7-Plank Trucks

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7-Plank Trucks
Background Information
First appearance	The Three Railway Engines (RWS) Thomas and Gordon (T&F)
Last appearance	Toby, Trucks and Trouble (RWS) Thomas' Animal Friends (T&F)
Character Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England (formerly for some) Australia (T&F) Brazil (T&F) China (T&F) Colombia (T&F) India (T&F) Italy (T&F) Kenya (T&F) Mauritania (T&F) Mexico (T&F) Russia (T&F) Spain (T&F) Tanzania (T&F) United States (T&F)
Technical Details
Basis	RCH 1926 7-plank wagons
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Open wagons
Wheels	4 each
Designer(s)	Cravens Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited Railway Clearing House
Builder(s)	Railway Clearing House Cravens Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited
Year built	1910-1960
Railway	North Western Railway British Railways Indian Railways (T&F) China Railway (T&F) Russian Railways (T&F) East African Railways (T&F)
Company	Sodor China Clay Company Ffarquhar Quarry Company
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt Ffarquhar Quarry Manager Charubala (T&F)

7-plank trucks are rolling stock used for transporting goods and materials throughout the railways, such as the North Western Railway.

They are also simply known as trucks in the UK narration or cars in the US narration.

Biography

The 7-plank trucks are the most common trucks seen on the railways. They are used for transporting different materials, such as coal, stone, China clay, rubbish, wood, bricks and even debris after large storms.

The 7-plank trucks have also been used for transporting food, such as fruits, vegetables, fish, potatoes and apples.

Some 7-plank trucks are also used as part of trains, such as the Flying Kipper and the Mail Train.

Personalities

These are the most common type of Troublesome Trucks and are therefore cheeky and troublesome. The Brazilian trucks were shown to be rather polite, excitable and somewhat timid compared to the ones on Sodor.

Types of sentient trucks

Troublesome Trucks (embedded faces)

Troublesome Trucks (face on the backend)

Troublesome Trucks (square faces)

Troublesome Trucks (rectangular faces)

Troublesome Trucks ("small square faces") 

Troublesome Trucks (square faces with buck teeth)

Troublesome Trucks (rectangular faces with buck teeth)

Troublesome Trucks (large rectangular faces)

Troublesome Trucks (long rectangular faces)

Troublesome Trucks (extra large rectangular faces)

Troublesome Trucks (large square faces)

Technical Details

Basis

The 7-plank trucks are based on the real 7-plank open wagons that are used on the railways, such as British Railways. They are usually found in the eastern and midland regions.

Types of truck designs

(with upside down front)

(with lowered rear buffers)

(face on the backend)

(without handrails)

(with handrails)

(with reversed sides)

(with reversed sides and face on backend)

(with lowered front buffers)

(with a hole for lamp)

(with parallel frame on front; edited scene)

Livery

In the Railway Series, the 7-plank trucks are painted in different liveries, such as:

• Shades of brown, some with framework in shades of black and grey.
• Shades of orange, some with framework in shades of black and grey.
• Shades of cream, some with framework in shades of grey.
• Shades of grey, all with framework in shades of black.
• Some 7-plank trucks owned by the Ffarquhar Quarry Company have the initials "FQC" painted in white on both sides.

In the model series, the 7-plank trucks are painted in different liveries, such as:

• Shades of brown.
• Shades of grey.
• Shades of green.
• Shades of blue, all with white framework.
• Shades of red, all with black framework.

In the CGI series, the 7-plank trucks all have black framework and are painted in different liveries, such as:

• Shades of brown.
• Shades of orange.
• Shades of green.
• Shades of yellow.
• Shades of pink.
• Shades of red.
• Shades of blue.
• Shades of teal, all with a red stripe on all sides.

Appearances

• Railway Series
• Television Series
• Other Media

The Railway Series The Three Railway Engines - Edward and Gordon Thomas the Tank Engine - Thomas and the Trucks James the Red Engine - Troublesome Trucks Troublesome Engines - Henry and the Elephant Henry the Green Engine - Coal Gordon the Big Engine - Leaves Duck and the Diesel Engine - Pop Goes the Diesel The Twin Engines - The Missing Coach Oliver the Western Engine - Resource and Sagacity Toby, Trucks and Trouble - Bulstrode

