User:Steamie With Glasses

The Meaning of my User Name
My user name is SteamieWithGlasses because I am a fan of Whiff the Garbage Engine. He wears glasses, so do I. Also, his green livery represents Ireland, which is my blood.

Since I was Young
I've being a Thomas the Tank Engine fan ever since I was a young boy. I have many books, some videos and DVDs as well as many toys including those in the ERTL and Take-Along range. Steam and railways are in my blood: once it gets in your blood stream, it stays with you!

Video and DVD Collection
Videos
 * Coal and other Stories
 * Thomas, Percy and the Coal and other Stories
 * Percy and Harold and other Stories
 * Spooks and Surprises
 * Calling All Engines (recorded from UK's Channel Five's Milkshake)
 * Season 10 (the entire series recorded from UK's Channel Five's Milkshake)
 * Season 11 episodes (x 19 - recorded from UK's Channel Five's Milkshake)
 * Season 12 (the entire series recorded from UK's Channel Five's Milkshake)

DVDs
 * The Complete Season 1 Collection
 * The Complete Season 2 Collection
 * The Complete Season 3 Collection
 * The Complete Season 4 Collection
 * The Complete Season 5 Collection
 * The Complete Season 6 Collection
 * The Complete Season 7 Collection
 * The Complete Season 8 Collection
 * The Complete Season 9 Collection
 * Thomas' Trusty Friends (USA DVD)
 * Engines and Escapades
 * The Great Discovery

ERTL Collection
This is my collection of Thomas models from ERTL from the late 1980s to 2000, with some additional models collected in 2009:
 * Metallic Thomas
 * Edward (3D-face)
 * Henry (3D-face)
 * James (flat-face with white frames and very little paint remaining)
 * Percy (flat-face with very little paint remaining)
 * Toby (flat-face)
 * Duck
 * Oliver
 * Diesel (with very little black paint remaining)
 * Bill and Ben
 * BoCo
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Bertie (3D-face)
 * Terence
 * Trevor
 * Harold (minus his big blades)
 * Troublesome Trucks (x 3)
 * Mavis
 * Bulgy
 * Breakdown Crane
 * City of Truro
 * Tar and Milk Wagons (with no coupling hooks)
 * Godred
 * Culdee
 * Lord Harry
 * 199
 * Skarloey
 * Rheneas
 * Sir Handel
 * Peter Sam
 * Rusty
 * Duncan
 * Duke
 * Stepney
 * The Fat Controller and Porter
 * The Fat Controller's Car
 * Scrap Trevor
 * Scruffey
 * Bulstrode
 * The Chinese Dragon
 * Wilbert
 * Sixteen
 * The Canal Boat
 * D Fusit (Gunpowder Truck)
 * Caterpillar Crane
 * Sodor Mail Van
 * Sodor Soft Side Lorry
 * Bluebell (based upon Thomas' model)
 * Bi-Plane (a.k.a Tiger Moth)
 * 'Arry and Bert
 * Dodge
 * Derek
 * Neil
 * Baby Jane
 * Martin

