Awdry

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Awdry
Background Information
Creator(s)	Rev. W. Awdry (likeness) Paul Slater (illustrator) Alan Hamilton (newspaper author)
Character Overview
Name	Awdry
Gender	Male
Country	England
Affiliation	North Western Railway
Technical Details
Basis	G&SWR 403 Class
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Power type	Steam
Vehicle	Locomotive
Type	Tender engine
Fuel type	Coal
Configuration	2-6-0
Wheels	14
Designer(s)	Peter Drummond

"A steam engine always has something to say!"

― Awdry, Saturday Times Magazine

Awdry is an elderly steam engine who once visited the Island of Sodor. He is a fictionalised version of Wilbert Awdry, the author of The Railway Series, as a steam engine.

Technical Details

Basis

Awdry is based on a G&SWR 403 Class, a 2-6-0 mixed-traffic tender locomotive designed by Peter Drummond for the Glasgow and South Western Railway and built in 1915.

The Rev. W. Awdry's original model of James was modified from that of a G&SWR 403 Class locomotive.

Awdry's basis

Livery

Awdry is painted olive green with black lining and brass dome. He has a thick white stripe between his smokebox and boiler, a reference to the clerical collar worn by all ranks of clergy.

Appearances

• Railway Series

The Railway Series Miscellaneous Awdry appeared in two 1991 newspaper articles about the Rev. W. Awdry and The Railway Series. Awdry also appeared in a Japanese Thomas & Friends related book and promotional material.

Trivia

• Awdry is the second engine to wear glasses in The Railway Series, with the first being Sodor Chain Load Undercut. If the Thomas & Friends and All Engines Go characters were counted, Whiff would be the third character, and Darcy being the fourth.
• Awdry is the first engine to have white eyebrows, the second being Iron Duke, and Victor being the third.
• The first illustration of Awdry was illustrated by UK artist, Paul Slater, for the Saturday Times Magazine and written by Alan Hamilton. The second illustration was a rough copied sketch by an unnamed artist featured in another article and was later used in Japanese promotional material.
• The background in the first illustration appears to be based on the fifth illustration of Coal from Henry the Green Engine.

Gallery

Awdry at Tidmouth with Henry, Thomas and the Fat Controller

United Kingdom

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