87546 and 98462 are two blue tender engines who once visited the North Western Railway on trial from a railway on the Mainland.
Biography
In 1923, two blue engines known only by their numbers - 87546 and 98462 - were sent to the North Western Railway on trial.
87546 and 98462 stayed at Vicarstown Sheds along with Edward, Henry, Gordon and a red tender engine. The big engines notably teased Edward, who was confined to the sheds, claiming that he was too old and weak to work. When Edward was eventually let out again, the other engines were very cross.[1]
The big engines were known for being rough with the coaches. One of them had pulled the coaches so roughly, that the coupling on the coach had come right off.[2]
Eventually, the Fat Director decided to send them away for being rude, nasty and horrid engines.[3]
It is not known what happened to them since the decline of steam, but they were most likely scrapped.
Personalities
According to the Rev. W. Awdry, both 87546 and 98462 were horrid, rude engines who were very mean and spiteful to the others. They especially loved teasing Edward.
Technical Details
Basis
It has never been stated what type of engine both 87546 and 98462 really are, nor has it ever been confirmed which of the two engines illustrated bears which number. They do however resemble Gordon and Henry in his original shape.
One of the two is only seen in one illustration, in which he appears to have outside cylinders and inside steam pipes. Although his wheel arrangement is unknown, he is shown with at least two leading wheels. So this engine could be either a 2-6-0 or 2-8-0 wheel arrangement.
The second engine, on the other hand, appears in three illustrations. In the first illustration, he appears to have inside cylinders and steam pipes, however in the second he has outside cylinders with inside steam pipes and Walschaerts valve gear, with the main rod appearing to connect to his front driving wheels. This engine appears to have either a 4-4-2, 4-6-0, or 4-6-2 wheel arrangement.
After C. Reginald Dalby's problems with achieving consistent accuracy of his locomotive illustrations in the early books, later characters introduced were based more closely on real locomotives. This also means that 87546 and 98462's guises should not be taken at face value, as the Rev. W. Awdry was often keen to retcon inaccuracies in the early books and illustrations.
Livery
In the first illustration of Edward's Day Out, both 87546 and 98462 are painted blue with yellow lining. In the second illustration, 98462 has red lining. Both their liveries are similar to the North Western Railway's standard blue livery.
Appearances
The Railway Series
- The Three Railway Engines - Edward's Day Out (not named) and Edward and Gordon (indirectly mentioned)
Companion Volumes
- 1950 - Scenes from The Three Railway Engines (cameos)
- 1972 - The Railway Series: Surprise Packet (indirectly mentioned)
- 1995 - The Thomas the Tank Engine Man (mentioned)
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (indirectly mentioned)
Video Releases
- 1995 - The Thomas the Tank Engine Man (cameo)
- 2015 - Secret Journey of Thomas the Tank Engine (cameo) and 70 Years of Friendship (one makes a cameo)
Trivia
- 87546 and 98462 are two of a number of background engines inserted into earlier The Railway Series volumes by William Middleton and C. Reginald Dalby. In 1963, a young reader from New Zealand named Ross wrote to the Rev. W Awdry asking who the unnamed blue engines from The Three Railway Engines were and if they were featured in other stories. The Rev. W. Awdry invented an explanation that they were rude engines on trial who were quickly sent away, hence why they did not feature in any stories.[3]
- Both 87546's and 98462's numbers appear to be fictional, as no other engines in real life have carried them.
- 87546 and 98462, along with the First Red Engine, are all absent from the Thomas & Friends adaptation of Edward's Day Out and Edward and Gordon. Instead, Thomas and James are present at the sheds, and are described as being "bigger than Edward and [boasting] about it". This is despite Thomas actually being smaller than him, and James being the same size as him.
Gallery
The Railway Series
Main Series
Miscellaneous
Behind the Scenes
References
| Locomotives | Steam | 87546 and 98462 | Workshop Engines | Big City Engine | Jinty and Pug | City of Truro | Stepney | Bluebell and Primrose | Adams | Cromford | Captain Baxter | Flying Scotsman | Toby's Brothers | 8783 | 1020 | Stephenson's Rocket | Green Arrow | Boxhill | Iron Duke | Mallard | Duchess of Hamilton | Wilbert | Sixteen | Albert |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Diesel | Diesel 4711 | Diesel 199 | Diesel 40125 | Diesel 31120 | 10751 | |
| Rolling Stock | Helena | |
| People | Elizabeth II | The Thin Clergyman | The Fat Clergyman | |
| Stations | Barrow-in-Furness | Brighton | Carnforth | Crewe | Euston | Horsted Keynes | King's Cross | Lakeside | Norchard | Paddington | St. Pancras | York | |
| Railways | Bluebell Railway | British Railways | Corris Railway | Dean Forest Railway | Ffestiniog Railway | Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway | Snowdon Mountain Railway | Talyllyn Railway | Toby's Old Tramway | |