LNER 12 Ton Vans

The LNER 12 Ton Vans are rolling stock used for transporting goods and merchandise throughout various railways.

They are also simply known as vans or trucks in the UK narration or cars in the US narration. In the television series, they serve as Sodor's main type of van.

The Railway Series
When Diesel came on trial to the North Western Railway, he attempted to shunt some old, rusty and empty vans. Diesel found it difficult to move the vans and was very forceful with them, as they had stiff joints and some of their brakes were on. He got so frustrated with the trucks that he accidentally overturned some when their brakes finally snapped. Diesel could not move the remaining trucks and was forced to give up, as a result, he was made into a laughing stock by the other trucks.

Thomas & Friends
Percy once had to deliver these vans of sugar, but on his way to the chocolate factory, he slipped on an oily track and crashed into the factory's wall.

Arthur once had to take some vans of fruit, but he sped down Gordon's Hill a bit too fast, causing the vans to be destroyed and the fruit and vegetables to fly everywhere.

These vans have often been used for the Flying Kipper and have been involved in many accidents while part of the train. Since the eighth series, the vans have been known to transport other things, such as fireworks equipment and ice cream.

In Journey Beyond Sodor, Thomas took some of these trucks to the Mainland in place of Henry who had derailed with them prior. The trucks mocked and teased Thomas for not knowing his way around the Mainland. They later aided James who went searching for Thomas.

During his visit to Africa, Thomas met some of the African counterpart of these trucks. Unlike the Troublesome Trucks on Sodor, these proved to be very helpful.

Fed up of Bill and Ben's tricks, Edward decided to give the Twins a taste of their own medicine. He hid a special van loaded with decoration for the annual Christmas party at Ulfstead Castle, and the Twins initially believed they had hid the truck themselves. They frantically searched all over the Island for the "missing van". .

Personality
The trucks on Sodor are described as being Troublesome Trucks. The African trucks are depicted as quite the opposite; somewhat silly, polite, helpful and enjoy singing peaceful and uplifting songs.

Types of sentient vans in the Railway Series:

Basis
These vans are based on LNER 12 Ton Covered Vans.

Livery
In the Railway Series, these vans are painted brown, grey, maroon, sage green, orange and yellow. Sentient vans had their faces to their bodies and it matched their livery.

Appearances
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The Railway Series

 * Duck and the Diesel Engine - Domeless Engines and Pop Goes the Diesel
 * Wilbert the Forest Engine - Percy's Porridge

Companion Volumes
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Thomas & Friends

