Mike

"Take no notice. It's an Improper Engine."

- Rex, Small Railway Engines

   Mike   Mike is a strong red engine who prefers goods trains to passengers. He is the youngest out of the original three Arlesdale Railway engines.
 * Based on: Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's River Mite
 * Builder: Clarksons of York
 * Built: 1966
 * Configuration: 2-8-2
 * Arrived on Sodor: 1967

Bio
Mike worked on an unnamed line in England until 1967, at which time their line closed down and he, Rex and Bert, were sent to Sodor to work the Arlesdale Railway. Not long after arrival, Mike mocked Duck when the Great Western Engine had trouble with his whistle making unusual noises, which lead to Rex telling Mike to lose his whistle. While pulling a passenger train, a stray cow had wandered onto the line and Mike whistled so loudly to make it move that his whistle flew off. This meant that his crew and passengers had to whistle for him. To make matters worse, there were no spare whistles for Mike so he was sent to the quarries for the rest of the day.

Years later, a few months after Jock came into service, Mike decided to pay the new engine back for all his cockiness. So, whilst double-heading a passenger train, Mike reduced steam after the Green, causing Jock to pull him and the passenger train alone. However, Mike's plan backfired when his injector failed on the return journey and Jock had to take him home. After being mended, Mike apologised to Jock.

Persona
Mike is a strong engine who is rather irritable, temperamental, and arrogant. He prefers pulling goods trains to passengers, unlike Gordon and James.

Basis
Mike is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's River Mite.

Livery
Mike is painted in the NWR red livery with blue-and-yellow lining. He has a brass dome, red nameplates with yellow writing mounted each side of his smokebox and "Arlesdale" written on his tender in yellow. According to Rex, Mike used to be painted green.

Railway Series

 * Small Railway Engines
 * Oliver the Western Engine (cameo)
 * Duke the Lost Engine
 * Jock the New Engine
 * Wilbert the Forest Engine (does not speak)

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway (discontinued 2005; reintroduced 2015)
 * Take-Along (discontinued 2009)
 * Trading Cards (discontinued)