Fred

   Fred (drawn by 01Salty)   Fred is a diesel working on the Skarloey Railway.
 * Number: 9
 * Builder: Crovan's Gate Works
 * Designer: Andrew Barclay
 * Configuration: 0-4-0DM
 * Arrived on Sodor: 1989

Bio
According to Sodor: Reading Between the Lines, the Skarloey Railway bought two worn out hunslet diesels from the National Coal Board and, using parts from both engines, constructed Fred. He was put into service in 1989 as a secondary diesel and is used mainly for maintenance and engineering work.

Once a year, Rusty and Fred have to pull a slow train that spreads weedkillers on the tracks. One holiday weekend, he pretended to be ill so he would not have to pull the weedkilling train. So Rusty had to pull the train for him. For unknown reasons, he did not attend Ivo Hugh's naming party.

Persona
Very little is known about Fred. It is assumed he is lazy and tries to stay out of work by pretending to be ill. Rusty once had to pay the price in New Little Engine.

Basis
Fred is assumed to be based on Alf, a Hunslet 0-4-0 diesel with a maximum speed of 9 mph working on the Talyllyn Railway. Like Fred, Alf was built from parts of another engine.

Livery
Fred's livery is unknown.

Railway Series

 * New Little Engine (mentioned)

Quotes

 * The weedkilling train was only used once a year. But that was once too often for Rusty. He had hoped for Fred, the other diesel, to pull the train today. But Fred was ill... "So he says!" muttered Rusty darkly to himself.

- Rusty, "Speedkiller", "New Little Engine".