Stephen

"Careful! I'm an antique you know!"

- Stephen, The Afternoon Tea Express, seventeenth season

    Stephen    Stephen, nicknamed "The Rocket", is a steam engine who first appeared in the 2013 special, King of the Railway.
 * Designer: Robert Stephenson
 * Builder: Robert Stephenson and Company
 * Built: 1829
 * Coniguration: 0-2-2

Bio
Stephen is one of the earliest engines ever built. Newer engines may be faster and stronger than Stephen, but what he lacks in terms of strength or speed, he makes up for with his positive spirit, sense of humour, and knowledge. He used to work at docks and in mines, but now works as a tour-guide at Ulfstead Castle. He can often be seen pulling an open-topped carriage and was trapped in the Ulfstead Mine where he discovered King Godred's long lost crown in time for the opening of the castle. In the seventeenth season, he gave Percy a lucky horseshoe when he was having bad luck, helped him trick James and took the Afternoon Tea Express.

Persona
Stephen is a jolly old engine with a positive attitude and a good sense of humor. He is a good-hearted and quick-witted engine, and will not take any nonsense from engines like Spencer or Diesel. Some of the smaller engines look up to him for advice, and he is always willing to get the job done.

Basis
Stephen is based on Stephenson's Rocket.

Livery
Stephen is painted yellow and black. He bears a nameplate reading "Rocket".

Television series

 * Season 17 - The Lost Puff, The Phantom Express, Percy's Lucky Day, Too Many Fire Engines, Santa's Little Engine, and The Afternoon Tea Express

Specials:
 * King of the Railway

Magazine stories

 * 2013 - The Lost Puff and Too Many Fire Engines! (speaks in speech bubble only)

Voice Actors

 * Bob Golding (UK/US)
 * Rainer Schmitt (Germany)
 * Atsuhiko Nakata (Japan; King of the Railway only)
 * Nobuaki Kanemitsu (Japan; seventeenth season onwards)
 * Stig Krogstad (Norway)
 * Piotr Warszawski (Poland)

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway (normal, rusted, Royal Bunting, and mine dust covered versions)
 * Motor Road and Rail (coming soon)
 * TrackMaster
 * Take-n-Play (normal, rusted, dust covered, and talking versions)
 * Wind-up Trains (coming soon)

Quotes

 * Percy: Did you ever see knights in shining armour?
 * Stephen: No! I may be old, but I'm not that old! And before you ask, I never saw dinosaurs either!

- Percy and Stephen discussing the latter's age, King of the Railway