livery of British Railways with yellow warning panels.

Daisy
Daisy is a diesel railcar. She was designed by Metro-Cammell and built at Washwood Heath in 1956.

After Thomas was sent to the Works to have his bufferbeam repaired in 1961, Daisy was loaned from the B.R. to do his work. Daisy was nasty to Henrietta, Annie and Clarabel, refused to sleep in the Ffarquhar engine sheds on the grounds that it was "smelly", and blatantly refused to pull freight because it was "bad for her swerves". Daisy later called Toby cowardly for having sideplates and cowcatchers and claimed that one only needed to "toot and look them in the eye" to shoo animals. This, of course, was proved false when Daisy tried to shoo an inquisitive bull. The Fat Controller discovered that Daisy was lazing about, but gave her a second chance after Daisy helped clear up the mess made when Percy collided into a train of stone. Daisy promised to change her ways.

In 1962, Mavis sought Daisy's advice about how to show Toby that her method of doing things was correct. This wasn't exactly the best move, as Daisy knew next to nothing about trucks.

In 1963, Percy used Daisy as an example of a good diesel to change Douglas' opinion about diesels.

In 1990, Daisy was put in charge of Thomas' fast run to Knapford while Thomas was in York. Daisy later claimed that she was not afraid of snow, but changed her mind after getting stuck in a snowdrift for a week.

When Thomas finally returned from York Daisy was given charge of a special train to bring guests to Knapford for the welcome-home party, but was delayed after running over some cones left inside the crossing gates at Dryaw crossing. She only just made it in time.

In 1993, Daisy, along with Thomas, Percy and Toby, saw Wilbert off when he returned to Gloucestershire.

In 1995, Daisy was stranded on the main line when the stretch before Dryaw was declared unsafe as rabbits had burrowed beneath it, and so she was given the task of ferrying passengers from the airfield to Knapford. She later tried to cheer Henry up when he started to worry about the Golden Jubilee.

In 2007, Daisy teased Percy for being afraid of grass snakes, but was humiliated when she blew a fuse out of fright when a crate of eels dropped beneath her.

Daisy used to be lazy, impatient and stubborn until she was threatened to be sent away. She's a good sort really, who is kind, sweet and hopeful.

In the "Thomas and Friends" magazines, Daisy was portrayed with her old persona of being rude and believing that anything up-to-date is always the best.

Daisy is based on a BR/Metro-Cammell DMU Class 101/102, approx. 57 ft long. She is, however, a single railcar instead of the traditional two.

Daisy is painted green with yellow lining, similar to the livery of the British Railways DMUs in the 1960s. She wears makeup, including eyelashes, red lipstick, blush and blue eyeshadow. She has a grey face.

Danni
Danni is a beautiful and kind-hearted blue engine. She is in love with Gordon when she first saw him but she gets nervous around him and sometimes her face turns flushed red. Danni's also the only one who never teased Gordon at all and she became Gordon's girlfriend after she saved his life or even stood up for him. Danni is based on the Caledonian Railway Single 123. She is painted royal blue with red lining and the number 26 painted on her tender sides.

Dennis
Dennis is a lazy diesel.

Dennis is lazy and is willing to go to great lengths to avoid having to work.

Dennis is based on a type of Bulleid diesel, "No. 11001", designed by O.V.S. Bullied and built at Ashford Works, England, in 1949. He also carries his basis' number.

Dennis is painted light grey with dark grey wheels and red buffers.

Derek
Derek is a diesel, best known for his initial "teething" troubles.

The Fat Controller realised Bill and Ben needed help and sent for Derek, but Derek's cooling system overheated on Gordon's Hill and BoCo had to come the rescue. The news of the rescue went through the North Western Railway's rumour mill in due course, until a confused Percy informed Bill and Ben that Derek had, of all things, a toothache! Bill and Ben were apprehensive of Derek as a result, but forgot their fear when Derek's cooling system overheated yet again and they had to help him home. Derek was then sent to the Works to be mended.

Derek is rather enthusiastic about his work, but unfortunately for him his problem with his cooling system prevents him from working to his full potential. Basis

Derek is based on a BR Class 17, a Clayton and Beyer-Peacock diesel-electric Type 1. He was designed by and built at Clayton Equipment Company and Beyer, Peacock & Co.

Derek is painted in the British Railway's green livery with yellow warning panels. He carries the number 2512.

Diesel
"Devious" Diesel is a devious diesel shunter. He speaks with a Neutral English accent (with lashings of Cockney).

