Winston

"We like Winston!"

- Annie and Clarabel, Blue Mountain Mystery

   Winston   Winston is Sir Topham Hatt's track inspection vehicle, and his private mode of transportation on the North Western Railway.
 * Builder: D Wickham & Co
 * Configuration: 4w

Bio
After hearing Edward and Salty talk about how the Fat Controller used to travel in an open-topped carriage on his birthday, Winston was determined to find it. Winston was working with Thomas that day and he took the opportunity to look for the coach. After leaving Thomas to look for the carriage twice, Thomas made Winston travel in front of him. This ended in an accident when Thomas does not notice that Winston had slowed down. Thomas then asks Winston what he was looking for and the track inspection vehicle tells him. There, on an old siding, is the carriage. The two then bring the coach to the Sodor Steamworks to be mended and later surprise the Fat Controller with it.

Later, some tracks needed repairs, so Winston took the Fat Controller every day to check on the repairs. After Gordon and Henry laughed at him, Winston got tired of having a bad driver and decided to not remind the Fat Controller to put on the brakes. He had a near-collision with Paxton and Bertie before he ran out of fuel, just before a collision with some trucks. The Fat Controller was cross, but Winston told him that he forgot to put on the brakes. The Fat Controller realized this, and forgave Winston for his adventure. Winston knew he needed a driver after all.

One Christmas, the Fat Controller dressed up as Father Christmas for the celebrations at Ulfstead Castle. The Earl wanted him to drive a sleigh, despite the Fat Controller's views to the contrary. To get out of it, he took Winston to the Steamworks, and Winston was dressed up like a sleigh, which he did not like at all! However, much to Winston's relief, the Earl did not approve, so Winston was spared the embarrassment.

Winston is often seen when The Fat Controller comes to see his engines where there is no road nearby.

Persona
Winston is Sir Topham Hatt's track inspection vehicle. Winston is as devotedly thoughtful and loyal as a butler. He is willing, helpful, and very patient with Sir Topham Hatt's, frankly, terrible driving skills, often reminding him that it is still "early days" whenever something goes wrong. Winston helps the Fat Controller navigate about the railway without inconveniencing any of the engines while they are going about their work. Being a car on rails, he may look unconventional, but Winston is highly tolerant, considerate, sensitive to others, and is only too happy to do what he can for Sir Topham Hatt, though he can, at times, become rather distracted.

Basis
Winston is a Type 4B two seat Wickham Trolley.

Livery
Winston is painted red. He has a gold nameplate on either side.

Appearances
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Television series

 * Season 16 - Happy Birthday Sir!
 * Season 17 - Wayward Winston, The Thomas Way (cameo), Percy's Lucky Day (cameo), Bill or Ben? (cameo), and Santa's Little Engine

Specials:
 * Blue Mountain Mystery
 * King of the Railway (cameo)

Magazine stories
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 * 2013 - Happy Birthday, Sir! and Wayward Winston
 * 2014 - Happy Birthday, Sir! and Bill or Ben (does not speak)

Voice Actors

 * Matt Wilkinson (UK/US)
 * Jarosław Boberek (Poland)
 * Wataru Hatano (Japan)
 * Helge Winther Larsen (Norway; sixteenth and seventeenth season only)
 * Per Skjøldsvik (Norway; Blue Mountain Mystery onwards, excluding the seventeenth season)
 * Luis Alfonso Mendoza (Mexico; Blue Mountain Mystery onwards)

Trivia

 * Going by alphabetical order, Winston is the last character in the series.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway
 * Take-n-Play (Normal & Talking)
 * Motor Road and Rail (Coming soon; Japan only)
 * Wind-up (Japan only)