Thomas & Friends Series 1 - Thomas and Gordon, Edward and Gordon, The Sad Story of Henry, Edward, Gordon and Henry, Thomas' Train, Thomas and the Trucks, Thomas and the Breakdown Train, James and the Coaches, Troublesome Trucks, James and the Express, Thomas Goes Fishing, Thomas, Terence and the Snow, Tenders and Turntables, Trouble in the Shed, Percy Runs Away, Coal, The Flying Kipper, Whistles and Sneezes, Toby and the Stout Gentleman, Thomas in Trouble, Dirty Objects, Off the Rails, Down the Mine and Thomas' Christmas Party Series 2 - Thomas, Percy and the Coal, Cows, Saved from Scrap, Old Iron, Thomas and Trevor, Percy and the Signal, Duck Takes Charge, Percy and Harold, The Runaway, Percy Takes the Plunge, Pop Goes the Diesel, Dirty Work, A Close Shave, Better Late Than Never, Break Van, The Deputation, Percy's Predicament, The Diseasel, Wrong Road, Edward's Exploit (deleted scene), Ghost Train, Woolly Bear and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree Series 3 - A Scarf for Percy, Percy's Promise, Time for Trouble, Gordon and the Famous Visitor, Donald's Duck, Thomas Gets Bumped, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon, Diesel Does it Again, Henry's Forest, The Trouble with Mud, No Joke for James, Thomas, Percy and the Post Train, Trust Thomas, Mavis, Toby's Tightrope, Buzz, Buzz, All at Sea, One Good Turn, Tender Engines, Escape, Oliver Owns Up, Bulgy, Heroes, Percy, James and the Fruitful Day and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure Series 4 - Four Little Engines, A Bad Day for Sir Handel, Trucks, Home at Last, Rock 'n' Roll, Steam Roller, Passengers and Polish, Rusty to the Rescue, Thomas and Stepney, Train Stops Play, Bowled Out, Henry and the Elephant, Toad Stands By, Bulls Eyes, Fish, Thomas and the Special Letter, Special Attraction and Mind that Bike Series 5 - Cranky Bugs, Horrid Lorry, A Better View for Gordon, Lady Hatt's Birthday Party, James and the Trouble with Trees, Gordon and the Gremlin, Bye George!, Baa!, Put Upon Percy, Haunted Henry, Double Teething Troubles, Stepney Gets Lost, Toby's Discovery, Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach, Thomas and the Rumours, Oliver's Find, Happy Ever After, Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday, A Surprise for Percy, Make Someone Happy, Busy Going Backwards and Rusty and the Boulder Series 6 - Salty's Secret, Harvey to the Rescue, No Sleep for Cranky, A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter, Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry, The Fogman, A Friend in Need, It's Only Snow, Twin Trouble, The World's Strongest Engine, Scaredy Engines, Percy and the Haunted Mine, Middle Engine, James and the Red Balloon, Jack Frost, Gordon Takes a Tumble, Percy's Chocolate Crunch, Buffer Bother, Thomas, Percy and the Squeak, Thomas the Jet Engine and Edward the Very Useful Engine Series 7 - Emily's New Coaches, Percy Gets it Right, Bill, Ben and Fergus, Edward's Brass Band, What's the Matter with Henry?, James and the Queen of Sodor, The Spotless Record, Toby's Windmill, Bad Day at Castle Loch, Salty's Stormy Tale, Snow Engine, Something Fishy, Peace and Quiet, Fergus Breaks the Rules, Bulgy Rides Again, Harold and the Flying Horse, Best Dressed Engine, Gordon and Spencer and Not So Hasty Puddings Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - Jack Owns Up, On Site with Thomas, Percy's Scary Tale and Thomas' Trusty Friends Series 8 - Thomas and the Tuba, Percy's New Whistle, Thomas to the Rescue, James Gets a New Coat, Thomas Saves the Day, Percy's Big Mistake, Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough, Don't Tell Thomas, Emily's New Route, Thomas and the Firework Display, Gordon Takes Charge, Spic and Span, Edward the Great, Squeak, Rattle and Roll, Thomas Gets it Right, As Good as Gordon, Fish, You Can Do it, Toby!, James Goes Too Far, Chickens to School, Too Hot for Thomas and Percy and the Magic Carpet Series 9 - Thomas and the Rainbow, Thomas' Milkshake Muddle, Mighty Mac, Molly's Special Special, Tuneful Toots, Thomas and the Toy Shop, Toby Feels Left Out, The Magic Lamp, Henry and the Flagpole, Emily Knows Best, Thomas' Day Off, Thomas' New Trucks, Duncan and the Old Mine, Bold and Brave, Skarloey the Brave, Saving Edward, Thomas and the Golden Eagle, Keeping Up with James and Flour Power Series 10 - Follow that Flour, Percy and the Funfair, The Green Controller, Thomas' Tricky Tree, Toby's Afternoon Off, It's Good to be Gordon, Seeing the Sights, Toby's New Shed, Big Strong Henry, Sticky Toffee Thomas, Which Way Now?, Edward Strikes Out, Topped Off Thomas, Thomas' Frosty Friend, Emily and the Special Coaches, Thomas and the Colours, Thomas and the Birthday Mail, Duncan's Bluff, Missing Trucks, Thomas and the Treasure and James the Second Best Series 11 - Thomas and the Storyteller, Emily's Rubbish, Dream On, Dirty Work, Hector the Horrid!, Gordon and the Engineer, Henry's Lucky Day, Thomas and the Lighthouse, Thomas and the Big Bang, Thomas Sets Sail, Don't be Silly, Billy, Edward and the Mail, Hide and Peep, Toby's Triumph, Thomas and the Runaway Car, Thomas in Trouble, Thomas and the Stinky Cheese, Percy and the Left Luggage, Cool Truckings and Ding-a-Ling Series 12 - Henry Gets it Wrong, Heave Ho Thomas!, Toby's Special Surprise, Excellent Emily, The Party Surprise, James Works it Out, Tram Trouble, Don't Go Back, Percy and the Bandstand and Best Friends Series 13 - Creaky Cranky, The Lion of