Railway Visits

 * 1998 - Isle of Wight Steam Railway - I went with my family to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and we had a ride behind a Hunslet 0-6-0 saddle tank engine called Royal Engineer, whilst we saw a LSWR Class 02 0-4-4 tank engine called Calbourne in a siding awaiting firebox repairs.
 * 1999 - In May - Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway - Whilst my family and I were on our sailing boat in the West Country, we were in Kingswear, the southern terminus of this railway. One rainy day, we had a ride behind a GWR 2-8-0 tank engine No. 5239 called Goliath to Paignton and back. Then, another day, we went along for a walk beside the railway and a signalman (at a level crossing by the River Dart) kindly let us inside his signalbox. Then in June - Bluebell Railway (Days Out with Thomas event) - There were lots of steam engines working that day. There was Stepney double-heading with the Hollywood Engine (a C Class 0-6-0 No. 592); Captain Baxter was shunting Scruffey and Toad at Horsted Keynes - at one point, he shunted Toad and the trucks so hard that when the guard applied the brakes, Toad's face came off!; Thomas was at Horsted Keynes too, whilst one of Murdoch's brother No. 92240 was based at Sheffield Park. My mum, my little sister and I rode behind Neville's eldest and only preserved brother No. C1 (BR No. 33001) to Kingscote and back to Horsted Keynes whilst a BR Standard 5 4-6-0 No. 73082 Camelot took us back to Sheffield Park.
 * 2000 - Didcot Railway Centre - There were two engines in steam on that day, one of Oliver's brothers No. 4866 and GWR King Class 4-6-0 No. 6024 King Edward the 1st. No. 4866 operated the branch line trains, and then later on, the main demonstration line whilst King Edward the 1st encountered some faults!
 * 2001 - STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon - Outside the museum, there was a smart blue saddle tank engine called Richard Trevithick in steam. Inside the museum, we saw an office with two wax-work models, one of a driver and another of a railway manager - clearly the engine driver got himself into trouble! Then, we went into the carriage shop, and moving onto the foundry. Inside the locomotive works, there was a GWR 2-8-0 tank engine No. 4248 representing a steam engine under repair. Leaving the workshop, we came to the finished product - a GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4073 Caerphilly Castle, standing over an inspection pit. This allows visitors to walk underneath it as well. This engine has its number 4073 stamped on every single part including the connecting rod and the coupling roads. Onto the "Running the Railway" section, there was a broad-gauge loco North Star, a footplate-ride simulator, a GWR Dean Goods Class 0-6-0 No. 2516 seperated from its tender, a GWR 9400 Class Pannier Tank No. 9400 with some trucks and a shunter plus King Class No. 6000 King George the 5th standing at the station. After the museum, we went around the out-let shopping centre and saw GWR 4900 Hall Class 4-6-0 No. 4930 Hagley Hall standing on tracks, surrounded by a cafe. Outisde the shops, there was the frames and boiler of a Bulleid Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 No. 35009 Shaw Savill.
 * 2005 - Mid-Hants Railway - It was a very hot day when my mum and I went to this railway. We rode behind Standard 5 No. 73096 from Alton to Ropley where we had our lunch and took a look around the engine shed and workshops. One of Murdoch's brothers No. 92212 was being dismantled for an overhaul especially as he was minus his cab. Then, in the afternoon, we rode behind Merchant Navy Class No. 35005 Canadian Pacific to Arlesford and his younger cousin Bodmin, a Bulleid Light Pacific of the West Contry Class No. 34016. At Arlesford, the hot weather jammed the points, so Bodmin had to wait awhile before he can take his train back to Alton. On back at Alton, my mum told me that she heard some passengers complaining about the train being late, and I took this an as insult. The Mid-Hants Railway is a preserved railway operated by volunteers - anything can go wrong!
 * 2008 - Moors Valley Railway (steam locomotive driving course) - It was a cold, damp day and I went with my big sister to the Moors Valley Railway for my steam loco driving course. My steam loco for the day was a smart miniature tank engine in red livery called Talos (pronounced as Tay-Los). My instructor was a very experienced engine driver called Alf, who worked on the London Midand and Scottish Railway Region during British Railway days. The coal we used was Welsh Coal and this caused alot of trouble for Talos as she was getting out of puff halfway through the journeys. So, from time to time, Alf told me to stop at the Lakeside station to allow Talos to get more steam again. There was a passenger train running that day too, so there were times where we were being caught up by the passenger train and other times we were following it. During my lunch break, Alf got the chief engineer to examine our loco and after lunch, Talos was steaming much better. I enjoyed my steam loco driving course experience, especailly on a miniature railway.
 * 2009 - Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - One day, whilst on a five-day holiday in Ravenglass, my big sister and I had a ride on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. We rode behind a steam engine on the journey to Dalegarth, and then, a diesel engine on the way back. There were two steam engines in service that day; there was River Irt and River Mite. We rode behind River Irt up the line, and on the way back, a two-cab diesel engine called Douglas Ferreira took our train. At the gift shop at Dalegarth station, I bought a small model of Northern Rock, who was not in service during my visit. After the trip, my uncle took me to meet the chief engineer of the steam railway. The chief engineer showed us around the engine workshop where River Esk was getting steam up after some repairs. Inside the engine shed, River Mite and River Irt were cooling down after a good day's work. Looking at River Irt, I noticed that he had an iron plaque (placed below his boiler, close to his smokebox) showing how he looked originally as a 0-8-0 tank engine called Meuriel. Inside the paint shop, there was a smart green tank engine being repainted. I really enjoyed visiting the railway, especially as it was the basis for the Arlesdale Railway. Also, it was nice to see the real-life counterparts of Rex, Bert, Mike and Frank. Frank's twin, Perkins was resting in a siding by the engine workshop during my visit. It seemed that he was waiting for some repairs or an overhaul. Then in June, I went on holiday in North Wales with Great Rail Journeys. At the Snowdon Mountain Railway, the railway enthusiasts and I rode in a coach, which was being pushed by a diesel engine (Snowdon Mountain Railway No. 12) called George. But, due to the strong winds, all trains terminated at Rocky Valley (a rocky ridge). Three steam engines were also in service that day; Ernest's twin Enid, Culdee's twin Snowdon and Lord Harry's twin Padarn. At the Welsh Highland Railway, we rode behind a Garrett articulated steam engine from Caernarfon to a passing loop beyond Aberglaslyn Pass. At the Ffestiniog Railway, we saw Mighty Mac's twin David Lloyd George taking a passenger train to Porthmadog whilst Blanche (a Hunslet 2-4-0 saddle tank and tender engine) took our train to Ffestiniog. At the middle station, we had to wait 35 minutes fro the signal to change from red to green. Despite the fact that we were on the last train of the day, there was a signalling failure . After the long delay, Blanche took us to the top station. At Llundudno, I went on the Great Orme Tramway the only cable-hauled tramway in Britain. There were trams number 4 and 5 on the lower section whilst trams number 6 and 7 on the higher section.

