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".

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 window surrounds.

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.

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 go everywhere.

Thomas' special coach
After arriving at Tidmouth with the Express, Gordon shunts a coach from the train into a siding. Thomas, Annie and Clarabel then come from Knapford junction to collect it. It is used to carry foreign visitors who want to see Thomas' branch line.

One time, Donald forgot to shunt this coach, causing a heap of delay for the passengers.

The royal train
This train was pulled by a specially decorated Gordon when Queen Elizabeth II visited Sodor. In the Railway Series it was made up of ordinary yellow-orange express coaches; in the television series it was made up of red express coaches.

Merchandising
The coaches are not available in their Railway Series liveries, but both kinds of coaches are available as Bachmann and Hornby models. The red coaches are available as Learning Curve Wooden models and as TOMY and Trackmaster models in Asia.

All ERTL models of the coaches have been discontinued.