Yong Bao

    Yong Bao    Yong Bao is a Chinese engine who takes part in The Great Railway Show, competing in the Best Decorated Engine parade.
 * Class: Chinese Railways RM
 * Builder: Sifang Locomotive Works
 * Built: Sometime between 1958 and 1966
 * Configuration: 4-6-2

Persona
Yong Bao is a kind and faithful tender engine from China, who pulls passenger coaches. He may not be the biggest tender engine or the strongest, but he once cleverly diverted an accident saving hundreds of passengers. Yong Bao was decorated for his bravery and painted bright red, which is a color that symbolizes celebration and happiness. Painted on his tender is a tiger which incites a sense of awe and admiration. Like Yong Bao, the tiger is full of life and embodies the spirit of being driven to achieve and make progress. These qualities make Yong Bao a Really Useful Engine.

Basis
Yong Bao is based on a Chinese Railways RM class 4-6-2 Pacific, which were built by CSR Sifang Co Ltd between 1958 and 1966. Used in passenger service, these engines were eventually taken out of service by more powerful steam and diesel locomotives on the Chinese rail system. Two members of this class have been preserved; 1001 is on display at the Beijing Railway Museum and 1163 is preserved in Aioi, Japan.

Livery
Yong Bao is painted red with yellow lining on his smoke deflectors and boiler, and his running board is painted green. His name is written on the sides of his cab in Traditional Chinese, and the design of a tiger is painted on his tender. He also bears a dragon face on the front top of his funnel.

Appearances
Specials:
 * The Great Race (cameo)

Trivia

 * In Chinese, his name means "brave treasure".
 * Yong Bao's main colours - red, green and yellow - are considered to be the luckiest colours in China.
 * Yong Bao has Traditional Chinese characters on his cab, though in China, Simplified Chinese characters are used standardly. However, his Take-n-Play model uses Simplified Chinese characters.

Merchandise

 * Take-n-Play
 * Collectible Railway (coming soon)
 * Motorized Railway (coming soon)