Bulgy

Bulgy is a double-decker bus with an ideological opposition to railways.

The Railway Series
Bulgy despised railways and believed that they would eventually be completely replaced by roads. He even carried a poster on his side telling people to "JOIN THE ANTI-RAIL LEAGUE". His slogan was "free the roads!"

Bulgy once attempted to steal Duck and Oliver's passengers by pretending to be a railway bus. He was determined to get them to Tidmouth before Duck could, but he got stuck under a bridge after trying to take a short cut. After Duck safely got his passengers across the bridge and took them to their destination, Bulgy's lies were exposed. He was subsequently turned into a henhouse and placed near the bridge, which is now nicknamed "Bulgy's Bridge".

Thomas & Friends
As in the Railway Series, Bulgy attempted to steal Duck and Oliver's passengers and got stuck under a bridge. Eventually he was converted into a henhouse and placed near said bridge.

Bulgy was later given a second chance and brought back to the road to help with passengers while Thomas and Emily needed repairs, but after his driver brought him back to his field for the night after he was restored, the chickens who had lived in him nestled in his luggage racks and caused trouble the following morning. Under Emily's suggestion, he decided to become a mobile vegetable stand. Bulgy enjoys his work delivering vegetables, because they do not lay eggs and they never complain.

Sometime later, Bulgy was converted back into a passenger bus. When Thomas was making unscheduled stops on his branch line with Bertie's passengers, he was running late with his trains, so Sir Topham Hatt decided to bring in Bulgy to help take care of the extra passengers until Bertie returned from being mended.

Personality
Bulgy was a very grumpy, cold-hearted and cynical double-decker bus. He firmly believed that roads were superior to railways, and would occasionally lie to get himself out of trouble. After being restored, he saw the error of his ways and changed his attitude and became a kind bus.

However, even though he means well and works hard nowadays, he still appears to be against railways, as he was heard shouting “Down with railways!” as he passed Thomas on the level crossing, but Sir Topham Hatt keeps a close watch on him and makes sure that he is on his best behaviour.

According to the "Character Cube" bonus features of several US DVDs, Bulgy has no scruples and knows how to tell a lie when he is in a tight jam, and is good friends with Diesel.

Basis
Bulgy is based on an AEC Bridgemaster double-decker bus. Bulgy's Friend and the Special Bus Service are also members of this class.

Livery
Bulgy was originally painted scarlet and cream, but after becoming a vegetable bus he was painted green and cream. Prior to this, he had a sign on his left side reading "Railway Bus" and another sign on his right side reading "JOIN THE ANTI-RAIL LEAGUE" - this was replaced with another "Railway Bus" sign when he was restored. He also has signs on his front and back, reading "FREE THE ROADS" and a nameplate above his rear door. When he was repainted, the signs on his sides were replaced with green ones reading "MOBILE GROCERY STORE" in white. In a tenth series Learning Segment, he was repainted back into his original scarlet and cream livery. In the Railway Series, his face is black but in the series, he has a traditional grey face.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Oliver the Western Engine - Bulgy

Companion Volumes
{{Scroll box|
 * 1986 - Annual
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
 * -|Television Series=

Thomas & Friends

 * Series 3 - Bulgy
 * Series 4 - Train Stops Play and Mind that Bike
 * Series 6 - Harvey to the Rescue
 * Series 7 - Bulgy Rides Again and Best Dressed Engine
 * Series 10 - Follow that Flour and Topped Off Thomas
 * Series 12 - Excellent Emily
 * Series 21 - Unscheduled Stops
 * Series 23 - Free the Roads

Specials

 * 1992 - Thomas and the U.K. Trip

Music Videos

 * Series 7 - The Red Balloon

Learning Segments
}} {{Scroll box|
 * Series 10 - Which Outfit for Which Occasion? and Percy's Story
 * -|Other Media=

Magazine Stories
Bulgy also appeared in the magazine stories, Bulgy's Bridge, Bulgy's Dream, Holiday Havoc! and Special Bus Service.
 * 1994 - The Nature Bus!
 * 1998 - The Greenhouse Bus!, The Open Top Bus and The Best Bus
 * 2001 - A Special Story About Bulgy
 * 2003 - Playbus and Broken Bridges
 * 2004 - Bulgy's Back!, Train Stops Play and Back on the Road
 * 2006 - Sow and Grow, Bulgy's Back and Stop and Shop
 * 2011 - Market Day and Pecking Order
 * 2013 - Bulgy's Back