Sodor, Tickled Pink, Slippy Sodor, The Early Bird, Play Time, Time for a Story, Percy's Parcel, Toby's New Whistle, A Blooming Mess, Thomas and the Runaway Kite, Steamy Sodor, Splish Splash Splosh, The Biggest Present of All, Snow Tracks and Hiro Helps Out Series 14 - Thomas' Tall Friend, James in the Dark, Pingy Pongy Pick Up, Charlie and Eddie, Toby and the Whistling Woods, Henry's Health and Safety, Diesel's Special Delivery, Victor Says Yes, Thomas in Charge, Being Percy, Merry Winter Wish, Thomas' Crazy Day, Thomas and Scruff, O the Indignity, Jitters and Japes and Henry's Magic Box Series 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand, Toby and Bash, Emily and Dash, Percy's New Friends, Edward the Hero, Up, Up and Away!, Henry's Happy Coal, Let it Snow, Surprise, Surprise, Big Belle, Kevin the Steamie, Percy the Snowman, Tree Trouble and Fiery Flynn Series 16 - Race to the Rescue, Express Coming Through, Percy and the Monster of Brendam, Ho Ho Snowman, Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Thomas Toots the Crows, Bust My Buffers!, Percy and the Calliope, Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor, Salty's Surprise, Sodor Surprise Day, Emily's Winter Party Special, Muddy Matters, Whiff's Wish, Welcome Stafford!, Happy Birthday Sir! and The Christmas Tree Express Series 17 - Kevin's Cranky Friend, Scruff's Makeover, Wayward Winston, Gordon Runs Dry, Steamie Stafford, Henry's Hero, Not Now, Charlie!, The Lost Puff, The Thomas Way, Percy's Lucky Day, Bill or Ben?, No Snow for Thomas, Santa's Little Engine, The Missing Christmas Decorations, The Frozen Turntable, Away From the Sea, Gone Fishing, The Afternoon Tea Express and No More Mr. Nice Engine Series 18 - Old Reliable Edward, Not So Slow Coaches, Flatbeds of Fear, Disappearing Diesels, Signals Crossed, Toad's Adventure, Duck in the Water, Duck and the Slip Coaches, Thomas the Quarry Engine, Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger, Marion and the Pipe, Missing Gator, No Steam Without Coal, Spencer's VIP, Toad's Bright Idea, Long Lost Friend, Duncan the Humbug, The Perfect Gift, Emily Saves the World, Timothy and the Rainbow Truck, Marion and the Dinosaurs, Samson at Your Service and Samson Sent for Scrap Series 19 - Who's Geoffrey?, The Truth About Toby, Lost Property, Henry Spots Trouble, A Cranky Christmas, Snow Place Like Home, The Beast of Sodor, Toad and the Whale, Very Important Sheep, Salty All at Sea, Den and Dart, Helping Hiro, Slow Stephen, Two Wheels Good, Reds vs. Blues, Best Engine Ever, The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead, Philip to the Rescue, Diesel's Ghostly Christmas, Rocky Rescue, The Other Side of the Mountain, No Help at All, Goodbye Fat Controller and Wild Water Rescue Series 20 - Sidney Sings, Toby's New Friend, Henry Gets the Express, Diesel and the Ducklings, Bradford the Brake Van, Saving Time, Ryan and Daisy, Pouty James, The Way She Does It, Letters to Santa, Love Me Tender, The Railcar and the Coaches, Mucking About, All in Vain, Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks, Tit for Tat, Mike's Whistle, Henry in the Dark, Three Steam Engines Gruff, Hugo and the Airship, The Missing Breakdown Train, The Christmas Coffeepot and Over the Hill Series 21 - Springtime for Diesel, A Most Singular Engine, Dowager Hatt's Busy Day, Stuck in Gear, Runaway Engine, P.A. Problems, Hasty Hannah, Cranky at the End of the Line, New Crane on the Dock, Unscheduled Stops, Philip's Number, The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor, A Shed for Edward, The Big Freeze, Emily in the Middle and Confused Coaches Series 22 - Number One Engine, Forever and Ever, Confusion Without Delay, Trusty Trunky, Thomas Goes to Bollywood, Thomas in the Wild, Thomas and the Monkey Palace, An Engine of Many Colours, Outback Thomas, School of Duck, Tiger Trouble, Seeing is Believing, Apology Impossible, Samson and the Fireworks, Thomas' Animal Ark, Cyclone Thomas, Thomas and the Dragon, Rosie is Red, The Case of the Puzzling Parts, Banjo and the Bushfire, Counting on Nia and Hunt the Truck Series 23 - Crowning Around, Chucklesome Trucks, The Other Big Engine, Batucada, Gordon Gets the Giggles, Thomas Makes a Mistake, Diesel Do Right, Grudge Match, Steam Team to the Rescue, Panicky Percy, All Tracks Lead to Rome, Mines of Mystery, Laid Back Shane, Rangers of the Rails, First Day on Sodor!, Lorenzo's Solo, Too Loud, Thomas! and Diesel Glows Away Series 24 - Thomas and the Royal Engine, Emily's Best Friend, Thomas' Fuzzy Friend, The Great Little Railway Show, Thomas and the Forest Engines, Emily to the Rescue, Shankar's Makeover, Nia and the Unfriendly Elephant, James the Super Engine, Thomas' Not-So-Lucky Day, A New Arrival, World of Tomorrow, Sonny's Second Chance, Thomas and the Inventor's Workshop, The Inventor's Spectacular Bridge, Yong Bao and the Tiger, Gordon and Rebecca, Coming Through!, Kenji on the Rails Again, Cleo the Road Engine and Thomas' Animal Friends Specials 2000 - Thomas and the Magic Railroad 2005 - Calling All Engines! 2008 - The Great Discovery 2009 - Hero of the Rails 2010 - Misty Island Rescue 2011 - Day of the Diesels 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery 2013 - King of the Railway 2014 - Tale of the Brave 2015 - The Adventure Begins and Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure 2016 - The Great Race 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor 2018 - Big World! Big Adventures!

