Culdee

"He's called Culdee, after the mountain his railway climbs."

- Donald, Mountain Engines

Culdee is a narrow gauge mountain-climbing engine named after Culdee Fell, the mountain his railway climbs. He has his own coach named Catherine.

The Railway Series
Culdee was built at the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur, Switzerland, and arrived on Sodor in time for the railway's inspection. In March 1900, he was the first to be used in the test runs on the Culdee Fell Railway. When Lord Harry was delivered in March 1962, Culdee left for overhaul instead of Shane Dooiney as he was the most run down of the two. He arrived back on Sodor in May 1963, which is where the first story of Mountain Engines begins.

Personality
Culdee is careful, cautious and friendly. He is filled with advice to give to the other engines. Culdee is the sensible one of the Mountain Railway. He and his coach, Catherine are a fine team, and favourites with passengers. But he does like a bit of excitement, and tells great stories about the other engines.

Basis
Culdee is based on the Snowdon Mountain Railway's No. 4 Snowdon.

Livery
Culdee is painted purple with orange lining. The number "4" is painted on the sides and back of his cab in yellow and he has red nameplates, with his name in gold on the sides of his tanks.

Appearances
Railway Series= {{Scroll box|

The Railway Series

 * Mountain Engines - Mountain Engine, Bad Look-Out, Danger Points and "Devil's Back"

Companion volumes
{{Scroll box|
 * 1970 - Twelve Happy Engines (does not speak; not seen)
 * 1972 - The Railway Series: Surprise Packet
 * 1976 - Famous Engines and Railway Map of the Island of Sodor
 * 1979 - Annual
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways (mentioned)
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)}}
 * -|Other Media=

Books

 * 2008 - Thomas' Sticker Express
 * 2009 - Thomas the Tank Engine Owner's Workshop Manual (mentioned)

Magazine Stories

 * 1997 - Culdee (does not speak)
 * 2001 - A Special Story About Sir Handel

Video Releases

 * 1999 - 10 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
 * 2005 - Hashire! The "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" Steam Locomotive is Alive! (cameo)
 * 2015 - Secret Journey of Thomas the Tank Engine}}

Trivia

 * The Railway Series: Surprise Packet reveals that Culdee's driver's name is Joe.
 * Culdee has buffers in some magazine stories and on his Take Along and Take-n-Play toys.
 * In Sudric, "Culdee" translates as "Companion of God". The real life origin of the term comes from members of Christian monastic and eremitical communities of Ireland, Scotland, and England in the Middle Ages who were called "Culdees", which means "client/companion of God".
 * Like most of mountain engines, Culdee is equipped with a face at each end.

Merchandise
Ertl Company Wooden Railway Take Along Take-n-Play Trading Cards