Annual Stories
}}
 * 1986 - You Never Know

Voice Actors

 * Colin McFarlane (UK/US)
 * Daisuke Gōri (Japan; third and seventh series)
 * Hinata Tadokoro (Japan; twenty-first series onwards)
 * Maciej Kosmala (Poland)

Trivia

 * Bulgy has a special nameboard that was only shown on airings in Japan.
 * Even though Oliver states that he only calls Bulgy such in his debut episode, his nameplates still read Bulgy. As a result, it is unknown what his real name is, or if he even has one.
 * According to the clearance sign that appears on the bridge in the Railway Series and the Television series, Bulgy is approximately fourteen feet and nine inches tall.
 * According to several descriptions of Bulgy, it is stated that he and Diesel are good friends.
 * Bulgy's model (in original red livery) has been put on display at Drayton Manor. His front bumper has been removed and his left side (viewer's right) has been cracked.
 * Bulgy uses Dunlop brand tyres.
 * In the UK narration, Bulgy developed a nasally voice in the seventh series.
 * According to the magazine story, Playbus, Bertie and Bulgy are cousins.
 * The Official Website states that he is now a refreshment stand. However, this was a mistake.
 * In magazines, he has been converted into a playbus and a greenhouse.
 * Bulgy's sad facemask is currently owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch.
 * Bulgy went through many changes over the years in the television series:
 * Series 7 (as a bus after he was restored):
 * His "Join the Anti-Rail League" sign was replaced with a "Railway Bus" sign, which is now on both sides.
 * As a vegetable stand:
 * He is painted green.
 * His "Railway Bus" signs were replaced with signs that said "MOBILE GROCERY STORE".
 * He had a serving hatch for his vegetables.
 * Series 10:
 * He returns to his original state as a passenger bus.
 * Series 21:
 * His face became smaller and the rounded edges became square.
 * His bumper became taller.
 * His wheels became thinner, his wheel arches became red and his rear hubcaps became the same as his front ones.
 * His radiator became red.
 * He gained a new nameplate, rather than his name being painted on him.
 * His clear windows became glazed so viewers can not see inside.
 * He gained a door for his driver, though it is placed next to a passenger seat.
 * He gained a new bell sound.
 * His red paint has become slightly duller.
 * Series 23:
 * He gains vents next to his "Free the Roads" sign.
 * He regains his BLG1 license plate from the Railway Series.
 * He gains a full interior and transparent windows.
 * He gains some rivets on his front bumper either side of his number plate.
 * His indicator lights return.
 * He gains wing mirrors.
 * He gains handles on the side of his bonnet.
 * He gains ridges along his body.
 * His face was used by Rocky during the Days Out with Thomas events.
 * A Tomy Wind up Bulgy briefly appeared in the Baby Einstein video “Baby Newton."
 * According to SiF, Bulgy was intended to be the main character of one episode in the twenty-first series. This episode, along with seven others, were cancelled to make way for production of the twenty-second series.

Quotes
"The bus watched the passengers happily milling round the Small Railway "Stupid nonsense! I wouldn't have brought 'em if I'd known. I'd have had a breakdown or something." "I'm glad you didn't," smiled Duck. "You'd have spoilt their fun. Look how they're enjoying themselves!" "Pah!" snorted the bus. "Enjoyment's all you engines live for, taking the petrol from the tanks of us workers. Come the revolution," he went on fiercely, "railways'll be ripped up. Cars 'and coaches'll trample their remains. Free the roads from Railway Tyranny!"

- Bulgy argues to Duck, and talks about the 'Road Revolution', "Bulgy", "Oliver the Western Engine"

"Duck's train was to be first out, but he had few passengers. He was soon to know why! "Look!" shrilled Oliver. "Look at Bulgy! He's a mean Scarlet Deceiver!" Bulgy had turned to leave. They could now see his other side. It had on it RAILWAY BUS. "STOP!" yelled Staff and engines; but too late. "Yah! Boo! Snobs!" jeered Bulgy. He roared away. The unsuspecting passengers waved happily. "Come on!" puffed Duck. He, Alice and Mirabel trundled unhappily away. Alice and Mirabel chattered crossly. The nasty old thief, he's stolen our people!"

- Bulgy steals Duck and Oliver's passengers, "Bulgy", "Oliver the Western Engine"

Merchandise

 * ERTL
 * Wooden Railway
 * Motor Road and Rail
 * TrackMaster
 * Take-Along
 * Tomica
 * Thomas Engine Collection Series
 * Trading Cards
 * Limited Edition Collection
 * Capsule Plarail
 * Nakayoshi