 * Series 2 - Thomas, Percy and the Coal, Saved from Scrap, Percy and the Signal, Duck Takes Charge, The Runaway, Pop Goes the Diesel, Dirty Work, Better Late Than Never, Break Van, The Deputation, Daisy, Percy's Predicament, The Diseasel, Woolly Bear and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree
 * Series 3 - A Scarf for Percy, Time for Trouble, Gordon and the Famous Visitor, Donald's Duck, Thomas Gets Bumped, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon, Diesel Does it Again, Henry's Forest, The Trouble with Mud, No Joke for James, Thomas, Percy and the Post Train, Trust Thomas, Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party, Buzz, Buzz, All at Sea, One Good Turn, Escape, Oliver Owns Up, Bulgy, Heroes, Percy, James and the Fruitful Day and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure
 * Series 4 - Four Little Engines, A Bad Day for Sir Handel, Trucks, Steam Roller, Thomas and Stepney, Train Stops Play, Bowled Out, Toad Stands By, Fish, Special Attraction and Mind that Bike
 * Series 5 - Cranky Bugs, Horrid Lorry, Lady Hatt's Birthday Party, Bye George!, Baa!, Put Upon Percy, Toby and the Flood, Haunted Henry, Something in the Air, Thomas and the Rumours, Oliver's Find, Happy Ever After, Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday, A Surprise for Percy, Make Someone Happy and Busy Going Backwards
 * Series 6 - Salty's Secret, It's Only Snow, Twin Trouble, The World's Strongest Engine, Percy and the Haunted Mine, Gordon Takes a Tumble, Percy's Chocolate Crunch, Thomas the Jet Engine and Edward the Very Useful Engine
 * Series 7 - Emily's New Coaches, Percy Gets it Right, Edward's Brass Band, James and the Queen of Sodor, The Spotless Record, Bad Day at Castle Loch, Snow Engine, Something Fishy, Fergus Breaks the Rules and Three Cheers for Thomas
 * Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - Mud Glorious Mud
 * Series 8 - Thomas and the Tuba, Percy's New Whistle, Thomas to the Rescue, Henry and the Wishing Tree, James Gets a New Coat, Percy's Big Mistake, Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough, Don't Tell Thomas, Emily's New Route, Thomas and the Firework Display, Spic and Span, Squeak, Rattle and Roll, Thomas and the Circus, Thomas Gets it Right, As Good as Gordon, Fish, Halloween, You Can Do it, Toby!, James Goes Too Far, Chickens to School and Percy and the Magic Carpet
 * Series 9 - Percy and the Oil Painting, Molly's Special Special, Respect for Gordon, Toby Feels Left Out, Emily Knows Best, Thomas' New Trucks and Saving Edward
 * Series 10 - Follow that Flour, The Green Controller, Toby's Afternoon Off, Sticky Toffee Thomas, Emily and the Special Coaches and Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out
 * Series 11 - Dream On, Hector the Horrid!, Thomas and the Lighthouse, Thomas and the Big Bang, Smoke and Mirrors, Hide and Peep, Toby's Triumph, Thomas and the Runaway Car and Ding-a-Ling
 * Series 12 - Thomas and the Billboard, Henry Gets it Wrong, Toby's Special Surprise, Gordon Takes a Shortcut and Best Friends
 * Series 14 - Being Percy, Merry Winter Wish and Thomas and Scruff
 * Series 15 - Up, Up and Away!, Wonky Whistle, Fiery Flynn
 * Series 16 - Race to the Rescue, Percy and the Monster of Brendam, Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Bust My Buffers!, Sodor Surprise Day, Whiff's Wish and Happy Birthday Sir!
 * Series 17 - Calm Down Caitlin
 * Series 19 - Who's Geoffrey?, The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead, Philip to the Rescue, Diesel's Ghostly Christmas, Rocky Rescue and The Other Side of the Mountain
 * Series 20 - Bradford the Brake Van, Henry in the Dark
 * Series 21 - A Shed for Edward, The Big Freeze
 * Series 22 - Trusty Trunky, Tiger Trouble, Seeing is Believing, Apology Impossible, Runaway Truck, Rosie is Red and Hunt the Truck

Specials

 * 2000 - Thomas and the Magic Railroad
 * 2005 - Calling All Engines!
 * 2008 - The Great Discovery
 * 2011 - Day of the Diesels
 * 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery
 * 2014 - Tale of the Brave
 * 2015 - The Adventure Begins
 * 2016 - The Great Race
 * 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor
 * 2018 - Big World! Big Adventures!

Music Videos
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Books
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Trivia

 * A Chinese van named Lei is the only known named sentient van of this design.
 * Since the eighth series, all the vans were faceless. They regained faces in the twentieth series, although the faces were raised and the front vent was removed. In the fifth series episode, Haunted Henry, a van had a rectangular face because the vents were removed.
 * In the seventh series, scratch-built vans were made, albeit with their vents raised and smaller than their previous counterparts. These vans coexisted alongside the regular type until the show's transition to CGI.
 * The Salt Vans in the CGI era are modified from these vans.
 * All scratch built vans from sixth series onwards have raised vents; this was most likely done to allow for easier use of the larger face masks. Many more of these vans were built for the eight series, although they were not used as much due to the fact that open wagons ended up being used for all Troublesome Trucks.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway (discontinued)
 * Thomas Engine Collection Series (The Circus Train, discontinued)
 * Bachmann (normal and large scale)
 * Minis