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Background Information
Arthur is a fictional tank engine created by Paul Larson and Robert Gauld-Galliers with his name given by Luke Sharp.
In 2003, Arthur made his debut in the seventh series of Thomas & Friends in the episode, The Spotless Record. He later appeared in the eighth, eleventh and twelfth series and also in the special, The Great Discovery. He was absent for two years until he came back in the eleventh series.
Arthur has not appeared in the Thomas & Friends television series since 2008.
According to an early leak on the names of the seventh series characters, Arthur was originally going to be called Clarence.[1] It was then changed to Arthur when a TV magazine ran a competition to give him an official name and that was the one chosen. Arthur was named after the late grandfather of competition winner, Luke Sharp. TV Times had advertised it since November 2003 which also announced the seventh series airing every Monday and Friday from 5 January to 25 February 2004.
Arthur is based on an LMS Ivatt Class 2MT tank engine developed for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (hence the initials on his tanks).
According to Robert Gauld-Galliers' original artwork, he was originally going to have the number "41241" painted in yellow on his coal bunker and a top feed like his original basis. The number 41241 comes from a preserved 2MT on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and at one point, 41241 was painted in a maroon livery like Arthur. Three others are also preserved.
Behind the Scenes
Gauge 1 Model
Arthur's model was scratch-built to run on gauge 1 track. The model was built from brass. It was painted in a matte finish and lined gold automotive pinstripe tape. The letters on his tanks were custom cut vinyl stickers. The model was built to a 1:32 scale.[2]
Model Changes
Arthur has had modifications throughout the television series. These include:
Pantone colours
The following Pantone colours are used on Arthur's Gauge 1 model:
- PMS 130 C (yellow)
- PMS 186 C (red)
- PMS 188 C (maroon)
Fonts
The following fonts were used on Arthur's Gauge 1 model:
- Georgia Bold ("LMS" lettering)
Reference Sheets
Series 8
Faces
Eleven different facial expressions were sculpted for Arthur, although only nine were used on-screen, whilst his angry face and sleeping/snoring face was left unused.[3] The faces were first sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mould.
Reference Sheets
Usage and Evolution
Present Day
Arthur's worried and cross faces, as well as his original faces moulds, would all be put on display at the first Clearwater Event in 2021 as well as the Halloween Clearwater Event the same year. Arthur's duplicate smiling and angry faces would also be sold by The Prop Gallery in 2022, where the smiling face is now owned by YouTube and X user SmurfyDan, while the angry face is now owned by X user MachanOfSodor.[4] Arthur's duplicate happy face would also be sold by The Prop Gallery in 2024 and is now owned by X user Seaswine9, Arthur's sad face is also currently owned by X user TomsProps. In 2025, Arthur's faces would be put up for auction as part of Propstore's Thomas & Friends Online Charity Auction 2025.
Present Day Ruler Reference Photos
CGI Face
The twelfth series marked the beginning of the show's transition into CGI and the characters' faces were animated through CGI with the aid of motion-capture animation. The physical models' moulded faces were replaced by white targets with triangles to fix a computer-animated face in post-production. While Arthur was never seen with a CGI face, a motion tracker was created for him, indicating he was originally to appear with one in some capacity.
Present Day
After production of the model series wrapped in 2008, most of the models and sets would be put into storage, with some being put on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park. All other models would be logged and referenced from 2010 until early 2011 by HiT Entertainment. From this, HiT would decide on which models were to enter storage once again, which would be given to crew members and which would be disposed off. Due to only having one model made in gauge 1 scale, Arthur's model would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership until 2025.
In August 2021, Arthur's model was put on display at the 'Clearwater Weekend' event at the Midland Railway Centre with his content face. His worried and cross faces were also on display, along with a motion tracking faceplate. In October 2021, his nameboard from the song Five New Engines in the Shed was added to go alongside it.
A spare unused decal sheet for Arthur's "LMS" lettering is also currently owned by X user TomsProps.
In 2025, as part of the 80th Anniversary celebrations, Mattel would put Arthur's model, as well as 9 faces, up for auction as part of Propstore's Thomas & Friends Online Charity Auction 2025 in order to raise money for the National Autistic Society.[5]
Present Day Ruler Reference
Close-up Model
Several close-up shots of Arthur's cab were required for scenes in the seventh series, where he had to interact with close-up scale figures. Most of the engine was built, excluding the wheels, front running board, buffer beams and a visible face. However, only the cab was featured on-screen.
Reference Sheets
Present Day
Arthur's close-up model used to be in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton, England, United Kingdom.
In 2025, as part of the 80th Anniversary celebrations, Mattel would put Arthur's close-up model up for auction as part of Propstore's Thomas & Friends Online Charity Auction 2025 in order to raise money for the National Autistic Society.
Present Day Ruler Reference
Voice Actors
- Yasuhiro Takato (Japan; seventh and eighth series)
- Shinichirō Miki (Japan; eleventh series only)