When Diesel came on loan to the North Western Railway in June 1957, Duck was asked to show him around. Duck was unimpressed by Diesel's claims of being "revolutionary" and left him to his own devices. As a result, Diesel was made into a laughing stock by the trucks for trying to pull some rusty old trucks and failing spectacularly, and Diesel blamed Duck for not helping him. Diesel swore a vendetta, and spread rumours that Duck had given the big engines rude nicknames. Duck was sent to Wellsworth pending an inquiry into the matter, but Diesel got too big for his boots and tried telling lies about Henry. He was found out and sent home in disgrace.

Several years later, Diesel was brought back to help on Thomas' branchline whilst Percy was being repaired. Diesel tried to win Thomas and Toby over, without success, and after he destroyed several trucks he was to be sent away. However, on his day of departure Clarabel slipped on oily rails left by Daisy and came off at some points near Dryaw. Diesel, realising that Thomas was blocking his only way home, went to the rescue. Clarabel put in a good word for Diesel, and Diesel, although he returned to the Other Railway, is always welcome on Sodor.

Diesel was sent away, but returned when Duck and Percy needed help at Brendam in 1991. Diesel proved to be as bad as ever and was sent away for good after shunting some trucks of china clay into the sea, but he mysteriously snuck back to give Mavis advice and taunt Gordon about the triumph of diesel power on the mainland. It is possible that these events happened during Diesel's stay, or that Diesel returned at some stage with goods from the mainland.

When Henry was derailed by some trucks in 2002, Diesel was brought back as a last resort to do his goods work, but his attempt to prove his worth resulted in him falling in a barge, and he was sent back to the mainland yet again.

For reasons unknown, Diesel returned yet again in 2003, this time to assist Fergus at the Cement Works. Diesel became jealous of Fergus' reputation as the "pride of the Cement Works" and concocted a scheme to make Fergus run away. Diesel was partially successful - he managed to make Fergus abandon his post for a time - but was ultimately foiled yet again. Amazingly, Diesel was not sent back this time round, and has remained on the North Western Railway.

Despite remaining tricky and devious, Diesel learned how useful steam engines can be when Thomas brought fresh diesel fuel for him and the other diesel engines and James pushed him back to the Repair Yard when he broke down. However, he tried to convince Gordon that he's old and clapped out, Ben about there was a monster inside a tunnel, and Thomas about the "Curse of the Cliffs" and make him scared at Halloween. But, Diesel proved to have a good side inside him when he told Emily about his record he made for shunting lots of trucks, and proved to Thomas that he didn't ruin the photograph for the billboard on purpose.

Then, Diesel made fun of James when he was painted pink.

Diesel is, in essence, the average pantomime villain. He is oily, malicious, devious, scheming and full of ideas to get revenge. It appears Diesel has a good side in him, but one would still have to look deep to find it.

Diesel is based on a BR Class 08 0-6-0, built at BR Works of Crewe, Darlington, Derby and Doncaster in 1953, approx. 29 ft 3 in long. Over seventy members of this class survive today in preservation. They were in fact the most successful shunting engines in the world, with 996 of them built.

Diesel is painted in the black livery used by British Railways for shunting engines in the 1950s.

Diesel 10
Diesel 10 is a villainous diesel with a roof-top hydraulic grabber titled "Pinchy". He was designed by and built at British Railway's Swindon Works in 1958. He speaks with a deep, gruff voice and a strong, distinctive American accent.

Diesel 10 is a large, powerful Warship diesel. On his roof is a hydraulic crane arm with a metal claw attached - a claw he refers to as "Pinchy". He was originally named Jorgen.

Diesel 10 had been to Sodor a long time ago, creating problems for the steam engines. He chased down Lady - the engine who kept Sodor alive - and made her crash. In the years that followed, Lady's caretaker Burnett Stone took her into hiding, trying desperately, but failing to bring her back up to steam.

Diesel 10 returned many years later, intending to destroy Lady for good. He brought with him two lapdogs: Splatter and Dodge, who were present when the boss was scheming. He was first seen in the movie charging past Thomas and Gordon at Wellsworth. He also dumped sneezing powder all around Tidmouth Sheds, the wind from Harold's blades blew it all over the place. Diesel 10 had very little success with his plans - Mr. Conductor caused Pinchy to throw him safely onto bags of flour, and during a speech on "how to stop being stupid" he caused a coal chute to empty its contents on top of him at the coaling plant.

By using special coal from Sodor, Burnett Stone was able to bring Lady back to life. Diesel 10 was determined to attack her, but lost the aid of Splatter and Dodge. Burnett, Lady, and Thomas found themselves being chased by Diesel 10 over an unsafe viaduct. The center of the viaduct collapsed, and while Thomas and Lady were able to cross safely, Diesel 10 was too large and fell into a passing barge below. How Diesel 10 got back to Sodor is a mystery. It is very likely that Sir Topham Hatt decided to give him another chance.

