The Big City Engine is an express tender engine from the Mainland who worked for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and later British Railways.
Biography
The Big City Engine was one of the Express engines from the Other Railway who often terminate at Tidmouth, spend the night at the sheds, and returned home the following day. Once, he had gotten into an argument with Gordon and Duck about what the name of the station in London was. Gordon claimed to have visited King's Cross and thought that was the station's name; the Big City Engine thought that it was Euston, and Duck thought that it was Paddington as he had once worked there.
Little did the engines know that they were all correct, as there were many different stations in London for varying railway companies. Even so, Gordon and Duck still argued about it after the Big City Engine went back home. When Gordon was given the opportunity to travel to London and find out the name of the station, he jumped at the chance, but was most disappointed to find out that the station he arrived at was St. Pancras. However, none of the three engines do not realise that London had several major stations, not just one.
Personality
The Big City Engine is rather pompous, conceited, and single-minded, as well as argumentative.
According to his Take-n-Play description, the Big City Engine is a pompous character that thinks London trains are the best. During his visits to Sodor, the other engines always get upset with him.
Technical Details
Basis
The Big City Engine is based on a London, Midland and Scottish Railway "Patriot" Class 4-6-0. These engines were given the nickname "Baby Scots" as the design was based on the Royal Scot Class. All of the original "Patriot Class" engines were scrapped, so it can be assumed that the Big City Engine was as well. Given the fact that he has no nameplate, it is plausible to assume that he is one of the twelve Patriots who never got a name during their working service.
A replica of No. 5551 is currently under construction. Unlike the original engine, which never received a name, the new one was christened as "The Unknown Warrior". Had Gordon Goes Foreign been adapted for Thomas & Friends, the Big City Engine would've been based on an LMS Stanier "Black Five" 4-6-0 as he would've reused Henry's model. Eighteen are preserved.
Livery
The Big City Engine is painted in Deep Bronze green with orange lining. His wheels and cylinders are painted grey. His buffer beams are painted red with silver buffers. His Wooden Railway and Take-n-Play toys have green wheels and a crest on his tender with his initials in red.
Appearances
The Railway Series
Companion volumes
- 1976 - Famous Engines
- 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (indirectly mentioned)
Official Description
From Official Media:[1]
“ | Big City Engine: The Big City Engine is a smug engine who visited the Big Station once when he was bringing passengers to the other side of the Island. | ” |
Audio Files
Whistle
First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
---|---|---|
The Railway Stories: Percy the Small Engine and other stories | The Railway Stories: Percy the Small Engine and other stories |
Trivia
- The LMS Patriots were a very common sight in the North West region of British Railways.[2] However, none were allocated at Barrow-in-Furness, even though they could be seen in that region during their working lives, despite the fact that they were used on express trains in that region. The only two exceptions recorded were No. (4)5551 and No. (4)5537 Private E. Sykes V.C. in 1945 and 1955 respectively, so it is very likely that the Big City Engine is one of these two engines.[3]
- His Wooden Railway and Take-n-Play toy shows him with a tender that reads "BCE" on both sides, which stands for "Big City Engine". However, his tender was not seen in The Railway Series.
- Big City Engine's whistle is shared with the Greendale Rocket from another British children's stop-motion series, Postman Pat.
- The engine's title, "Big City Engine", comes from Learning Curve, as he was never officially named in The Railway Series. The same thing goes for the Sodor Chain Load Undercut, where he is known as "Sodor Railway Repair".
- In The Railway Series, he was referred to as "The Engine" and "The Other Engine" in The Eight Famous Engines, and "The Green Engine" in Famous Engines, while in Thomas & Friends, he was only referred to as "The Engine from the Mainland" in Mr. Perkins' Storytime and Postcards.
Quotes
- “When I was young and green," he said, "I remember going to London. Do you know the place? The station's called “King's Cross.”
"King's Cross?!" snorted the engine. "London's Euston! Everybody knows that!"
"Rubbish!" said Duck. "London's Paddington! I know, I worked there!"
They argued when they went to sleep. They argued when they woke up. They were still arguing when the other engine went away.” - ― Gordon, Big City Engine and Duck arguing
- “I'm from the other railway, I belong to the Patriot Class," says the green engine.”
- ― Big City Engine
Merchandise
Wooden Railway
Name | Released | Discontinued | Highlights | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|
Take-n-Play
Name | Released | Discontinued | Highlights | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|
References
- ↑ T&F Merchandise of Big City Engine
- ↑ The LMS “Patriot” Class 4-6-0 in North West England on the Railway Matters
- ↑ Barrow 1945 - 1966 on Shed Bash UK