- “Wow! You put out the fire!"
"That's what my water cannons are for."
"They are incredible! You are incredible, Belle! And so is your bell!"
"Oh, thank you!” - ― Rebecca complimenting Belle
Belle is a large blue tank engine fitted with water cannons. She is a member of the Search and Rescue Team.
Biography
When Belle first arrived on Sodor, she helped Thomas and Percy put out a fire at an old farm shed. Belle later advised the Fat Controller to bring Flynn to Sodor. When the Vicarstown Dieselworks was on fire, Belle and Flynn put out the fire just in time.[1]
Belle later tried to befriend Toby when she learned that they both had bells. At first, she did not understand that Toby was an older engine that may not like the same things she does. Upon realising her mistake, they quickly became firm friends.[2]
Belle attended the welcome party for Sir Robert Norramby and tried to help in the search for Stephen when he went missing.[3]
When some railway inspectors questioned whether the Fat Controller needed two fire engines, Belle and Flynn became worried. She beat Flynn to two consecutive fires, but tried to comfort him when he subsequently became depressed (though her words did not do much to lift Flynn's spirits). She stayed on guard at the fireworks display at Ulfstead Castle when Flynn refused to do it; when Flynn was called to another fire at Brendam Docks, they both realised that Sodor really does need two fire engines after all.[4]
When a whale was beached at Bluff's Cove, Belle and the rest of the Rescue team came to help put it back in the water. She advised Toad to sing to it while they took it to Brendam to be released back into the ocean.[5] She and the other members of the Rescue Centre attended the team's 1000th rescue and helped out Percy and Diesel at the Old Quarry.[6] After Rocky fell off the tracks near Ulfstead Castle from rescuing Henry, Belle, Flynn, Butch and Harold came to lift him back onto the rails. Unfortunately, they kept arguing about who was the best choice to do so until Thomas stopped their argument and told them that they needed to work together. They all agreed and pulled Rocky back onto the tracks.[7]
One summer, she and Flynn were busy putting out fires caused by the boiling summer weather. They came across a stretch of buckled track, where Flynn suggested that Belle pour water on the rails to prevent further buckling. Belle, however, decided to keep her remaining water in case they came across another fire. This decision came back to bite her, as she later derailed on the buckled tracks while responding to an emergency. Luckily, Flynn was able to extinguish the fire and Thomas brought Rocky to put her back on the rails.[8]
Belle was one of the many engines who wanted to go to the Great Railway Show but was not chosen.[9]
Personality
Belle is a bold, big, blue tank engine, who is fitted with two water cannons atop her tanks, from which she can shoot water to fight fires. She also has a whistle and a big brass bell. Belle is lively, loud and proud, with a big personality. While she may come across as bolshy, highly self-assertive and overwhelming, Belle will always have the best of intentions at heart. She always wants to do her best and be the best she can be, causing her to be daring, energetic and bursting with enthusiasm. But Belle is happy to talk to any engine or vehicle and, although she may be quick to jump in with her own ideas, she always tries to understand, help and be kind to others. As a result, she is a very likeable engine; even Cranky gets on with her, she gets on well with Thomas and can even hold a civil conversation with Diesel. But she works especially well with Flynn, when helping him to tackle fires and is always there to support him should he make a mistake. Although fighting fires is always at the top of her list of priorities, Belle has also been known to perform goods duties about the railway.
Technical Details
Basis
Belle is based on a British Railways Standard Class 4MT tank engine with added water cannons, brass bell, and electric headlamps. These tank engines were a development of the LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T and were used for commuter and outer suburban services. They were used on all regions of BR, except the Western Region, and remained in service until 1967. Fifteen of these engines are preserved, three at the Bluebell Railway. Unlike her basis, Belle has a much longer and much thinner smokebox.
In real life, Belle's number, 6120, was carried by a GWR 6100 Class. One of these engines, 6106, survives in preservation.
Livery
Belle is painted royal blue with red and gold lining and brass fittings. She has the number "6120" painted in gold on her side tanks and a coat of arms consisting of a flame, two dolphins and a crown painted on her bunker sides. Her water cannons and wheels are painted red, with the latter having blue rims.
Appearances
Magazine Stories
- 2011 - Big Belle (speaks in speech bubble only)
- 2012 - The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 639), The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 643), Big Belle (speaks in speech bubble only) and The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 650)
- 2013 - Toby to the Rescue and Too Many Fire Engines!