In 2005, he was working at the scrapyards, using Pinchy to load rusted metal into trucks. The sight of him returning caused Thomas and Percy to shudder in fright.

Thomas and Mavis went to tell steam engines and diesels all over the island to meet at the coaling plant, a chance and hope for them to work together and get the new Sodor Airport done on time. When Thomas went over to tell Diesel 10 about the meeting, he got scared to his wheels. Not sure if Diesel 10 would want to help the steam engines anyway, due to their difficulties in the past, Thomas sped away as fast as he could.

Construction of the Airport was almost complete when a tower collapsed, cracking the runway and blocking the tracks. With Harvey the Crane Engine, too far away to clear the line, Thomas took a chance and decided to ask Diesel 10. Convincing his archenemy that helping the other engines would prove how useful he was, Thomas returned with help to clear the line.

In The Great Discovery, Diesel 10 and a number of other diesels later waited in the quarry yard to hear if Thomas had been found in the days leading to the reopening of Great Waterton.

When we first met him, Diesel 10 is an evil, conniving, bullying, and psychotic monster. He absolutely despises steam engines, and would call them taunting names like "puffball" and "teapot". He is Sodor's strongest but not quite largest diesel, his power being enforced by his slightly malfunctioning claw, Pinchy. He can use this deftly, and is even able to use it to make a sculpture. All engines, steam and diesel alike, fear but don't respect him.

Despite his aggressiveness, he will help on occasion ever since Sir Topham Hatt brought him back, but only when it suits his personal interest. He can have a caring side, but he very rarely shows it.

Diesel 10 is based on a BR Class 42 "Warship" with an added non-regulation hydraulic metal claw attached to a hydraulic crane arm on his roof.

Diesel 10 has thick bushy eyebrows, and is painted rusty-olive/yellow ochre with yellow warning stripes along his body and covered in oil stain.

Dignity
Dignity is a barge, which made a cameo in the first illustration of Percy and Harold in Percy the Small Engine.

Dilly
After Donald teased Duck about his "quacking", Duck's crew got revenge by slipping a small duckling into Donald's tender. When discovered, she becomes friends with Donald and his crew, and eventually settled down at Haultraugh, where a small pond was nearby. She was named Dilly by the stationmaster, but she is known to everyone else as Donald's duck.

Dilly appeared in the third season episode Donald's Duck. She appeared twice in the annuals, in "Donald's Duck" and "Gordon's Stowaway". She appeared in the song Donald's Duck which was dedicated to her.

In the annual, she disappeared for a few months, only to return to the station with her husband and children in tow!

Dolgoch
Dolgoch was built in 1866 by Fletcher, Jennings & Co., but to a very different design to that of Talyllyn. He is an 0-4-0 tank engine with both a back tank (behind the cab) and a well tank (between the frames). The long wheelbase allows the firebox to sit in front of the rear axle, with Fletcher's Patent inside valve gear driven off the front axle, a particularly inaccessible arrangement. In increasingly decrepit condition Dolgoch continued to operate the service single-handedly until 1952 when Edward Thomas became available and was then the subject of a prolonged overhaul between 1954 and 1963.

Dolgoch returned to service in late 1999 after a major overhaul involving firebox repairs and an extensive mechanical overhaul; as part of the overhaul he has been fitted with air braking equipment, the last steam loco on the Talyllyn Railway to be fitted.

Dolgoch is Rheneas's twin, and because of this he was mentioned multiple times in the Railway Series.

Dolgoch previously ran in his 1946 light green livery. As of 2009 he was temporarily running in Crimson Lake livery for one year only prior to his ten-yearly boiler examination.

The Talyllyn Railway staff and volunteers hope to have Dolgoch repaired by May 2011, which will mark the 60th anniversary of railway preservation. So, in Autumn 2009, "Steam Railway" magazine launched an appeal to raise funds for Dolgoch's next overhaul, which will include a new boiler to its original design. However, whilst the appeal was being made, an examination of Dolgoch showed that he had a crack in his rear tubeplate, which forced him to be withdrawn for overhaul earlier than expected. Luckily though, by January 2010, thanks to the readers of "Steam Railway" magazine, the Dolgoch appeal had been so successful that the overhaul was able to commence. During the second week in February, Dolgoch was dismantled for the removal of his boiler from his frames. Then, his boiler was lifted from his frames on February 23rd, 2010.

Donald and Douglas
Donald and Douglas (originally known by their numbers, 57646 and 57647, respectively) are twin tender engines from Scotland.

Donald and Douglas were built by John F. McIntosh at St. Rollox Works in 1899 and worked on the Caledonian Railway in Scotland, a large network that extended along that country's east coast, as well as the central and south-western regions. Despite being limited to Caledonian metals, they appeared to have a familiarity with other railways, as they were familiar with the locomotives and livery of the Highland Railway. Giving long and stalwart service, Donald and Douglas eventually became 57646 and 57647 on the Scottish Region of British Railways. In 1959 Sir Topham Hatt needed a goods engine, and by his request BR transferred 57646 (Donald) to Sodor.

