Drivers

There are two types of drivers which specialise in operating engines and buses.

Engine Drivers
"I'd never go without my driver. I'd be frightened."

- Toby, Thomas Comes to Breakfast, second season

   Engine Driver The engine drivers (sometimes called engineers in some US narrations) drive and maintain the engines and, along with the fireman, keep the engines in control and provide a voice of reason when an engine is being difficult.

Uniform
A North Western Railway steam engine driver's uniform consists of blue trousers, a black tie, a white shirt with a blue jacket over it and a blue cap. Diesel engine drivers wear a similar, though less formal, uniform, with the Vicarstown Dieselworks logo on the jacket and a brown cap. This dress code is the same for drivers on the Arlesdale Railway. The drivers on the Skarloey Railway wear the same outfits, but in grey instead of blue.

Trivia

 * From the ninth to sixteenth seasons of Thomas and Friends, drivers and fireman act almost purely as background characters and are very rarely acknowledged. Engines have on numerous occasions left their jobs without consulting their drivers (if they have any), when in reality, the driver would direct the engine where to go and what to do. But from the seventeenth season onwards, drivers have been seen and spoke more often and have worked more realistically.
 * In the magazine stories, drivers on the Skarloey Railway wear the same colour uniform of those on the North Western Railway.
 * To date, nine drivers have been named: Charlie Sand, Edward's driver, Joe, Culdee's driver, Bob, Thomas' driver, Jack Owen, Stepney's driver, Franz, Hugo's driver in the CGI series, Billy Twofeathers, Rainbow Sun's driver, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Perkins, and Mr. Roberts.
 * There have been complaints about the lack of female drivers. Mary Creagh, a Labour Front-bencher, has said it was a negative stereotype, and says it will make women less likely to become train drivers if they are put off in their early years. She also criticised the lack of female characters. HiT Entertainment responded saying there has been a "historical imbalance" but that there will be more female characters/engines in development.
 * Douglas/Glynn's driver is the first driver in the series to have ginger hair.
 * In the 2004 magazine story, Emily's Slide Show, it is revealed that Emily had a different driver before she came to Sodor.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway
 * Brio (discontinued)
 * Motor Road and Rail

Bus Driver
"That will do, Bertie. A promise is a promise and we must keep it!"

- Bertie's driver, Bertie's Chase, second season

   Bus Driver There are several bus drivers who work for Sodor Roadways. In the model series, they were commonly accompanied by bus conductors.

In the magazine story, A Hole in One, the Fat Controller played golf with Bertie's driver.

Uniform
A bus driver's uniform consists of a light blue jacket over a white shirt and a red tie, light blue trousers and a red flat cap with a black brim.

Voice Actors
Bertie's driver:
 * Shinobu Satouchi (Japan; Bertie's Chase)

Bulgy's driver:
 * Ryō Horikawa (Japan; Bulgy Rides Again)

Trivia

 * In Thomas and the Magic Railroad, live-action actors are used throughout the film. However, Bertie's driver appears as a figure instead. In the twelfth season, despite human characters being portrayed in CGI, Bertie's driver also remains as a figure instead.

Merchandise

 * Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)