Steam Engines on the Main Line

 * Flying Scotsman and the Orient Express - One cold day in January 2001, my dad and I went to Eastleigh railway station to see Flying Scotsman coming through with the Orient express, enroute to Southampton Docks. Flying Scotsman was in his green LNER livery with his German smoke deflectors (which he had during his B.R. days). During a brief stop, my dad took many pictures of Flying Scotsman, and then, quite quickly, Flying Scotsman set off again. He was due to arrive at Eastleigh at 12:15pm, but he actually arrived at 12:45pm. So, he was Flying Scotsman the Late Engine!
 * Canadian Pacific and the Cathedrals Express - One autumn evening in 2001, my dad and I went to Botley railway station to see Canadian Pacific rushing through with the Cathedrals Express - and he really rushed through! So much in a rush was Canadian Pacific that my photo of him with his brightlamps was blurry!
 * Clan Line and the Orient Express - One day, in January 2008, I went by train from Botley to Eastleigh to see my favourite preserved steam locomotive, a Bulleid Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 No. 35028 Clan Line coming through with the Orient Express. She was fresh from her overhaul and was wearing her black nameplates. Clan Line rushed through with the Express, enroute to Southampton Docks. However, I waited at the station to see the diesel engine (acting as a back engine) pulling Clan Line and the Orient Express back to Eastleigh, so that Clan Line and her train use the loop around the former railway works to get her face towards London again. Once she was back at the station, I took pictures of Clan Line as she went into some sidings out of the way of the main line.

My Voluntary Work
I don't just watch television programmes about railways and read about them; I'm involved in railways too. I'm a volunteer member of the Bursledon Brickworks Trust and the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust. At the Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum, I'm involved in the operations of our two railways: a 2 foot gauge railway and a 7 and 1/4 inch railway. Both of our railways are being extended with our 2 foot gauge railway being upgraded to passenger carrying standards. The Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust's involvment at the Bursledon Brickworks is to re-create an industrial mineral railway that was built to carry the clay from the pits to the brickmaking machines.

