Harold

"Stupid thing. Why can't it go and buzz somewhere else?"

- Percy, Percy the Small Engine

  Harold Harold is a helicopter used for patrolling the Island.

Bio
When Harold first met Percy, he stated that railways were "slow and out-of-date", but was proven wrong when Percy beat him in a race.

Harold lives at Toryreck airfield by Thomas' Branch Line. He keeps a watchful eye over Sodor in case of trouble and speeds to the rescue of anyone in distress.

As of Misty Island Rescue, he has joined the Sodor Search and Rescue team and lives in his own hangar at the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre. He was involved in the search for Thomas when he was lost.

Persona
Harold speaks in a manner reminiscent of an RAF pilot, using terms such as "wizard" and "old chap" in conversation.

Harold somewhat tends to be full of himself as he feels that "railways are slow", but he always gets his comeuppance in the end.

Basis
Harold is based on a Sikorsky S-55 helicopter, built in the UK as the Westland Whirlwind. He has added floats.

Livery
Harold is painted white with red lining.

Appearances
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Railway Series

 * Percy the Small Engine
 * More About Thomas the Tank Engine (does not speak)
 * Thomas Comes Home (does not speak)
 * Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree (does not speak)

Television series

 * Season 2 - Percy and Harold, The Runaway, and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree (does not speak)
 * Season 3 - Percy's Promise, Thomas, Percy and the Post Train, All at Sea, and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure
 * Season 4 - Trucks!
 * Season 5 - Baa! (does not speak), Toby and the Flood, Thomas and the Rumours (does not speak), Oliver's Find, Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday, and Make Someone Happy
 * Season 6 - A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter and Percy's Chocolate Crunch
 * Season 7 - Emily's New Coaches (cameo), Harold and the Flying Horse, Best Dressed Engine (cameo), The Grand Opening (does not speak), and Three Cheers for Thomas
 * Season 8 - Don't Tell Thomas
 * Season 9 - Thomas and the Rainbow (does not speak), The Magic Lamp, and Bold and Brave
 * Season 10 - Topped Off Thomas (does not speak), Thomas and the Birthday Mail, and Thomas and the Treasure
 * Season 12 - Henry Gets It Wrong and James Works It Out
 * Season 14 - Henry's Health and Safety (cameo), Being Percy (cameo), Jumping Jobi Wood! (does not speak), Jitters and Japes (cameo), and Merry Misty Island
 * Season 15 - Toby and Bash (cameo), Edward the Hero, James to the Rescue (cameo), Happy Hiro (cameo), Henry's Happy Coal (cameo), Let it Snow, Stop that Bus!, Stuck on You, and Fiery Flynn (cameo)
 * Season 16 - Race to the Rescue (cameo), Express Coming Through (does not speak), Sodor Surprise Day (does not speak), and Welcome Stafford (cameo)

Specials:
 * Thomas and the Magic Railroad
 * Calling All Engines!
 * The Great Discovery
 * Misty Island Rescue
 * Day of the Diesels (cameo)
 * King of the Railway

Magazine stories
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 * 1989 - Diesel's Christmas (does not speak)
 * 2000 - A Special Story About Harold (does not speak), Harold's Race!, and Harold's View
 * 2001 - The Eyesight Test (mentioned), A Special Story About Harold, The Kite Contest, and Harold Goes Quiet
 * 2002 - Henry (cameo)
 * 2003 - Henry's Dizzy Day, Flying Fish! (cameo), Queen of the Road!, and Mountain Rescue
 * 2004 - Going for a Swim!, Special Signal, and Holiday Hat (cameo)
 * 2006 - Monster Mistake (does not speak)
 * 2007 - Airship (does not speak), Autumn Leaves (does not speak), Blown About!, and The Telescope (does not speak)
 * 2008 - Snow Trouble!, Mystery Music (cameo), Big is Beautiful, and Percy's Post!
 * 2009 - New Delivery (cameo)
 * 2010 - Henry Gets It Wrong! (does not speak), Harold Afloat, Misty Island Rescue (cameo), Saving Santa!, Thomas Takes Off!, and Thomas and the Rainbow! (does not speak)
 * 2011 - Monster Mistake (does not speak), Misty Island Rescue (cameo), Rosie's Rocks, Harold and the Kites, Pictures in the Sky (cameo), Splashdown!, and Tidy Thomas (cameo)
 * 2012 - Edward the Hero (does not speak), Operation Rescue, The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 639) (does not speak), Making Hiro Happy (cameo), Where's That Bus?, and Happy Harold
 * 2013 - Hover Bother! and Sodor Surprise Day (does not speak)

Voice Actors

 * Kevin Frank (Thomas and the Magic Railroad)
 * Keith Wickham (UK; Misty Island Rescue onwards)
 * Hiroyuki Satō (Japan; second-eighth season)
 * Wataru Hatano (Japan; Calling All Engines! onwards)
 * Christoffer Staib (Norway; Misty Island Rescue onwards)

Trivia

 * In the early seasons, Harold's spinning rotors were achieved using a transparent disk.
 * According to the official website, Harold's nickname is Whirlybird.
 * Harold's television series model did not have moving eyes until the tenth season.
 * One of Harold's models is currently on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios.

Merchandise

 * ERTL (normal and Gold Rail; both discontinued)
 * Wooden Railway (normal and with magnet)
 * Take-Along (normal and with magnet; discontinued)
 * Take-n-Play
 * TOMY/TrackMaster
 * My First Thomas (normal and talking)
 * Bachmann
 * Lionel (discontinued)
 * Bandai Tecs
 * Mega Bloks
 * My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)
 * Nakayoshi
 * Wind-up (normal and metallic)
 * Discover Junction
 * LEGO (discontinued)
 * Diablock