The Works Diesel

"Rescued by a diesel. It's degrading. I won't go!"

- James, "James and the Diesel Engines", page 59

The Works Diesel (named Wendell the Sodor Island Forum's "Extended Railway Series" fanfiction library) is a diesel engine who lives at Crovan's Gate and occasionally does odd jobs on the railway.

Bio
The Works Diesel was built in 1964 and arrived on Sodor in 1983.

The Works Diesel's first appearance was in "James and the Diesel Engines", when he rescued James after the latter's injector failed. He later brought the Christmas tree for Thomas from the Other Railway in "Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree". In his last appearance to date, he was seen talking to Gordon at Barrow-in-Furness.

Persona
Although The Works Diesel has not spoken as of yet, he is described as being friendly and is impossible to not like - even James, who retained a hearty dislike of diesels, couldn't help but befriend him before the two had even reached the Works.

Appearances
The Works Diesel made a non-speaking role in "James and the Diesel Engines", where he was not officially named, and later made a cameo in "Henry and the Express". In the Sodor Island Forum's "Extended Railway Series" thread, he has several speaking roles as well as a volume to himself.

Basis
The Works Diesel is based on BR Class 47 "Brush" Co-Co.

Livery
The Works Diesel is painted in a British Rail "Rail Blue" livery with yellow warning panels. It is guessed however that this would have changed at some point because BR no longer exists.