Engines belonging to the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust
 * 2 foot gauge 1891-built Hunslet 0-4-0 saddle tank engine Cloister (known as a "Quarry Hunslet")
 * 2 foot gauge 1919-built Bagnall 0-4-0 saddle tank engine Wendy
 * 2 foot gauge 1931-built Simplex petrol locomotive Brambridge Hall (Bramble for short)
 * 2 foot gauge 1939-built Simplex petrol locomotive Agwi Pet 2 (Agwi Pet for short)
 * 2 foot gauge Simplex diesel locomotive Beccy (currently under restoration)
 * 7 and 1/4 inch gauge Bagnall 0-4-0 saddle tank engine (yet to be named)

Take-Along Collection
This is my collection of Thomas models in the Take-Along range from Learning Curve that I started since 2008:

Standard Gauge Locomotives
 * Christmas Holiday Thomas (with a Father Christmas' hat over his funnel, snowflakes on his running plate and Christmas decorations on his side-tanks)
 * Gordon (with a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement)
 * Donald and Douglas
 * Daisy
 * Diesel 10
 * Lady
 * Harvey
 * Emily (with a 2-2-2 wheel arrangement)
 * Fergus (with an arch-shaped smokebox and gold buffers)
 * Arthur
 * Murdoch (with a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement)
 * Spencer (with a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement and a six-wheeled tender)
 * Molly (with black buffers and bigger face)
 * Neville
 * Dennis
 * Rosie
 * Whiff (with a 0-4-4 wheel arrangement)
 * Billy
 * Stanley

Narrow Gauge Locomotives
 * Mighty Mac
 * Freddie (with a 0-6-0 wheel arrangement)

Rolling Stock
 * Troublesome Trucks (x 2/Standard Gauge)
 * Merlin the Magical Cargo Van (with two boxes of frozen fish, two boxes of steam engine parts, and one barrel of Mr Jolly's Chocolate/Brendam Shipping/Standard Gauge)
 * Fred the Foghorn Truck (Standard Gauge)
 * Dibnah the Detonator Truck (Brendam Bay Blasting Cap Company, Sodor/Standard Gauge)
 * Olivia the Oil Tanker (082023/Sodor Oil Company/Standard Gauge)
 * Fleur the Firework Truck (73005/Sodor Fireworks/Standard Gauge)
 * Oscar the Oil Barrel Tipper Truck (7142/Sodor Oil Company/Standard Gauge)
 * Luke the Log Tipper Truck (8374/Sodor Timber Company/Standard Gauge)
 * Ivor the Ironwork Tipper Truck (121092/Sodor Ironworks/Standard Gauge)
 * Yeo the Yellow Truck (Standard Gauge)
 * Christopher the Coal Hopper (1232/Narrow Gauge)
 * Rebecca the Rock Hopper (062080/Narrow Gauge)
 * Rocky
 * Hector
 * C.B. the Musical Caboose (Standard Gauge)
 * Jurassic the Dinosaur Truck (Sodor Museum Express/Narrow Gauge)
 * Old Reliable the Sodor Museum Van (with boxes of tools, excavation signs and dinosaur bones/Sodor Museum Express/Narrow Gauge)
 * Frosty the Christmas Post Van (with parcels for Thomas and Percy, sack of toys, and mail bags/Standard Gauge)
 * Sunshine the Search Light Truck (Sodor Rescue No. 9/Standard Gauge)
 * H.2.O the Fire-Fighting Hose Truck (Sodor Rescue No. 10/Standard Gauge)
 * Pinchy the Lobster Truck (070105/Sodor Shipping/Standard Gauge)
 * Eight Legs the Octopus Truck (073005/Sodor Shipping/Standard Gauge)
 * Sooty the Mining Cargo Van (with boxes of miner's tools, mining warning signs, and a pile of coal with lumps of gold/Sodor Mining Company/Standard Gauge)

Non-Rail Characters
 * Cranky
 * Butch (with a buffer beam with buffers)
 * Jeremy
 * Madge (with six wheels, plus a buffer beam with buffers on her trailer)

Sodor Construction Company
 * Jack
 * Alfie
 * Max and Monty (both with buffer beams with buffers at their rear ends)
 * Byron (with a red buffer beam beneath his cab)
 * Ned
 * Patrick (The Pack) (with a red buffer beam behind his rear wheels)

Human Characters
 * Mr. Percival (in a red car)

Railway Buildings
 * Water Tower/Water Column
 * Tidmouth Sheds (with thirteen spaces: five on the ground floor and nine spaces in the roof)