To Hatt's surprise though, two engines arrived. Donald's twin Douglas (57647) could not stand to be separated from his brother, and was smart enough to realise he would eventually be scrapped if he stayed in Scotland. Neither engine could be told apart: both claimed to have forgotten their numbers, and indeed their numberplates had "slyly slipped off" in the journey from Scotland, forcing Hatt to keep both until he could determine which engine was freeloading on his hospitality. It was later revealed that this piece of skullduggery had been planned not only by the two engines, but also by their drivers and firemen, who were all related. The Fat Controller was unaware of Douglas' motive, and threatened the two that whichever engine he found out to be the truant would be sent home. Both engines resolved to give outstanding service so that Hatt would want to keep both of them. This plan quickly went to pieces, however, after Douglas accidentally shunted Thomas' special coach, full of passengers, into a siding at Tidmouth, causing a great deal of fury for the passengers. Things were more complicated when Donald demolished a signalbox at Tidmouth and Douglas destroyed the spiteful breakvan.

Despite all this grief, the twin's professionalism, competency, strong work ethic and personable natures had begun to win them support, particularly when they demonstrated an aptitude for snowplough work that they had learned in Scotland. After rescuing Henry from just such a snowy ordeal, the other engines came over to Donald and Douglas' side and led to the engines of Sodor taking industrial action. After a suggestion by Edward, and being pushed into it by Gordon, Percy was presented to the Fat Controller as a deputation, arguing the twins' case on their behalf and pleading that if sent away they'd be scrapped. Hatt's reaction to this was mixed - though he understood the engines' feelings he did not approve or appreciate them trying to interfere with his decision-making. However, Percy's statement and the twin's excellent performance was enough for Hatt to take pity on the twins and kept both. He demonstrated this intent with an offer of a fresh coat of paint for both engines, and by their request they were painted NWR blue.

Since then, the twins have, by all accounts, "transformed" goods traffic on the mainline. Such is their versatility that they regularly see service on Duck and Edward's branchlines, as well as duties as station-pilot at Tidmouth. A turntable has been provided for them at Arlesburgh; it was briefly decommissioned after Oliver was pushed into it by some trucks.

Such a demanding work-load has begun to tax them, however, and in 1993 the Fat Controller borrowed a navy saddletank named Wilbert from the Dean Forest Railway to deputize for them on the Arlesburgh branch, with the intention of at some point obtaining another engine of Wilbert's class to permanently fill that role.

Donald and Douglas are practical and level-minded characters who nevertheless enjoy a joke, especially impersonating one another - the fitting of the twins with nameplates was done to specifically end this element of their humour. Their tendency for jokes however has continued, and both display a keen sense of wit and, where necessary, an acid tongue. In their work, however, their performance is exemplary and they can be described as some of the most well-regarded engines in service on the railway, comparable with Duck and Edward in their reliability.

Donald and Douglas understandably held a grudge against diesels for a time - after all, the oil-guzzling engines were taking over their work - but after BoCo helped them in Edward's absence they have agreed that there is nothing wrong with diesels on the whole.

Donald and Douglas are based on Caledonian Railway "McIntosh 812" 0-6-0s.

Donald and Douglas were painted black from construction, and arrived on Sodor in the B.R.'s black goods livery with red-and-white lining on their tenders. They remained as such (with the addition of numbers on their tenders) until it was decided that both engines could stay, at which point they requested to be repainted in the NWR's blue livery with red-and-yellow lining. They apparently like the colour, as it reminds them of the Caledonian Railway, where many of their shedmates carried a similar shade of blue.

Douglas
Douglas is a 0-4-0WT built in 1918 by Andrew Barclay and Co. Ltd. for the Airservice Construction Corps.

From 1921 until 1945 he worked at the RAF railway at Calshot Spit, Southampton. After a period in store at Calshot he was bought in 1949 by Abelson and Co. Ltd. who presented him to the Talyllyn in 1953. After overhaul and alteration from 2ft to 2ft 3in gauge, he entered service in 1954 and was named "Douglas" at the donor's request. Although smaller than the other locos he has performed well and was returned to service in 1995, having been fitted with a new boiler, turned out in his old Air Ministry Works and Buildings livery. Between 2001 and 2008, Douglas was painted red and blue and running under the guise of Duncan. He is currently under overhaul, so Sir Haydn has taken over the duties for the children's day by running under the guise of Sir Handel.

Douglas is currently painted in red and blue in the guise of Duncan. In his minor cameo in the Railway Series, he wears the same green livery as Talyllyn and Dolgoch.