Official Description
From Official Website[1]
| “ | Belle: Belle is a big brave blue engine. She has two water cannons high on her boiler from which she can shoot water to fight fires. Belle is so nice, even Cranky likes her! She wants to do her best and be the best. Belle realizes that she isn't the fire engine Sodor needs and supports Flynn in every way. In fact, when Flynn makes mistakes... it's Belle who is always there to help him out.
|
” |
Audio Files
Whistle
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Day of the Diesels | Series 23 |
Bell
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Day of the Diesels | Series 24 |
Trivia
- Belle was never specifically stated to be part of the Sodor Search and Rescue Team until King of the Railway. It is debatable whether or not she was always intended to be part of the team, as there wasn't much evidence leading up to that point.
- Belle's bell model was reused for Yong Bao and Lexi.
- It was also reused for Beau, Marcia and Marcio, but with different frames.
- Belle's bell sound was also reused for Beau and Lexi.
- In non-Thomas-related media, it was reused for Moonwind's Ship in the 2020 film, Soul, and in the theme song for the Disney crossover trilogy Wizards on Deck With Hannah Montana.
- Belle's name is French for "beautiful" and also references the bell on her firebox.
- Despite being voiced by the same actress in both dubs, Teresa Gallagher gives Belle an American accent in the US dub instead of British in the UK dub. She is the first character to be in this situation, with the second character being James starting in Journey Beyond Sodor.
- Belle's Minis prototypes share the same mould as Rosie, therefore incorrectly depicting her as an SR S100 Class 0-6-0T. This was fixed on the final produced toys, depicting her as a BR Standard Class 4MT tank engine.
- In the nineteenth series, the frame around Belle's bell changed from black to brass.
- Additionally, in the twenty-third series, Belle's red headlamps gained the ability to flash on and off in an emergency, much like an ordinary fire engine's lights.
- The idea of Belle fitted with water cannons likely came from some of the LBSCR D1s wearing firefighting equipment to cope with bomb attacks at London’s main motive power depots during World War 2.
- Belle's trackmaster toy depicts her with black cylinders instead of blue ones.
- Belle’s Push-Along toy has her with blue wheels instead of red ones.
- With the exceptions of the sixteenth, eighteenth and nineteenth series, Belle only had one speaking role in every series.
- Belle has appeared in every series since her debut.
- Belle is the only female non-human character to be introduced during Nitrogen Studios's run as animators on the show.
Quotes
- “I've never seen an engine do that before!"
"Yes, one that shoots water from her tanks!"
"You must be Thomas and Percy. I'm Belle!"
"You're big, Belle!"
"You're brave, Belle!"
"I just want to be really useful!” - ― Percy and Thomas meet Belle, Day of the Diesels
- “Belle, you've already put out the fire. Why didn't you wait for me? I could've helped you!"
"Fires are emergencies, Flynn. You know that. You can't wait if there's an emergency."
But Flynn was disappointed again!
"Never mind, Flynn. It wasn't a very big fire."
"What you mean is you didn't need any help. You did it all by yourself!” - ― Flynn gets jealous of Belle, Too Many Fire Engines, seventeenth series
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (Asia only)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (normal and talking; discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail (Japan and Australia only)
- Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)
- Boss (pullback; discontinued)
- Collectible Railway (discontinued)
- Push Along
- Capsule Collection (discontinued)
- Minis
- Classic Minis
- DC Super Friends Minis (as Raven, Batgirl and Big Barda)
- Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Minis (as Rita Repulsa)
- Fantasy Minis
- Camo Minis
- Light Up Minis
- Rainbow Minis
- Medevial Minis (Queen)
- Adventures (discontinued)
- Wood (cancelled 2018, redesign announced but never released)
- Push Along
References
- ↑ T&F "Day of the Diesels"
- ↑ T&F S15 #15 "Big Belle"
- ↑ T&F "King of the Railway"
- ↑ T&F S17 #16 "Too Many Fire Engines"
- ↑ T&F S19 #8 "Toad and the Whale"
- ↑ T&F S19 #26 "Wild Water Rescue"
- ↑ T&F S19 #22 "Rocky Rescue"
- ↑ T&F S20 #17 "Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks"
- ↑ T&F "The Great Race"
| Locomotives | Belle | Flynn |
|---|---|
| Rolling Stock | Rocky |
| Non-Rail Vehicles | Harold | Jeremy | Captain |
| Stations | Maron | Sodor Airport | Killaban | Cabalnoo Maritime Museum | Cabalnoo | Whispering Woods Halt |
| Members | Rocky | Harold | Captain | Butch | Belle | Flynn |
|---|---|
| People | Search and Rescue Centre Manager |
| Locations | Sodor Search and Rescue Centre |