Stafford

"I only have one thing to say to such a really useful engine - welcome, Stafford!"

- Sir Topham Hatt, Welcome Stafford, sixteenth season

    Stafford   Stafford is a battery-electric shunting engine.
 * Number: 1917

Bio
When Stafford first arrived on the Island, Spencer was given the job of showing him around. Spencer failed to listen to a warning about Stafford's battery running out and when it did, Spencer did not notice. Later, Spencer ran out of coal and Stafford had to shunt the grand engine to Knapford. There Sir Topham Hatt called Stafford a really useful engine and welcomed him to Sodor.

Persona
Stafford is a humble, courteous little chap, who is a very different sort of engine from any other on the Fat Controller's railway. This is because Stafford is an electric battery engine; he is not a steam engine or a Diesel engine. Stafford is fueled by recharging his battery, which needs to be done frequently so he can go about his work as a shunting engine. Stafford is very patient, calm, and mannerly. He does not let the antics of the bigger, haughtier engines bother him too much, keeps level-headed as he goes about his day, and brushes off any troubles without much fuss. He is more than content with taking things slow and not having to travel long distances and he is more than proud to work on the Fat Controller's railway.

Livery
Stafford is made of veneered wood with cream lining and his number and gold nameplates on his sides.

Basis
Stafford is based on the North Staffordshire Railway's battery-electric No. 1.

Television series

 * Season 16 - Welcome Stafford

Magazine stories

 * 2012 - The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 648) and Welcome Stafford (speaks in speech bubble only)

Voice Actor

 * Keith Wickham (UK/US; sixteenth season onwards)

Trivia

 * Stafford is the first electric engine introduced in the television series and the first ever named.
 * Stafford's number comes from the year his basis was built.

Merchandise

 * TrackMaster
 * Wooden Railway (coming soon)
 * Take-n-Play (coming soon)
 * Wind-up (Japan only; coming soon)