| For other uses, see Annie and Clarabel. |
- "[Thomas] has two coaches. They are old and need new paint, but he loves them very much. He calls them 'Annie' and 'Clarabel'. Annie can only take passengers, but Clarabel can take passengers, luggage, and the guard."
- ― The Author introducing Annie and Clarabel
Annie and Clarabel are Thomas' faithful coaches, whom he loves dearly. They are a pair of orange-brown push-pull coaches who work on the North Western Railway. The pair usually work on the Ffarquhar Branch Line with Thomas.
Biography[]
While Annie and Clarabel's exact origins are unknown, it is very likely that they were bought second-hand from one of the railways on the Mainland many years ago. Some descriptions of the pair imply they were lengthened and converted from six-wheelers to bogie coaches after they arrived on Sodor, and that in this case it is likely that they began life with oil lamps to light their compartments. Sir Topham Hatt saw to it that this system would be changed to electricity. Though they are old, Annie and Clarabel are still capable of a good day's work.
In 1924/5, the duty of pulling Annie and Clarabel was given to Thomas after he was awarded his branch line. The three operate as a push-pull set. Annie and Clarabel have had several adventures with Thomas, including Thomas leaving behind Clarabel's guard by mistake shortly after he was given the branch line.[1]
In 1955, Percy took the Vicar's Sunday School home in Annie and Clarabel. During the trip, Percy encountered trouble in the Low Lands north of Toryreck, and some of Clarabel's floorboards were used to help re-light his fire.[2]
In 1985, Annie and Clarabel briefly worked with Duck while Thomas was at Crovan's Gate Works. The pair enjoyed Duck's company, but were happy when Thomas returned.[3]
During Diesel's second visit to Sodor, Clarabel was derailed on a set of trap points near Dryaw Hill. Diesel - who was stuck at Toryreck until the tracks could be cleared - volunteered to help re-rail her. Clarabel, thankful for Diesel's help, then asked the Fat Controller to forgive him for his prior misdeeds in the yards at Ffarquhar, to which he and the other engines were happy to oblige.
Annie and Clarabel again worked with Percy in 1991, while Thomas was at the National Railway Museum. During this time, Clarabel only just managed to clear the Hackenbeck Bridge before it collapsed.[4]
Personalities[]
Annie and Clarabel are best friends, and rarely ever disagree. They are kind and caring to everyone on the railway, though can be stern when needed. The pair are respectful to all of the engines, but most of all Gordon and Thomas. The only exception to this is Daisy, who they respect least of all for insulting both them and Henrietta when she first arrived on Sodor.
Annie and Clarabel are very faithful to Thomas and are his most loyal friends. The three share a very close bond and will often sing songs to each other when Thomas starts from a station. Annie and Clarabel love Thomas very much and know that whenever Thomas is cross, it is not because of them; he is cross with the engines on the Main Line making him late.[1]
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
Annie and Clarabel are a pair of wooden push-pull bogie coaches. In the 1987 annual, Christopher Awdry implies the pair were likely built in the early twentieth century on the Mainland and possibly were six-wheeled designs. They were brought to Sodor and their bodies lengthened, placed on bogie frames and upgraded with electric lighting. According to Wilbert Awdry's notes from his OO gauge North Western Railway layout, the pair are each approximately 46 feet in length.[5]
In the 1970s, the Rev. W. Awdry created Mk2 models of Annie and Clarabel for his Ffarquhar Branch layout. These were made from Exley OO scale LMS Suburban coaches.[6]
Livery[]
Annie and Clarabel have orange-brown bodies with black wheels, valences and bufferbeams and light grey roofs. During Clive Spong's tenure as illustrator, Annie and Clarabel's roofs were changed to black and they were given a yellow stripe along each side of their bodies.
Wilbert Awdry's models of Annie and Clarabel feature the letters "N W" painted on their sides in yellow. Additionally, Annie has a yellow number "1" painted on some of her doors, indicating she has first-class compartments. Additionally, their Mk2 models feature their running numbers: 333 for Annie and 255 for Clarabel, also in yellow.
