Etienne

"Au revoir!"

- Étienne upon passing Spencer, The Great Race

   Étienne   Étienne is a French electric engine who will appear in The Great Race.
 * Class: SNCF BB 9004
 * Builder: Jeumont-Schneider
 * Built: 1954
 * Configuration: Bo-Bo
 * Top Speed: 206 mph

Bio
Étienne competed in the Great Railway Show during the events of The Great Race, competing in the speed competition of the same name. After Gordon was forced to drop out of the race, Étienne fought with Spencer for first place. Spencer nearly won, but the electric engine managed to pass Spencer at the last second, winning the race and setting a new world rail speed record.

After the Great Railway Show ended, Étienne left the mainland and went back to France.

Persona
Étienne is described as being polite and gentlemanly, as he only joined the Great Railway Show to have fun and meet new friends.

Basis
Étienne is based on SNCF's BB 9003 and 9004 electric locomotives, built by Jeumont-Schneider of Paris in 1952 and 1954, respectively. 9004 has been preserved and is on display at the Cité du Train in Mulhouse.

Livery
Étienne is painted white and dark blue with red and silver lining and red wheels, the colours of the French flag. He carries his name on a silver nameplate.

Television Series
Specials
 * The Great Race

Voice Actors

 * Rob Rackstraw (UK/US)

Trivia

 * Étienne is the first engine in the television series to have a moustache. However, if Railway Series characters are counted, then he is the second engine to have one, the first being Iron Duke.
 * Étienne is the first canetary-powered electric engine to be introduced in the television series, and the first ever in either series to be physically seen, as the Peel Godred Engines were never shown except for one in the railway safety book, More Bad Days for Thomas and his Friends.
 * Despite being an electric powered locomotive, Étienne has been incorrectly described as a Diesel-Electric locomotive in The Great Race.
 * Étienne is the third French-speaking engine overall introduced to the series, the first being Millie and the second being Axel.
 * Étienne is the first electric engine to be introduced in the TV series since Stafford.

Quotes

 * "I'm just here to have fun and meet new friends, and if I should win, then vive la France!"

- The Great Railway Show Announcer quoting Etienne.
 * "On track one, we have the French diesel-electric Étienne, who'll be trying to beat his own world record today."

- The Great Railway Show Announcer introducing Étienne, The Great Race.