Favourite "Thomas" characters

 * My favourite Awdry steam engine is...Toby.
 * My favourite Awdry narrow-gauge engine is...Peter Sam.
 * My favourite Awdry diesel engine is...BoCo.
 * My favourite Awdry road character is...Trevor.
 * My favourite non-Awdry male steam engine is...Whiff.
 * My favourite non-Awdry narrow-gauge engine is...Mighty Mac.
 * My favourite non-Awdry diesel engine is...Salty.
 * My favourite non-Awdry road character is...Elizabeth.
 * My favourite non-Awdry female steam engine is...Rosie.
 * My favourite human character is...Mr. Percival.

TOMY Trackmaster Collection
This is the collection of my "Thomas & Friends" TOMY Trackmaster models:

Locomotives
 * Salty
 * "Busy Bee" James
 * Hank (with a twelve-wheeled tender: eight black non-moving wheels and four red moving wheels)
 * Flora

Rolling Stock
 * Troublesome Trucks (x2)
 * Brake Vans (x2)
 * Flat-Bed
 * Flora's Tram Car (with twelve wheels: eight non-moving wheels and four moving wheels)

Baby Jane
This is the profile of my first "Thomas & Friends" character for the Railway Series.

Bio When Bill and Ben get overloaded with too much work, the Fat Controller decided to have a very unique tank engine to be built. After building, the new engine was named Baby Jane and she now works with Bill and Ben as the third engine belonging to the Sodor China Clay Company.

Personality Baby Jane is a hard-working tank engine, who often takes on too much work. However, she had some difficulties when she first came to Sodor because, with a very high bufferbeam, she found it hard to see what was ahead of her. Once she was fitted with a pair of glasses, Baby Jane found it much easier to work. Though the trucks tease Baby Jane for pulling only three or four of them at a time, they know better not to play any tricks on her.

Livery Baby Jane carries the same livery as Bill and Ben; yellow-orange with red stripes and carries the No.3.

Basis Baby Jane is based on a very unique Peckett 0-4-0 side tank engine nicknamed "the Flying Bufferbeam", which has survived into preservation.

Trivia
 * Baby Jane was originally built with a very low cab. However, as this made her driver and fireman uncormfortable. So, during her time at the Works to have a pair of glasses fitted, Baby Jane had her low cab removed.
 * Baby Jane was launched into service by Lancashire actress, Jane Horrocks.

Martin
This is the profile of my second "Thomas & Friends" character, though this one is for Thomas and the Magic Railroad.

Bio Martin is P. T. Boomer's railway motorbike and Diesel 10's trusty side-kick. Unlike Splatter and Dodge, he agrees with Diesel 10's intention to destroy Lady and believes that steam engines are old and out-of-date.

Presonality Martin is very reckless for a motorbike, and believes that speed is everything. However, Martin is P. T. Boomer's thirteenth motorbike, which considers him unlucky. But, he always ensures that his bad luck won't get the better of him, which occassionally does!

Basis Martin isn't based on any particular machine. He is basically a motorbike with a bufferbeam at each end. As he runs on a mono-rail, he has guide wheels attached to his bufferbeam via some beams of metal. Also, Martin has two flanges on his big disc wheels.

Livery Martin is painted black with red stripes and has the number 13 painted on his bodywork.

Trivia
 * Martin's toy model is a modified ERTL model of "Tenderless James".

Merlin
This is the profile of my third "Thomas & Friends" character.

Bio Belonging to Brendam Shipping Company, Merlin is a van who can carry a variety of loads. The majority of his journeys out on the mainline are with Henry, James, Donald and Douglas. Like Hector, he is a very friendly character amongst the Trucks.

Trivia
 * Merlin's toy model is the red "Brendam Shipping Company" Magical Cargo Van in the Take-Along range.

Fleur
This is the profile of my fourth "Thomas & Friends" character.

Bio Fleur is a female truck belonging to Sodor Fireworks. She loves fireworks, especially as they make big bangs! However, Fleur is a very careful truck as she knows the risks and dangers of rockets, so she is never placed amongst the goods trains; she has to be taken to the fun fairs and harvest festivals with a very careful engine, like Edward.

