Class 40

"Not bad. I've seen worse. At least you're all clean."

- The Diesel, Bowled Out, fourth season

    The Diesel    The Diesel, also known as Class 40, D4711 (in the Railway Series) and D261 (in the TV series), is a Diesel who once came to the North Western Railway on loan from the Other Railway.
 * Number: D261, originally D4711
 * Class: BR Class 40
 * Designer: British Railways
 * Builder: Vulcan Foundry
 * Configuration: 1Co-Co1

Bio
The Diesel was built at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Meadows, Lancashire, England in the early 1960s. The Diesel was sent to Sodor in 1963 to assist the engines with goods and express work during Stepney's visit, but only insulted the other engines by saying they were out-of-date. He got his comeuppance when an inspector's bowler hat jammed in his air intake, leaving Duck and Stepney to take the Express for him.

While everyone was fare-welling Stepney, the Diesel crept away, leaving behind "a rather nasty smell and a battered bowler hat".

Persona
The Diesel is snobbish and rude, believing that Diesel engines should take over from steam engines. Despite this, in the magazine stories, there are some occasions in which the Diesel helps the steam engines.

Basis
The Diesel is based on a BR Class 40 1Co-Co1. Another member of this class is Old Stuck-Up.

Livery
The Diesel is painted in British Railway's two-tone green livery with a black roof and yellow warning panels.

Appearances
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Railway Series

 * Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine

Television series

 * Season 4 - Rusty to the Rescue (cameo) and Bowled Out

He also cameoed in one fifth season and one seventh season song.

Magazine stories

 * 2001 - Diesel Day!
 * 2002 - Just Right, and Dusty Diesel!
 * 2003 - The Big Hero
 * 2006 - Heavy Load
 * 2008 - Superhero!
 * 2010 - Proud Puffers
 * 2011 - Team Effort
 * 2012 - Tender Trouble, Team Effort!, and The Railway Show (mentioned)

The Diesel also appeared in the magazine stories, Blowing About!, Diesel Display, Just Right, Left Alone, Rusty and the Cheeky Boys, Rusty the Diesel, and Story Time with Thomas. }}

Trivia

 * The Diesel's television series number belonged to a real Class 40. The real D261 was built in 1960 and withdrawn in 1983.
 * According to the description on Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories, the Diesel was brought to Sodor to take over Daisy's work while she was ill.

Merchandise

 * ERTL (discontinued)
 * Wooden Railway (discontinued)
 * Hornby (with a Co-Co wheel arrangement; discontinued)
 * Brio (discontinued)
 * Bandai (several versions; discontinued)
 * Nakayoshi (discontinued)
 * Take-n-Play (labeled as Class 40)