Dowager Hatt
Mrs. Dowager Hatt is the the Fat Controller and Sir Loham Hatt's mother, Stephen and Bridget Hatt's great-grandmother, and Lady Hatt's mother-in-law. She owns a Dalmatian, which she renamed "Gremlin" after her adventure in the aforementioned episode. In the Driver Perkins parts of the Thomas and the Runaway Kite DVD it is revealed that she also has a parrot named Beaky. As her name implies, she is a widow, meaning that the Fat Controller's father is deceased.

Driver
The drivers drive and maintain the engines, and, along with the fireman, keep the engines in control and provide a voice of reason when the engine is being difficult.

A driver's uniform is blue pants, a white shirt, a black tie, with a blue jacket over it, and a blue cap.

Dryaw FC coach
The Dryaw FC coach has first appeared in the episode Thomas and the Moles from The Pack mini-special. He looks like the Fat Controller.

Duck
Montague (affectionately known as "Duck" because of his supposed waddle) is a Great Western pannier tank engine.

Duck worked at Paddington before moving to Sodor in 1955 to take over Percy's shunting duties, leaving the latter free to assist with the construction of Knapford Harbour. Duck was a hard worker, but the others mistook his work ethic for simplicity and tried to use this to their advantage. They soon found their mistake when Duck and Percy took revenge on them by barring them from the shed.

When Diesel arrived, the others took a liking to his flattery, but Duck was doubtful and left Diesel to his own devices, which resulted in the latter getting into mishap with some rusty trucks. Diesel vowed to get revenge, and, inspired by several incidents occurring around the yard in Duck’s absence, spread rumours that Duck had given offensive nicknames to the others. Duck was sent to work as a "banker" at Wellsworth pending further injury, and after bravely stopping a runaway goods train at his own risk regained the respect of the others. Of course, by this time the others were aware that the matter of all Diesel's fault, but Duck's triumph certainly helped.

Duck continued working on the main line until 1968, at which time the Tidmouth-Arlesburgh branchline - nicknamed "The Little Western" - was restored and Duck was asked to run it with help from Oliver, and Donald and Douglas on occasion. Apparently, if Barry is ever introduced into the Railway Series he will also work on Duck's branchline.

Duck is a loyal, wise engine and a hard worker who does his work without fuss. His personal philosophy and motto is "there are two ways of doing things: the Great Western way, or the wrong way".

Duck is based on a GWR 57xx 0-6-0 pannier tank with added sand boxes, designed by Charles B. Collet and built at Swindon Works in 1929, approx. 31 ft 2 in long.

Duck is painted in the GWR's green livery with yellow lining and black wheels, splashers and pipes. He has the letters "GWR" written on his pannier tanks in yellow and red, and an gold brass safety valve cover.

Before 1968, Duck carried a brass GWR numberplate on his cab sides (5741); since 1968, he has a yellow "8" painted on each side of his cab in yellow with a red border.

Duke
Duke, named after the Duke of Sodor and originally The Duke, is considered a hero amongst the engines.

Duke was built at Boston Lodge and was regauged to 2ft 3in before being transported to Sodor for the opening of the Mid Sodor Railway.

In 1947, the line closed and Duke was sheeted and sheltered in Arlesdale Sheds. He was later discovered by Fergus Duncan, the Reverend Teddy Boston and the Reverend W. Awdry in 1969 and taken by road and rail to Crovan's Gate, where he was restored and returned to service in 1983.

Duke, when one first meets him, appears to be pedantic and strict, and in a sense both are true about him. However, Duke was sheeted up in a shed for more than two decades, so Duke possibly did not know how things have changed. Duke is wise from experience, and sees it as his duty to live up to his name's reputation.

Duke is painted brown with red lining, and he has two red plaques on either side of his saddletank with his name written in gold. He had "The Duke" written on his sides and "MS" written on his tender. On the Mid-Sodor Railway, Duke was numbered one.

The story of Duke was based upon a true story about an engine abandoned in the Brazilian rainforest. Duke himself is based on Prince, a tender engine from the Ffestiniog Railway at Porthmadog, North Wales.

Duncan
Duncan is a narrow gauge tank engine who came to the Skarloey Railway after Peter Sam's accident with the slate trucks. He speaks with a Orcadian accent.

Duncan was built by Andrew Barclay at Kilmarnock and worked in a factory in Scotland, which Peter Sam claims is the source of his strong accent.

In 1958, Duncan was sent to Sodor to do Peter Sam's work after his accident with the slate trucks, and regauged to 2ft 3in. Duncan was rude and arrogant at first, but was humbled after derailing while doing "rock 'n' roll" and having to be rescued by Rusty, whom he detests for being a diesel.