Trivia
 * Fleur's toy model is the blue "Sodor Fireworks" truck in the Take-Along range.

Olivia
This is the profile of my fifth "Thomas & Friends" character.

Bio Olivia is a female tank wagon belonging to the Sodor Oil Company. She carries the oil for the diesel engines to the fuel depot. Also, she knows that diesel engines are very useful, though some steam engines disagree.

Trivia
 * Olivia's toy model is the "Sodor Oil Company" oil tanker in the Take-Along range.

Fred and Dibnah
This is the profile of my sixth and seventh "Thomas & Friends" characters.

Bio Fred is a foghorn wagon, usually working in Misty Valley. He can be moved about to various places when the weather is forecasting foggy conditions.

Dibnah is the detonator truck belonging to the Brendam Bay Blasting Cap Company. He carries the detonators for the fogmen.

Trivia
 * Fred and Dibnah's toy models are the Fog Trucks in the Take-Along range.
 * Fred and Dibnah were named after Dr Fred Dibnah MBE, a famous TV steeplejack who lived in Bolton, Lancashire.

Yeo
This is the profile of my eighth "Thomas & Friends" character.

Bio Yeo is a very old truck, who had being rotting away in an overgrown siding. But when he was discovered, he was rescued and sent to be restored at the Works. Following his repairs including the fitting of a water tanker, Yeo was painted bright yellow and now, he works with Toby as his water tender.

Trivia
 * Yeo's toy model is the yellow truck with an orange barrel in the Take Along range.

Ivor, Luke and Oscar
This is the profile of my ninth, tenth and eleventh "Thomas & Friends" characters.

Known by all engines and trucks as "the Tipper Trio", Ivor, Luke and Oscar are the tipper flat-beds and are very troublesome indeed. They take advantage of their tipping abilities to spill their cargo whilst on the move. But, this always lands them into trouble with the Fat Controller.

Ivor is the blue tipper flat-bed, belonging to Sodor Ironworks. Luke is the green tipper flat-bed, belonging to Sodor Timber Company, and Oscar is the orange tipper flat-bed, belonging to the Sodor Oil Company.

Christopher and Rebecca
This is the profile of my twelfth and thirteenth "Thomas & Friends" characters.

Christopher and Rebecca are the two heavy-duty trucks on the Skarloey Railway. They carry coal and stone from the mines with the smaller trucks to the Wharf or the Transfer Yards. They work very well together, and they are friendly with the narrow-gauge engines. However, Mighty Mac, being the strongest engine, takes them all the time.

Christopher is the yellow heavy-duty truck, whilst Rebecca is the red one.

Old Reliable
This is the profile of my fourteenth "Thomas & Friends" character.

Old Reliable is a former narrow-gauge guard's van, belonging to the Sodor Museum. The museum staff restored him and converted him to carry their tools and equipment when they have to make a archaelogical dig, so he is based at the Transfer Yards. Old Reliable always gives advice to the young narrow-gauge engines, and is very friendly for an old guard's van.

Jurassic
This is the profile of my fifteenth "Thomas & Friends" character.

Jurassic is an open-sided truck, who carries the dinosaur bones for the Sodor Museum and works with Old Reliable. He is a very careful truck, and doesn't like being rushed whereas the trucks would rush things just for fun.

C.B.
This is the profile of my sixteenth "Thomas & Friends" character.

C.B. (which stands for "Crazy Brakevan") is a red brakevan from the United States of America. He works very hard and is kind and helpful, like Toad. After a good day's work, C.B. likes keeping the trucks awake at night with his stories when he was on freight trains in America. Some of the trucks find C.B. quite annoying though!

Sunshine and H.2.0
This is the profile of my seventeenth and eighteenth "Thomas & Friends" characters.

Sunshine is the Search Light Truck. He is always used during rescues at night-time.

H.2.O is the Fire-Fighting Truck with a hose. Whenever there is a fire, she is always on the scene using her hose.

Sunshine and H.2.O both belong to Sodor Rescue.

Pinchy and Eight Legs
This is the profile of my nineteenth and twentieth "Thomas & Friends" characters.

