Express Coaches

Express coaches
These form the fast and important passenger trains and are normally pulled by Gordon, James, or Henry. Several of these coaches form the express, known as the "Wild Nor' Wester" - usually pulled by Gordon, although Henry, James and Bear take the train when Gordon is busy - other coaches form the "Limited", which was pulled by Bear in Enterprising Engines.

In the Railway Series, the coaches were primarily painted yellow-orange until circa 1984, when they were repainted maroon with a yellow stripe. In the television series, the coaches are painted either green or red with custard-yellow window surrounds. The green version is primarily used for the express. While the red version did not appear until season 2 and is used for other fast trains and occasionally used for the express.

The express coaches are based on SR Maunsell Stock, LNER Gresley and GWR Suburban with added corridor sections onto the ends of the coaches and the larger windows of corridors stock on the far sides.

Merchandising
The coaches are not available in their Railway Series liveries.
 * ERTL models (all discontinued)
 * Bachmann
 * Hornby

The red coaches are available in:
 * Wooden Railway
 * TOMY/TrackMaster (Asia)
 * Bandai Tecs (battery operated versions)
 * Tomix
 * Di Agostini
 * Bachmann

Trivia

 * Two red express coaches and two green express coaches are currently on display at Drayton Manor.

The royal train
This train was pulled by a specially decorated Gordon when Queen Elizabeth II visited Sodor. In the Railway Series it was made up of ordinary yellow-orange express coaches; in the television series it was made up of red express coaches.

The dining coach
The dining coach is often added to the Express so that people can have something to eat on their journey. It has a bar, serving area, pantry, and tables.

Henry once bumped this coach, making its contents go everywhere.