But as the years went on, Duncan forgot what he had learnt, and in 1962 he stalled on a viaduct out of spite for not being polished. Skarloey finally taught him sense with the story of Rheneas' bravery and now Duncan is a Really Useful Engine.

Duncan is currently on the Talyllyn Railway in Wales being mended. Sir Handel is also there taking over Duncan's duties until he is mended.

Duncan might decide to "Rock 'n' Roll" and act rudely and obstinate, however Rusty had to rescue him after his accident. When he was first introduced in the fourth season, he was often stubborn.

Since the sixth season, Duncan is quite often bossy to the other engines about getting their work done quickly and thinks he knows better than them. Duncan still seems to ignore Rusty's warnings and advice until he lands himself into trouble. Also, Duncan tries to do the jobs which he thinks suits him well and he is quite competitive with James.

Duncan is based on the Talyllyn Railway's Douglas, not to be confused with the standard gauge engine Douglas. This engine is currently selcted to be dressed up as Duncan on special events associated with the "Thomas the Tank Engine" franchise.

Before August 1994, Duncan is painted in the Skarloey Railway's red livery with blue-and-yellow lining. Since August 1994, he is painted amber with black and gold lining.

Dyson lorries
The Dyson lorries are used to help whenever there is an accident where the rails can't reach. They are also used for carrying cars and engines - one was once used to carry Duke to the Skarloey Railway.

Eagle
Eagle is a wise old tender engine. He was built at Horwich Works and designed by George Hughes in 1897.

Eagle seems to be of a helpful persona.

Eagle is based on the L&YR Class 25 with an added pony truck and a Fowler tender, very much like James.

Eagle is painted in the NWR's crimson livery with yellow and black lining. He has crimson wheels and a crimson dome.

Earl
Earl is an express engine. He's the second of his class, and helps Gordon and Spencer with the Wild Nor'Wester. Earl is based on the un-streamlined LNER Class P2.

Earl Sigurd of Orkney
Earl Sigurd of Orkney was a man who often tried to reclaim the lands of Sodor and Man from Godred MacHarold. He attempted to claim Man in 982, and Sodor two years later. He failed both times, but was never captured and returned in 989. His forces killed MacHarold and two of his sons in a battle in Man, but Godred's youngest son, Harold escaped with Godred's mother and daughter. Sigurd died in 1014, and Harold reclaimed both islands from Sigurd's young heir, Thorfinn.

Edward
Edward is a mixed-traffic engine. He speaks with a politically correct (P.C.) English accent.

Edward was designed by Pettigrew and built by Sharp Stewart and Company in 1896 and worked on the Furness Railway before coming to Sodor in 1920 to finish the building of the North Western Railway. After his work was completed, Edward was kept in a shed, to the delight of the other engines, who claimed that he was too weak to work. Edward was eventually let out again, and proved that what he lacked in strength he made up for in work ethic.

Edward currently runs the Wellsworth-Brendam branch line with BoCo, and occasionally Donald and Douglas. He is sometimes used as a pilot engine for special trains.

Edward is kind-hearted and always keen to help a friend in need. The small engines trust him to lend a listening ear and sympathetic advice. He is a hard worker too, and always does his best to finish a job.

Sadly, the big engines often see Edward as old-fashioned and slow. While it is true he is the oldest engine on the North Western Railway - it must be noted he helped build it - he has proved time and time again that he is more than capable of working as hard as any engine, but he is a more clever and wiser engine, too.

Since the eighth season, Edward's persona differs slightly. Despite his reputation of being kind and friendly, Edward has sometime seemed to act cheeky. Edward has also acted with a lack of confidence in himself in that he keeps secrets from the other engines and the Fat Controller when once he was leaking steam, and likewise when he was told to pull the post train whilst Percy was being repaired. Sometimes, Edward has seemed to share the same personality as James, such as when he decided to show off his special waterwheel and laughed at Thomas when he was wearing a funny funnel.

Unlike most characters, Edward is not directly based upon any particular class of locomotive. The Reverend W. Awdry had stated that Edward is based on a heavily modified Sharp, Stewart and Co. "Larger Seagull", supplied to the Furness Railway in 1896, but this was a piece of retcon created for "The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways".

Sodor "historian" Martin Clutterbuck notes that Edward bears a close resemblance to a LNER D3/4 "Glen" (NBR Reid Class K) 4-4-0 from the London and North Eastern Railway. At any rate, the Reverend W. Awdry used an engine of this class to represent Edward on his model railway.

Crovan's Gate modifications to be seen are making rear splasher flush with cab, new cab windows as opposed to cutaway and new cab lookouts as opposed to the round originals.