Pinchy and Eight Legs are the Fish Trucks belonging to Sodor Shipping Company, and they live at the Fishing Village where Arthur works.

Pinchy carries the lobsters and crabs, so he gets teased by the other truckss for having a "pinch"!

Eight Legs carries the octopus and squid, which scares the other trucks.

Frosty
This is the profile of my twenty-first "Thomas & Friends" character.

Frosty is the special post van, who helps out during Christmas when so many post vans are required to carry the presents. Frosty is a very cheerful van and loves seeing the children. During the rest of the year, Frosty helps Thomas and Percy with the post trains at night as a spare van.

Sooty
This is the profile of my twenty-second "Thomas & Friends" character.

Sooty is a van belonging to Sodor Mining Company, who carries the tools and equipment for the coal miners. Like all trucks, he likes to be useful than clean and loves getting covered in coal dust.

The Railway Series No. 42 "Bill, Ben and Baby Jane"
The Flying Bufferbeam

Bill and Ben are overworked at the China Clay Pits, and their manager agrees that they need another engine. But, the route to the quarry goes under a very low bridge, which means that BoCo and Edward can't help them. However one evening, Bill and Ben tell them about their twins, Alfed and Judy and a low-down tank engine called Flying Bufferbeam, who have being preserved. A few days later, the Fat Controller and the China Clay Manager visit the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre where the Flying Bufferbeam lives. Sadly, the Flying Bufferbeam is under overhaul, but the volunteers kindly give the Fat Controller copies of the Flying Bufferbeam's original plans.

Withdrawn

Once the Fat Controller returns to Sodor, he tells Bill and Ben that they are going to have a new engine working with them. The twins are very pleased, so too are Edward and BoCo. But when the Big Engines hear about this, they think that Bill and Ben are going to be withdrawn from service. Quickly, the rumour spreads amongst the Fat Controller's Engines until Thomas and BoCo tell them the truth. Gordon, Henry and James feel very silly for thinking that Bill and Ben were being taken out of service.

A New Engine and an Actress

Many months later, the new engine for the Sodor China Clay Company is finished and goes through its tests at the Works. The Fat Controller announces that a special naming ceremony will be taking place at Wellsworth, with a special guest coming from London to name the new engine. All the engines know that the new engine is presently called S.C.C No. 3. On the big day, Emma and Pip arrive from London with the special guest - an actress called Jane Horrocks. Jane Horrocks pulls the curtain to announce the new engine's name - Baby Jane! Also, she releases a bottle of champagne to confirm Baby Jane's offical launch into service on the railway.

Problems for Baby Jane

Baby Jane starts working with Bill and Ben at the China Clay Pits. But, due to her high front bufferbeam, Baby Jane finds it hard to see ahead, so she accidentally gives the trucks a hard bump, which makes them cross. Also, her driver and fireman find it hard to see outside the cab because it has a very low roof. Bill and Ben feel sorry for Baby Jane and their manager sends his new engine back to the Works for some modications. A few days later, Baby Jane comes home without a cab, but plus the addition of a huge pair of glasses fitted for her eyes.

Featured characters
 * Baby Jane
 * Bill and Ben
 * Edward
 * BoCo
 * The Fat Controller
 * Gordon
 * Henry
 * James
 * Thomas
 * Donald and Douglas
 * Emma and Pip
 * The Flying Bufferbeam (does not speak)
 * Alfred and Judy (mentioned)
 * Percy (mentioned)

YouTube
I am an user on YouTube with the name "SteamieWithGlasses", where I have playlists focusing on Thomas & Friends and steam railways.

My Thomas Playlists
 * "Thomas & Friends: Metal Music 'n' Steamy Breath"
 * "Thomas & Friends the Comedy Show"
 * "Salty and his Sea Shanties"
 * "My Version of Thomas & Friends Season 5"
 * "The Spirit of the Railway Series"
 * "Thomas & Friends the Comedy Show 2"
 * "My Version of Thomas & Friends Season 6"
 * "Thomas & Friends the Comedy Show 3"

My Railway Playlists
 * "Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust"
 * "Oliver Vaughan Snell Bulleid"
 * "Railways of Wales"
 * "Streamlined Steamies"