Express Coaches

There are many types of express coaches used for fast trains on the Main Line of the North Western Railway.

Green Coaches
"Would you like to see my express carriages? They're the grandest on the Island!"

- Gordon, Thomas and Scruff, fourteenth season

Bio
These coaches have appeared since the first season and are primarily used for the express. Between the thirteenth and sixteenth seasons, the green express coaches seemed to be exclusive to Gordon as he was the only engine ever seen pulling them. Since the seventeenth season, however, other engines have occasionally been seen pulling them again.

In the first and second seasons, the express coaches had the ability to talk, despite not having visible faces.

Basis
The coaches have had several basis' in the model series, such as the SR Maunsell coaches, LNER Gresley Teak coaches, GWR Suburban coaches and BR Mk1 Coaches.

Since the CGI series, the coaches are a freelance design being much taller and thinner compared to the previous ones. They feature bay windows on both sides, doors between each window and lack a corridor.

Livery
These coaches are dark green with white/cream windows. From the sixth season onwards, all the coaches have cream windows and they have a yellow stripe running down the sides.

Merchandise

 * Bachmann (discontinued)
 * Hornby
 * Motor Road and Rail (with Gordon; discontinued outside Asia)
 * Departing Now (discontinued)
 * TrackMaster
 * My First Thomas
 * Tomica
 * Wind-up Trains
 * Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)
 * Boss (with Edward; discontinued)
 * Waku Waku (with Gordon; discontinued)

Red Coaches
"Do you have smart coaches? I see that you do"

- Sir Handel admiring Gordon's coaches, A Bad Day for Sir Handel, fourth season

Bio
The red coaches did not appear until the second season and are generally used for other fast trains, but occasionally used for the express. In the third season, Duck commonly pulled them on the Little Western. They were absent between Season 12 and Season 20.

Some red express coaches are owned by the Other Railway and are pulled by the Flying Scotsman.

Basis
The coaches have had several basis' in the model series, such as the SR Maunsell coaches, LNER Gresley Teak coaches, GWR Suburban coaches and BR Mk1 Coaches.

Since the CGI series, the coaches are of the same freelance design as the green coaches, being much taller and thinner compared to the previous ones. They feature bay windows on both sides, doors between each window and lack a corridor.

Livery
Between the second and fourth seasons, the coaches were dark red with white windows. From the fifth season onwards, the windows were cream and they have a yellow stripe running down the sides.

Merchandise

 * ERTL
 * Wooden Railway (discontinued)
 * Motor Road and Rail (Asia only)
 * Thomas Engine Collection Series (with sound effects; discontinued)
 * Departing Now
 * Tomica
 * Capsule Plarail
 * Pocket Fantasy (Discontinued)
 * Tomix
 * De Agostini (discontinued)
 * Bachmann (discontinued)
 * Hornby
 * Nakayoshi (discontinued)
 * Boss (with James; discontinued)
 * Choro-Q (with James)
 * LEGO (discontinued)

Bio
Express coaches 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. D261 was supposed to pull the express in Bowled Out, but he broke down so Duck and Stepney pulled it.

Basis
These 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. Occasionally, British Railways Mark 1 and 2 coaches could be seen as well.

Livery
The coaches were primarily painted yellow-orange until circa 1984, when they were repainted brown with a yellow stripe. There were some blue and white coaches.

The Royal Train
"I heard it's even more important than the express coaches." "Rubbish!"

- Percy and Gordon, The Royal Carriage

The Royal Train was the train that transported Queen Elizabeth II in Paint Pots and Queens. Henry was supposed to pull it, but after an accident with some paint cans, Gordon was given the job. In both the Railway Series and the television series, it was made up of blood and custard express coaches.

Another Royal Carriage appeared in the magazine story, The Royal Carriage. This carriage is painted brown with red flags and a crown on its roof. Inside it has some comfortable chairs and a royal blue carpet. It is on display at the Sodor Museum.

Trivia

 * The coach in the magazine somewhat has Henrietta's shape.

The Dining Coach
The Dining Coach, also known as The Buffet Car, 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.

In the television series, the coach is painted green with custard-yellow window surrounds. Henry once bumped this coach, making its contents fly everywhere. In the magazines, the Buffet Car is painted yellow-orange and has yellow stripes.

Other Coaches
Four grey coaches with an orange stripe appeared in Thomas and the Big, Big Bridge.

A white express coach with orange lining was seen in the 2006 magazine story, Splendid Sight.

Voice Actors

 * Shinobu Satouchi, Kōzō Shioya, Yasunori Masutani, Toshio Kobayashi and Yasuhiro Takato (Japan)

Trivia

 * In the magazine story, Airship, Gordon's express carriages are once referred to as "Pullman Coaches".
 * One of the express coaches models are currently on display; three red and two green at Drayton Manor and two red at the Hara Model Railway Museum in Japan.