Magazine Stories

• 1992 - Thomas and the Tunnel!

Annual Stories

• 1985 - The Twins' Passing Problem

Trivia

• The 7-Plank Trucks are the most common basis for the Troublesome Trucks.
• Two models of 7-plank trucks (one small scale and the other large scale) made for the seventh series and the ninth series of the television series are now owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch.
• In the CGI series, the 7-plank trucks became slightly bigger.
• Since the seventeenth series, the primary colour for faceless 7-plank trucks is pale red. The grey trucks are now primarily Troublesome Trucks.
• In an interview with SiF, Steve Asquith explained that complaints about fish being transported in trucks were ignored due to the belief that children would understand a story better if they could see what was in the trucks. As a result, from the eighth to the eleventh series, all fish were transported unhygienically.
  • However in the fifth series episode Baa!, vegetables were transported in 7-Plank Trucks.

Merchandise

• Meccano (discontinued)
• Wooden Railway (discontinued)
• Take-n-Play (discontinued)
• Collectible Railway
• Bachmann (Blue, Red, Brown and Green variants)
• Hornby (discontinued)
• Motor Road and Rail (discontinued outside Asia)
• TrackMaster (discontinued)
• Motorized
• Interactive Learning Railway (discontinued)
• Choro-Q (discontinued)
• My First Thomas (Red, Yellow and Blue variants)
• Lionel Trains
• LEGO (discontinued)
• Minis
• Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)

North Western Railway

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* RWS only | ** T&F only | --- Dropped