Express Coaches

"Would you like to see my express carriages? They're the grandest on the island!"

- Gordon, Thomas and Scruff, fourteenth season

There are many types of express coaches used for fast trains on the Main Line.

Express coaches 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.

In the Railway Series, the coaches were primarily painted yellow-orange until circa 1984, when they were repainted maroon with a yellow stripe. In the television series, the coaches are painted either green or red with custard-yellow or white window surrounds. The green versions have appeared since the first season and are primarily used for the express, while the red versions did not appear until the second season and are generally used for other fast trains, but occasionally used for the express. Between the thirteenth and sixteenth seasons, the green express coaches seem to be exclusive to Gordon as he was only ever seen pulling them. Though in the seventeenth season, other engines were seen pulling them again.

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. Occasionally, British Railways Mark 1 coaches could be seen as well.

A white express carriage with orange lining was seen in the 2006 magazine story, Splendid Sight.

Merchandise
The coaches are not available in their Railway Series liveries.
 * ERTL (all discontinued)
 * Bachmann
 * Hornby
 * Motor Road and Rail (discontinued outside Asia)
 * TrackMaster
 * My First Thomas
 * Wind-up Trains

The Red Coaches are available in:
 * Wooden Railway (discontinued)
 * Motor Road and Rail (Asia only)
 * Bandai (several versions; discontinued)
 * Tomix
 * De Agostini
 * Bachmann
 * Hornby
 * Nakayoshi (discontinued)

Trivia

 * Five express coach models are currently on display; two red and two green at Drayton Manor and one green coach in Canada at Nitrogen Studios.
 * Since the CGI series, the coaches have been much taller and thinner.
 * In the first and second seasons, the Express Coaches had the ability to talk, despite not having visible faces.

The Royal Train
The Royal Train was the train that transported Queen Elizabeth II in Paint Pots and Queens. Henry was supposed to pull it, but after an accident with some paint cans, Gordon was given the job. In both the Railway Series and the television series, it was made up of blood and custard express coaches.

The Dining Coach
The Dining Coach is often added to the express so that people can have something to eat on their journey. It has a bar, serving area, pantry, and tables.

Henry once bumped this coach, making its contents fly everywhere.