In the annual story Percy to the Rescue, the pair are illustrated with their names painted on their sides in cursive white lettering, similar to how they appear in the television series.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends
Specials
Videos
|
Annual Stories
Books
Documentaries |
Trivia[]
- Annie and Clarabel are the first of a couple things:
- The first official female characters created by the Rev. W. Awdry and, as such, the first female characters of the entire series.
- The first named rolling stock to appear in the series.
- Annie is never seen with a face in The Railway Series outside of her press-out model.
- In the second illustration of the story Mavis from Tramway Engines, one of the two is seen next to Daisy. It is possible this is meant to be Annie, however whether the coach is actually her or Clarabel is unknown.
- Between The Twin Engines and Branch Line Engines, Clarabel's original twin doors for her guard's compartment are replaced by duckets.
- The intro to the 2009 Thomas & Friends special Hero of the Rails depicts Annie and Clarabel with bogie wheels as seen in The Railway Series.
- In some Clive Spong illustrations, Annie and Clarabel lack their usual front windows.
- Unlike in the television series and All Engines Go, where Clarabel is generally at the back with Annie in front - Clarabel is occasionally situated in front of Annie in The Railway Series.
Official Description[]
From Official Media:[7]
| “ | Annie and Clarabel: Annie and Clarabel have probably been on Sodor as long as Thomas, but they didn't meet eachother until they were given to Thomas in 1925 when he was given his branch line. It is very likely that they were bought second-hand from one of the railways on the mainland many years ago.
|
” |
From Official Media:[8]
| “ | Annie and Clarabel: These are Thomas' two elderly bogie coaches, given to him for his branch line as a reward for proving himself a Really Useful Engine. Annie can only take passengers, but Clarabel can take "...passengers, luggage and the Guard." They are frequently concerned by Thomas's behaviour, but for all that think the world of him and would stick by him through thick and thin. | ” |
Quotes[]
- "Oh come along, we're rather late! Oh come along, we're rather late!"
"We're coming along! We're coming along!" - ― Thomas, Annie and Clarabel singing, Thomas and the Guard
- "He's dreadfully rude, I feel quite ashamed. I feel quite ashamed, he's dreadfully rude. You mustn't be rude, you make us ashamed!"
- ― Annie and Clarabel telling Thomas off for teasing Gordon, Down the Mine
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 RWS #4 Tank Engine Thomas Again - "Thomas and the Guard"
- ↑ RWS #11 Percy the Small Engine - "Percy's Promise"
- ↑ RWS #30 More About Thomas the Tank Engine - "The Runaway"
- ↑ RWS #36 Thomas Comes Home - "Washout!"
- ↑ The North Western Railway on The Real Lives of Thomas the Tank Engine
- ↑ Awdry's Mk2 models of Annie and Clarabel
- ↑ RWS "1985 Annual" written by Christopher Awdry
- ↑ RWS "Sodor: Reading Between the Lines" (2005)
| Locomotives | Steam | Thomas | Percy | Toby | Bloomer |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Daisy | Mavis | |
| Former | Coffee Pots | |
| Rolling Stock | Passenger | Annie and Clarabel | Henrietta | Victoria | Thomas' Special Coach | The Quarryman's Coach | Observation Saloon Coaches |
| Goods | Elsie | Old-King Coal | Suncole | Milk Van | |
| Non-Rail Vehicles | Terence | Bertie | Harold | Caroline | Bulstrode | Murphy | |
| People | Mrs. Kyndley | Terence's Owner | Kevin Volley | Tom Tipper | |
| Affiliates | St. Pedroc's Dairy | Ffarquhar Quarry Company | |
| Infrastructure | Stations | Knapford (Harbour) | Dryaw (Goods Station) | Toryreck | Elsbridge | Hackenbeck | Ffarquhar |
| Sheds | Knapford Sheds | Ffarquhar Sheds (Carriage Shed) | |
| Tunnels and Bridges | Knapford Harbour Bridges | Elsbridge Viaduct | Hackenbeck Tunnel | Hackenbeck Bridge | |