B.E.D.T. 15

   B.E.D.T. #15   Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal #15 is an American tank engine that was converted into a replica of Thomas for Day Out with Thomas events.
 * Number: 1 (formerly 15)
 * Works Number: 5966
 * Class: H. K. Porter 0-6-0ST
 * Builder: H. K. Porter, Inc
 * Build Date: March 1917
 * Configuration: 0-6-0T
 * Fuel: Coal (formerly oil)

Bio
B.E.D.T. #15 was built to run on the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal, a rail-marine terminal in Brooklyn, New York. After the railway was modernised with diesel locomotives, it was moved to the Southern Appalachian Railway in 1965. The Southern Appalachain Railway ran from Burnsville, North Carolina to Erwin, Tennessee. It worked there until 1975, when it was moved to the Toledo, Lake Erie and Western Railway in Grand Rapids, Ohio.

It was later purchased by the Strasburg Railroad and arrived there on May 9th, 1998. It was completely converted to a steam replica of Thomas, and ran for the first time on April 29th, 1999. The engine is still currently in service, but only runs on Day Out with Thomas events.

In the initial conversion, only Thomas's eyes were capable of moving. In 2014, it was modified to include a CGI-style animatronic face and sound system, with a mouth that moved to prerecorded lines voiced by Thomas' former American voice actor, Martin Sherman.

Basis
B.E.D.T. #15 is a H. K. Porter, Inc 0-6-0ST. Porter and the Dock Yard Engines are also members of this class.

Livery
B.E.D.T. #15 is painted in the North Western Railway's standard blue livery with red and yellow lining and the number 1 painted on its side tanks in yellow with a red border. Prior to its modifications, it was painted black with gold lining, with red window frames.

Appearances

 * 10 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
 * A Wonderful American Journey with Thomas and Connie
 * Storytime with Thomas

Trivia

 * This engine is the only surviving Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal tank engine still in steam.
 * Unlike the real Thomas, B.E.D.T. #15 has visible cylinders and a cowcatcher. It has a dummy coupling hook on its front, which can be exchanged for a knuckle coupling when necessary.
 * This engine is the only steam replica of Thomas in the United States; all other replicas are "dummies", and require a locomotive at the other end for power. The dummies are equipped with working brakes, a steam generator, and an animatronic voice and sound system.
 * Only one whistle on this engine is actually designed to work; The other is decorative.

External Link

 * B.E.D.T. #15 Biography and Photographs