Edward is painted NWR blue with the NWR red and yellow lining and the number "2" painted on his tender sides in bright yellow with a red border. He carries two plaques on his cab that reads "NWR No. 2, Rebuilt 1920, Crovans Gate Works".

It can be assumed that, before arriving on Sodor, Edward was painted in the Furness Railway's red livery with a yellow "FR" on his tender sides and black wheels.

Edward's ghost engine
The ghost engine was referenced in a story Edward told the others on Halloween. Thomas later teased Percy, saying Percy thought it was real, but learnt his lesson after remaining behind at the Smelters to take a special load and thinking that some chains touching his cab were ghostly fingers. He then believed that a whistle in the shed was the ghost's lost whistle, forcing Thomas to race out of the Smelters.

The reason for the engine's death is not certain, but it can be assumed it was scrapped.

The ghost engine is based on the Caledonian Railway "Mclntosh 812" 0-6-0s. With the use of Donald's model, minus the tender.

Edwin
Edwin is a tank engine.

Edwin was built by Sir Nigel Gresley in 1930 and rebuilt in 1939. He was drafted to Sodor in 1946, before being withdrawn in 1959, due to poor condition. Molly the yellow engine discovered him in 2009, and Edwin is now a really useful engine again, working hard on Thomas' branchline. Edwin loves the highlands of Scotland, and has found Donald and Douglas both great Scottish friends. Edwin is a loyal and hard worker. If the engines are in a situation, Edwin never hesitates to help out, even if they were mean to him. Deep down inside, he misses his brothers on the LNER, and hopes they have survived. Sadly, none have, and Edwin is the last of his kind. Edwin carries the British Railways black livery with red lining, and the number nineteen painted on his bunker sides in yellow with a red border, and is an LNER Gresley V3 tank engine. Edwin's name means "rich friend". It comes from the Old English elements "ead" (rich, blessed) and "wine" (friend).

Edward Thomas
Edward Thomas is a 0-4-2ST built in 1921 by Kerr, Stuart and Co. Ltd. for use on the Corris Railway.

Edward Thomas worked on the Corris Railway, along with Sir Haydn, until the line's closure in 1948. He was purchased by the Talyllyn Railway in 1951 and named after its former manager. After repairs were carried out by the Hunslet Engine Co., the engine entered service on the Talyllyn in 1952 and has proved most successful. From 1958 until 1969 a Giesl ejector was fitted instead of a conventional chimney, the first such installation in the British Isles.

Until 2000, the engine ran in the guise of his twin, Peter Sam, in red livery. He was then repainted into the British Railway black, the colour he might have acquired had the Corris line survived a little longer. An extensive overhaul, which included the fitting of a new boiler, was completed in late May 2004, and the engine returned to public service on the thirtieth of that month as "Edward Thomas" in unlined green livery.

He is currently running in the standard Talyllyn Railway livery of bronze with black and yellow lining.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a vintage Sentinel steam lorry.

Prior to his becoming Controller of the North Western Railway, Sir Topham Hatt owned Elizabeth - she notes that he was not the best driver. For reasons unknown, Elizabeth was sheeted in a shed and remained there until Thomas' crew found her several decades later when they needed urgent transportation to the works for new side-rods. Jem Cole restored Elizabeth, and she is to this day in perfect working order.

Elizabeth does not like laziness or rudeness, and will respond to both in the strongest terms. Although she believes roads are superior to rails, she often helps the engines out. She is very sensitive about how others refer to her by her age.

Elizabeth is based on a Sentinel DG4 steam lorry with a three-way tipper behind her cab.

Elizabeth is painted maroon with gold and black stripes. Her license plate is D645.

Ellie
Ellie is a coach that operates with Eric on the Culdee Fell Railway. Her fate since Eric’s retirement is unknown.

Elsie
Elsie is a small luggage van pulled by Toby. After his tramway closed, Elsie was brought with Toby and Henrietta to the North Western Railway.

Emily
Emily is a large green Stirling Single, and Thomas' love interest. She was designed by Patrick Stirling and built at Doncaster Works in 1870. She speaks with a Glaswegian accent.

Emily was ignored by the other engines for pulling Annie and Clarabel without Thomas' permission or knowledge. The matter was resolved after she saved both Thomas and Oliver from a nasty accident on the cross-points, and she was rewarded with two new coaches.

Emily acts as a sisterly figure to the others, but can get into trouble because of her fussy and bossy attitude. She's a lot nicer and wiser than she lets on.

Emily is based on a GNR Stirling Single, of which there is only one left in the world, located at the National Railway Museum in York.

Emily is painted in the emerald livery of the Great Northern Railway with gold lining and chocolate running-boards. She has the number 12 painted on her tender sides in yellow with a red border.

Enid
Ernest is based on the Snowdon Mountain Railway's Enid.

