Bradford

Bradford is a brake van who lives on the Mainland. He works with Samson.

Thomas & Friends
Bradford was brought to Sodor by Samson. When he noticed Thomas struggling with his Troublesome Trucks, Bradford offered to be his brake van for the day. Once coupled up, Bradford quickly took charge of the trucks and barked at them to behave. Thomas and the other engines were very impressed, until they found out how strict Bradford liked to stick to the rules of the railway, which made the trains that they were pulling with him very late. The next day, Thomas decided to take a train without Bradford, but ended up running into trouble with the trucks, and collided with Percy at Gordon's Hill. Bradford eventually went back to the Mainland with Samson.

Bradford later attempted to help Samson overcome his fear of fireworks, but failed when Samson mistook railway detonators Cyril the Fogman had put on the track for fireworks and ran away in fright, going faster out of surprise at each detonation. Samson almost crashed into Rebecca and eventually ended up running into Nia. Samson eventually overcame his fear of fireworks and both of them went to watch fireworks at Ulfstead Castle.

Personality
Bradford is an officious and strict brake van who adheres to every railway rule, no matter how minor the rule might be. Although he means well and does his best to keep the trucks in order, his overzealous attitude makes his trains commonly run very late. Because of this, the engines find him annoying. He is also quite conceited, as he claimed he knew how much the engines "appreciated" him. Despite his usual rigidity, Bradford also has a caring side, as shown when he tried to help Samson overcome his intense fear of fireworks.

Basis
Bradford is based on a standard LMS 20 ton brake van. Various faceless brake vans share this basis. A handful today survive in preservation on heritage railways.

Livery
Bradford is painted light green with a red stripe across his sides. The number "0919" is painted inside his stripes in gold.

Appearances
Television Series=

Thomas & Friends

 * Season 20 - Bradford the Brake Van
 * Season 22 - Runaway Truck (stock footage cameo) and Samson and the Fireworks

Specials

 * 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor (cameo)

Music Videos
Other Media=
 * Season 21 - Doing it Right and Little Engines

Magazine Stories

 * 2017 - Bradford the Brake Van

Voice Actors

 * Rob Rackstraw (UK/US)
 * Nobuaki Kanemitsu (Japan)
 * Paweł Ciołkosz (Poland)
 * Zvika Fohrman (Israel)

Trivia

 * Bradford is the first sentient brake van to be introduced in the TV Series since Toad in the third season (and the third overall in the show).
 * Bradford's persona and dialogue are based on Battery Sergeant Major Williams from "It Ain't Half Hot Mum".

Gallery
Bradford ברדפורד ブラッドフォード Błażej