Hank

"Howdy everybody. Thomas is overloaded right now, so I'll whistle for him!"

- Hank, Heave Ho Thomas, twelfth season

    Hank  Hank is a large blue American tender engine.
 * Class: Pennsylvania Railroad K4 Pacific
 * Designer: J.T. Wallis, Alfred W. Gibbs, and Axel Vogt
 * Builder: Baldwin Locomotive Works
 * Configuration: 4-6-2

Bio
Thomas and Percy first met Hank at Brendam when he arrived. Thomas was impressed, until Hank told him he was "one of the finest little engines he'd ever seen". Thomas misinterpreted the comment as making fun of his size, and became determined to pull all of Hank's loads himself. While Thomas tired himself out pulling the heavy loads, Hank insisted that he help Thomas with the train. With the strain, Thomas eventually cracked a cylinder and finally decided to accept Hank's offer for help. Hank pushed Thomas to Knapford, where the other engines were waiting to greet Hank.

Persona
Hank is unique in being very kind and helpful amongst the big engines, and is willing to offer any assistance to any engine who is struggling with their loads. He generally speaks with a stereotypical Texan accent; it is unknown how he would have acquired this accent, considering that his prototype was built and used around Pennsylvania.

Basis
Hank is a Pennsylvania Railroad K4 Pacific. He has buffers added to the back of his tender for coupling.

Livery
Hank is painted dark blue with red wheels, a red cowcatcher and red lining.

Television series

 * Season 12 - Heave Ho Thomas

Trivia

 * Besides Stanley (No. 2), Hank is the second American engine on Sodor.
 * According to Sodor Island Fansite's interview with model maker and designer John Lee, Hank was originally designed to have an older face with a moustache. However, at HiT Entertainment's request, John made Hank look slightly younger and more jolly.
 * Hank is only partly modified to work on Sodor. His running plate has been altered, he is missing a headlamp, he has buffers on his tender, and he has been given screwlink couplings, yet he retains his cowcatcher.
 * In real life, Hank would be oversized to work on a British railway.

Merchandise

 * Learning Curve Wooden
 * TrackMaster
 * My Thomas Story Library
 * Take-n-Play