Harold

"Stupid thing. Why can't it go and buzz somewhere else?"

- Percy, Percy the Small Engine

   Harold Harold is a helicopter used for patrolling the Island.

Bio
When Harold first met Percy he stated that railways were "slow and out-of-date", but was proven wrong when Percy later beat him in a race.

Harold is owned by the coastguard on Sodor and lives at Dryaw airfield by Thomas' Branch Line. He keeps a watchful eye over Sodor in case of trouble, and speeds to the rescue of anyone in distress.

As of Misty Island Rescue, he has joined the Sodor Search and Rescue team and lives in his own hangar at the Rescue Centre.

Persona
Harold speaks in a manner reminiscent of an RAF pilot, using terms such as "wizard" and "old chap" in conversation.

Basis
Harold is based on a Sikorsky S-55 helicopter, built in the UK as the Westland Whirlwind. He has added floats.

Livery
Harold is painted white with red lining.

Appearances
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Railway Series

 * Percy the Small Engine
 * More About Thomas the Tank Engine (does not speak)
 * Thomas Comes Home (does not speak)
 * Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree (does not speak)

Television series

 * Season 2 - Percy and Harold, The Runaway, and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree (does not speak)
 * Season 3 - Percy's Promise, Thomas, Percy and the Post Train, All at Sea, and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure
 * Season 4 - Trucks!
 * Season 5 - Baa! (does not speak), Toby and the Flood, Thomas and the Rumours (does not speak), Oliver's Find, Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday, and Make Someone Happy
 * Season 6 - A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter and Percy's Chocolate Crunch
 * Season 7 - Emily's New Coaches (cameo), Harold and the Flying Horse, Best Dressed Engine (cameo), The Grand Opening (does not speak), and Three Cheers for Thomas
 * Season 8 - Don't Tell Thomas
 * Season 9 - Thomas and the Rainbow (does not speak), The Magic Lamp, and Bold and Brave
 * Season 10 - Topped Off Thomas (does not speak), Thomas and the Birthday Mail, and Thomas and the Treasure
 * Season 12 - Henry Gets It Wrong and James Works It Out
 * Season 14 - Henry's Health and Safety (cameo), Being Percy (cameo), Jumping Jobi Wood! (does not speak), Jitters and Japes (cameo), and Merry Misty Island
 * Season 15 - Toby and Bash (cameo), Edward the Hero, James to the Rescue (cameo), Happy Hiro (cameo), Henry's Happy Coal (cameo), Let it Snow, Stop that Bus!, Stuck on You, and Fiery Flynn (cameo)
 * Season 16 - Race to the Rescue (cameo), Express Coming Through (does not speak), Sodor Surprise Day (does not speak), and Welcome Stafford (cameo)

Specials:
 * Thomas and the Magic Railroad
 * Calling All Engines!
 * The Great Discovery
 * Misty Island Rescue
 * Day of the Diesels (cameo)

Magazine stories
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 * 2000 - A Special Story About Harold (does not speak), Harold's Race!, and Harold's View
 * 2001 - A Special Story About Harold and Harold Goes Quiet
 * 2002 - Henry (cameo)
 * 2003 - Henry's Dizzy Day, Flying Fish! (cameo), Queen of the Road!, and Mountain Rescue
 * 2004 - Special Signal
 * 2007 - Autumn Leaves (does not speak)
 * 2008 - Snow Trouble!, Mystery Music (cameo), and Big is Beautiful
 * 2009 - New Delivery (cameo)
 * 2010 - Henry Gets It Wrong! (does not speak), Harold Afloat, Misty Island Rescue (cameo), Saving Santa!, and Thomas Takes Off!
 * 2011 - Monster Mistake (does not speak), Misty Island Rescue (cameo), Rosie's Rocks, Harold and the Kites, Pictures in the Sky (cameo), Splashdown!, and Tidy Thomas (cameo)
 * 2012 - Edward the Hero (does not speak) and Operation Rescue

Voice Actors

 * Kevin Frank (Thomas and the Magic Railroad)
 * Keith Wickham (UK/US; Misty Island Rescue onwards)
 * Hiroyuki Satō (Japan) (Season 2 - Season 8)
 * Wataru Hatano (Japan) (Season 9 onwards)
 * Christoffer Staib (Norway; Misty Island Rescue onwards)

Trivia

 * In the early seasons, Harold's "spinning" rotors were achieved using a transparent disk.
 * According to the official website, Harold's nickname is Whirlybird.
 * Harold's television series model didn't have moving eyes until the tenth season.

Merchandise

 * ERTL (normal and Gold Rail; both discontinued)
 * Wooden Railway (normal and with magnet)
 * Take-Along (discontinued; normal and with magnet)
 * Take-n-Play
 * TOMY/TrackMaster
 * My First Thomas (normal and talking)
 * Bachmann
 * Lionel Trains (discontinued)
 * Bandai Tecs
 * LEGO
 * Mega Bloks
 * My Thomas Story Library
 * Wind-up Trains (normal and metallic)
 * Discover Junction