Spencer

"He's all silver steam and bossy boiler, that one"

- Victor, Hero of the Rails

    Spencer   Spencer is a private engine belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Boxford.
 * Builder: LNER Doncaster Works
 * Designer: Sir Nigel Gresley
 * Class: LNER A4
 * Configuration: 4-6-2

Bio
During his first visit to Sodor, Spencer took the Duke and Duchess of Boxford on a trip around Sodor, but ignored Gordon's warnings about taking on water and thus ran out - Spencer attributed the incident to a leaky tank.

Upon his next visit, Spencer challenged Edward to a race and maintained a lead for the majority of the race, but vainly fell asleep while the Duke and Duchess stopped to take photos and narrowly lost to Edward after he got onto the summer-house branch line first.

Spencer has since developed a rivalry with Thomas, with the latter often trying to outshine Spencer - largely without success.

Spencer returned to Sodor to help build the new summer house for the Duke and Duchess of Boxford, much to the annoyance of all the engines. Firstly, he insulted the steam engines - especially Thomas by calling him a "toy tank engine", which as a result they had a competition of strength. However, Spencer neglected to build the new summer house when he became suspicious about Thomas, thinking he was being a tricky tank engine and ended up getting slate down his funnel at the Quarry. When Spencer discovered Percy's mail coaches (thinking that Thomas was hiding them from Percy), he got into trouble with the Fat Controller, who thought that Spencer was hiding the mail coaches all the time! Afterwards, Spencer lost his pride when his owners turn up for their holiday. He then gets stuck in the mud when he chases Thomas to Knapford. After being rescued by Hiro, Spencer apologised to Thomas and Hiro, and together, they finish the summer house.

Spencer remained on Sodor for some time afterwards and helped Thomas with deliveries to the summer house, teased James for being pink, had a repaint at the Steamworks, and got covered in snow, thanks to Gordon.

In Misty Island Rescue, Spencer returned to the Mainland to carry out work for the Duke and Duchess of Boxford.

Persona
Spencer is rather arrogant and pompous, and considers himself to be above doing menial duties such as shunting. When he came to build the summer house, Spencer proved himself to be very nosey, sneaky and rather neglectful. Despite being closely related, Gordon and Spencer have never gotten on very well with each other. This is mainly because of his pompous behavior, which exceeds even that of Gordon's.

Basis
Spencer is based on an LNER Class A4. Mallard is a member of this type.

Livery
Spencer was painted gray with blue-grey cylinders and wheels and black lining. From the tenth season onwards, he was painted silver.

Appearances
Spencer has appeared in the following:
 * Season 7 - Something Fishy (cameo), Peace and Quiet (cameo), and Gordon and Spencer
 * Season 8 - Edward the Great
 * Season 10 - Topped Off Thomas
 * Season 11 - Emily's Rubbish and Dream On
 * Season 13 - Creaky Cranky, Tickled Pink, Steamy Sodor, and Snow Tracks
 * Season 14 - O the Indignity

Specials:
 * Hero of the Rails
 * Misty Island Rescue (does not speak)

Trivia

 * In the Steamies vs. Diesels DVD, Spencer is considered a diesel. This is because in a game, Spencer says he does not have a whistle, but an electric horn instead. However, his picture clearly shows him having a whistle.

Voice Actors

 * Glenn Wrage (US, Hero of the Rails - present)
 * Matt Wilkinson (UK, Hero of the Rails - present)
 * Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japan, Season 7 - Present)

Merchandising

 * ERTL (discontinued)
 * Wooden Railway
 * Take-Along (normal and metallic; both with 2-6-2 wheel arrangement and six-wheeled tender)
 * Take-n-Play
 * TOMY/TrackMaster
 * My First Thomas (talking)
 * Hornby
 * Bachmann
 * My Thomas Story Library
 * Wind-up Trains
 * Mega Bloks