The boilers are inclined on the locomotives, to ensure that the boiler tubes and the firebox remain submerged when on the gradient, a standard practice on mountain railways - the locomotive always runs chimney-first up the mountain. The water gauges (gauge glasses) are mounted half at the centre on the locomotive so that the water level does not change with the gradient. One result of the boiler's angle is that the firehole door is at waist height, requiring the fireman to lift the coal some distance. The boiler is not superheated.

Eric
Eric is a mountain engine who was mentioned in a conversation between Culdee, Wilfred and Ernest in Mountain Engines. According to them, Eric is "nice and quiet".

Eric was built at Winterthur, Switzerland, in 1923 to a "super-heat" design. He arrived on Sodor in July 1962.

According to "The Real Lives of Thomas the Tank Engine", he and Alaric have been "retired".

Eric is based on the Snowdon Mountain Railway's Eryri.

Eric is painted purple with orange lining.

Ernest
Ernest is a mountain engine built at Winterthur, Switzerland, in 1895. He only appeared in Mountain Engines informing Culdee of the changes on the Culdee Fell Railway in his absence.

Ernest is based on the Snowdon Mountain Railway's Enid.

Ernest is painted CFR purple with orange lining. In the magazines, he is painted blue with red lining.

Eryri
Eric is based on the Snowdon Mountain Railway's Eryri.

The boilers of these engines are superheated, making them more efficient, and in place of a lever type regulator, they have a wheel that must be turned 2¼ times between closed and fully open. The drive from the cylinders and to the wheels again uses levers, but in a different pattern. The linkage is fitted within double frames at the front of the locomotive. This results in a locomotive that is far more rigid. The side tanks are arranged vertically just in front of the cab. No.6 carries the same amount of water as the earlier engines, but No.7 & No.8 carry enough water to get to the top of the mountain without stopping, if required. There is no separate tank for cooling water as it is drawn from the boiler on these engines.

Express coaches
These form the fast and important passenger trains and are normally pulled by Gordon, James, or Henry. Several of these coaches form the express, known as the "Wild Nor' Wester" - usually pulled by Gordon, although Henry, James and Bear take the train when Gordon is busy - other coaches form the "Limited", which was pulled by Bear in Enterprising Engines.

The coaches were primarily painted yellow-orange until circa 1984, when they were repainted maroon with a yellow stripe. The other coaches are painted either green or red with custard-yellow window surrounds. The green version is primarily used for the express while the red version and is used for other fast trains and occasionally used for the express.

The express coaches are based on SR Maunsell Stock, LNER Gresley and GWR Suburban with added corridor sections onto the ends of the coaches and the larger windows of corridors stock on the far sides.

Farmer Banks
Farmer Banks is a farmer featured in the magazines.

Farmer Collett
Farmer Collett is a farmer, who regularly appears in the magazine stories. He is good friends with Jem Cole.

Farmer McColl
Farmer McColl is a farmer. Toby enjoys visiting him and his animals. He also owns the field opposite his farm.

Farmer Trotter
Farmer Trotter is a farmer who owns a pig farm. He is good friends with Farmer McColl. He also bee hives.

Ferdinand
Ferdinand is a large slow engine.

Ferdinand is a gentle giant. He is a bigger and slower engine who is able to make special tweeting sounds with his whistles. He runs on wood and oil and can often be heard saying "that's right".

Ferdinand is based on a Climax Class C logging locomotive.

Ferdinand is painted teal with grey lining.

Fergus
Fergus is a railway traction engine.

Fergus mainly works at the cement works, and thus calls himself "the pride of the cement works".

Fergus knows the rulebook off by heart, and his catchphrase is "Do it right!" His insistence on doing everything absolutely according to the rules can annoy the other engines, but he is a decent engine at heart and will not hesitate to help others in trouble.

Fergus is based on the Aveling and Porter 2-2-0 'T9' class railway traction engine No. 9449 "Blue Circle", which is the only one left in the world. Since Fergus' introduction, "Blue Circle" has been dressed up as Fergus on special occasions on its home line, the Battlefield Line in Leicestershire.

Fergus is painted navy with gold boiler bands and red wheels.

Ffarquhar Quarry Co. trucks
The Ffarquhar Quarry Co. trucks carry stone from Anopha Quarry. They have "FQC" written on both sides.

Fire engines
The Sodor Fire Brigade owns several identical fire engines.

Fireman
The firemen help maintain the engines, and, along with the driver, keep the engines in control and provide a voice of reason when the engine is being difficult.

While the train is moving they stoke the fire and keep the water level where it needs to be. After a trip, they clean the firebox. They also couple the engines if a shunter isn't around. A fireman's uniform is blue pants, a white shirt, and a black tie, with a blue jacket over it, and a blue cap.