Minor Vehicle Characters

This page is for minor vehicle characters who have appeared in the Railway Series, Thomas & Friends, the annual stories and the magazine stories. These characters were either unseen and only mentioned, or simply appeared as background characters without any speaking roles and were nameless.

The Green Bus
The Green Bus was a passenger bus who worked in East Anglia.

Biography
The green bus was one of the buses who took traffic away from Toby's Old Tramway, causing Toby to have no more passengers. During those days, Toby and Henrietta were unhappy with the buses taking all their passengers, but they temporarily got their passengers back when the bus crashed through some roadworks and into a big hole. The bus was eventually repaired, and competition from the buses, as well as lorries, forced the tramway to close in 1951. Toby later told the story of his old tramway and the bus to Thomas and Percy.

Basis
The green bus is based on a AEC Regal "T Class" London Country Area bus. 8 of these buses are known to survive in preservation. One of them, T31, is believed to have been the first bus to be privately preserved in the UK. Bertie and formerly Algy share the same basis.

Livery
In the Railway Series, the bus was painted dark green. In the annual stories, the bus is painted light green with a big white stripe on his sides.

Appearances

 * Toby the Tram Engine - Toby and the Stout Gentlemen


 * Series 1 - Toby and the Stout Gentleman


 * 1986 - You Never Know

JTK 62
In the sixth illustration of Steamroller, a blue car with the number plate JTK 62 can be seen. This references both the initials of the illustrator, John T. Kenney, and the year in which the book was published, 1962.

Basis
JTK 62 is based on a 1962 Wolseley.

Appearances

 * Gallant Old Engine - Steam Roller


 * 1970 - Twelve Happy Engines
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Willie's Tractor
Willie owns a tractor that he drives alongside the Arlesdale Railway. The tractor was also driven by Farmer McColl.

Biography
Once, Willie and his tractor were late to deliver a load of wool, and he did not secure the bales properly. Unfortunately, due to Willie's carelessness and an overloaded trailer, the load slipped onto the line, causing Rex to crash into it and derail.

Basis
Willie's tractor is based on a Ford 5000 tractor. Several other tractors share the same basis.

In the Railway Series, the tractor had headlights, resembling eyes.

Livery
Willie's tractor is painted blue in the Railway Series, while it is painted green in the television series.

Appearance

 * Small Railway Engines - Useful Railway


 * Series 19 - Henry Spots Trouble
 * Series 20 - Mike's Whistle and Useful Railway


 * 2015 - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure

Bulgy's Friend
Bulgy's Friend is a red double-decker bus that is one of Bulgy's close friend. Although he was not seen in the railway series or the television series, he did appear in the My Thomas Story Library, Bulgy, however, he appeared to be faceless.

Personality
Bulgy's friend was mentioned by Oliver as being rude, just like Bulgy, as he was trying to take Bulgy's passengers home so that Bulgy can steal Duck and Oliver's passengers.

Basis
Bulgy's friend is based on an AEC Bridgemaster bus, like Bulgy.

Livery
Bulgy's friend is painted similar to Bulgy, red and cream, though he has a light grey middle section.

Appearances

 * Oliver the Western Engine - Bulgy


 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection


 * Series 3 - Bulgy


 * 2003 - Bulgy

The Orange Caterpillar Crane
The Orange Caterpillar Crane is a mobile crane that is owned by some workmen. He/she was once seen working near the Ffarquhar Branch Line.

Biography
When the water level in a stream near Hackenbeck rose to a dangerous level, the wooden bridge across the stream started to break apart and eventually collapsed. The line was closed down whilst the bridge was in progress of being mended, some workmen and the orange caterpillar crane owned by them helped to mend the broken bridge.

Livery
The orange caterpillar crane is painted orange with black lining and dark grey caterpillar tracks.

Appearance

 * Thomas Comes Home - Washout!

George's Friends
George's Friends are steamrollers and friends of George. Like George, they are anti-rail and are known for ripping up railway lines and turning them into roads.

When George worked near Thomas' Branch Line, he told Daisy that friends of his have paved roads over old railway lines and he was eager to do the same on Sodor.

Appearances

 * Thomas Comes Home - Thomas Comes Home

Nancy and Violet
Nancy and Violet were two cargo ships featured on the Reverend W. Awdry's layout of Tidmouth - Knapford.

Bio
Nancy and Violet regularly delivered coal and machinery to Tidmouth Harbour for the North Western Railway. They also brought fish, which was loaded onto The Flying Kipper.

Trivia

 * Nancy and Violet were built by Wilbert Awdry's brother, George Awdry.
 * They never appeared in any of the Railway Series stories, but were in Awdry's model railway scrapbook, as part of the Awdry Study at Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn.

The One-eyed Truck
The One-eyed Truck is a ghost Kelly told a story about.

Bio
According to the tale, it was an old steam lorry who had one of his headlamps stolen by a loader. The loader managed to get away, but, according to legend, the one-eyed truck still haunts Maithwaite Forest looking for a new headlamp.

After teasing Alfie and Percy about the story, Max and Monty were sent to dump some dirt at Maithwaite Forest. They heard a shrill whistle and saw a single headlamp, becoming convinced that it was the one-eyed truck. They ran away in fright, but soon they felt silly when they realised it was Thomas.

Appearances

 * Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - Percy's Scary Tale

Trivia

 * The one-eyed truck is based on the fable tale about "the One-eyed Jack".

The Loader
The Loader is a construction vehicle Kelly mentioned in the story about the one-eyed truck he told Percy and the Pack.

According to the tale, the loader had stolen a headlamp from the one-eyed truck. The one-eyed truck chased the loader into the deepest and darkest part of Maithwaite Forest. The loader managed to get away, but, according to legend, the one-eyed truck still haunts the forest looking for a new headlamp.

Appearances

 * Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - Percy's Scary Tale

The Chinese Caterpillar Crane
The Chinese Caterpillar Crane works alongside a railway in China. He was once taken by Yong Bao to lift a steam engine back onto the rails.

Livery
The crane is painted yellow with a black roof.

The Chinese Helicopter
The Chinese Helicopter is a rescue helicopter that works in China.

Livery
The helicopter is painted red and white.

The Chinese Cargo Ship
The Chinese Cargo Ship is a cargo ship that Thomas once met on his visit to China.

Livery
The cargo ship is painted white, red and grey.

Gary's Friends
Three red and blue utes (or pick-up truck) appear in Thomas' Aussie Football Adventure, during Thomas's visit during his visit to Australia. They accompany Gary during the AFL Premiership Cup.

Livery
The utes are painted blue and red with white lining and silver fittings.

Thomas' Aussie Football Adventure

 * Series 2 - The AFL Premiership Cup

The Float Lorry
The float lorry is a red lorry who only appeared in the magazines.

Bio
Stephen and Bridget Hatt made a float for a carnival on Thomas' Branch Line. The Float Lorry was then chosen to carry the float with a replica of Thomas, which Stephen and Bridget built themselves. On the day of the carnival, as Thomas passed the procession, he spied the float that looked just like him.

Appearances

 * 1998 - The Carnival!

Trivia

 * The float lorry looks similar to the Horrid Lorries. However, the float Lorry was introduced four months before the fifth season episode, Horrid Lorry, in which the Horrid Lorries made their début appearances.

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