Fred

Fred is a diesel working on the Skarloey Railway. So far he has only had a brief mention in one story in the book New Little Engine. The book Sodor: Reading Between the Lines elaborates a little further, stating that the Skarloey Railway bought two worn out Hunslet diesels from the National Coal Board. Using parts from both engines, they constructed Fred. He is used mainly for maintenance and engineering work on the railway. According to Sodor - Reading Between the Lines, the Skarloey Railway built him from two engines they had bought, and he first saw service in 1989.

He is the Skarloey Railway's number 9. Nothing is known about his personality.

Fred was only mentioned once, on the first page of the story Speedkiller in the Railway Series Book New Little Engine when it was stated that he was too ill to pull the weedkilling train (or so he claimed).

Fred is based on 'Alf', a Hunslet 0-4-0 diesel, with a maximum speed of 9mph, working on the Talyllyn Railway (upon which the Skarloey Railway is based).