Big Mickey

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Big Mickey
Background Information
First appearance	Thomas, Percy and the Dragon (T&F)
Last appearance	Thomas' Animal Friends (T&F)
Creator(s)	David Mitton Robert D. Cardona Gloria Tors
Voice Actors
UK/US voice actor	Rob Rackstraw
Other voice actors	Timothy Bateson (TUGS)
Overview
Name	Big Mickey
Gender	Male
Country	Island of Sodor United States (Formerly)
Affiliation	North Western Railway Brendam Docks Cranky Carly Salty Porter
Technical Details
Basis	USN 20t Tower Crane
Power type	Electric
Vehicle	Crane
Type	Hammerhead crane
Year built	1920
Railway	North Western Railway
Company	Brendam Docks
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

Big Mickey is a large hammerhead crane who works at Brendam Docks, alongside Cranky and Carly. He is the only character to appear in both TUGS and Thomas & Friends.

Biography

Thomas & Friends

Big Mickey works at Brendam Docks. During the early days, he used to unload mail from the mail boat into Thomas and Percy's mail vans, for them to deliver all over the island. Once, Big Mickey was transported to work at Knapford Harbour and had a job which involved using a grapple bucket to lift stone.

Sometime later, he worked alongside Cranky, where he was used to unload cargo from ships. Big Mickey once had to unload a boiler from a ship, but he accidentally swung it and knocked Edward off the tracks onto his side.

Later, when Gator was leaving Sodor, Big Mickey loaded him onto a ship while Cranky was being repaired after his crane arm broke.

In the twenty-first series, he took everyone by surprise after not making communication with anyone for many years and became part of the dockside crew with Cranky and Carly.

Personality

As Big Mickey was silent for a long time, mainly because Cranky has "never said a single word to him", very little is known about him (casting aside his known personality from TUGS), although it can be assumed that he is not the best at communicating, as Salty put it. Lately, he has been shown to be cautious in his work and does care for his friends, as seen when Salty fell into the ocean. He has also been shown as a good worker throughout the series.

Technical Details

Basis

Big Mickey is based on a USN 20t Tower Crane. Kobe, a red crane in Tanzania and a faceless purple crane in Rio De Janeiro are other members of this class.

Big Mickey's basis

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Livery

During the third, fourth and fifth series, Big Mickey was painted cool grey. Since the sixth series, however, he has been repainted warm grey.

Behind the Scenes

Big Mickey in Tugs (High Tide)

Big Mickey's original model was carried over from Thomas' sister show, TUGS. He was voiced by the late Timothy Bateson.

After the show's cancellation, his model was refurbished and modified with a warmer shade of grey paint, and his megaphone was removed.

In TUGS, Big Mickey was Bigg City Port’s biggest crane. Originally stationed at the Steel Company dock, he was later used by the navy. In the episode "Munitions", a horrific fire caused by the navy tug, Bluenose causes Big Mickey's dock to collapse, leading to him sinking (his fate differs between the television and video versions; in the television version, the narration states he survived thanks to falling into shallow waters, while in the VHS version, this line is omitted, and the viewer is left to assume he perished).

Appearances

Thomas & Friends Series 21 - New Crane on the Dock and A Shed for Edward (cameo) Series 22 - Seeing is Believing (cameo), Apology Impossible (cameo), Thomas' Animal Ark (cameo), Rosie is Red (cameo), Counting on Nia (cameo) and Hunt the Truck (cameo) Series 23 - Chucklesome Trucks (cameo), Diesel Do Right (cameo), Steam Team to the Rescue, Panicky Percy (cameo) and First Day on Sodor! (cameo) Series 24 - James the Super Engine (cameo), A New Arrival (cameo), Sonny's Second Chance (cameo), Kenji on the Rails Again (cameo) and Thomas' Animal Friends (cameo) Faceless Series 3 - Thomas, Percy and the Dragon (faceless, cameo), Diesel Does it Again (faceless, cameo), No Joke for James (faceless, cameo), Thomas, Percy and the Post Train (faceless, cameo), Buzz, Buzz (faceless, cameo), All at Sea (faceless, cameo), Tender Engines (faceless, cameo), Oliver Owns Up (faceless, cameo), Percy, James and the Fruitful Day (faceless, cameo) and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure (faceless, cameo) Series 4 - Train Stops Play (faceless, cameo), Henry and the Elephant (faceless, cameo), and Special Attraction (faceless, cameo) Series 5 - Cranky Bugs (faceless, cameo), Horrid Lorry (faceless, cameo), Put Upon Percy (faceless, cameo), Stepney Gets Lost (faceless, cameo), Something in the Air (faceless, cameo), Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach (faceless, cameo) and Make Someone Happy (faceless, cameo) Series 6 - Salty's Secret (deleted scene; faceless, cameo), Harvey to the Rescue (faceless, cameo), No Sleep for Cranky (faceless, cameo), Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry (faceless, cameo), The Fogman (faceless, cameo), It's Only Snow (deleted scene; faceless, cameo), The World's Strongest Engine (faceless, cameo), Middle Engine (faceless, cameo), James and the Red Balloon (faceless, cameo), Gordon Takes a Tumble (faceless, cameo), Thomas, Percy and the Squeak (faceless, cameo) and Thomas the Jet Engine (faceless, cameo) Series 7 - Bill, Ben and Fergus (faceless, cameo), Edward's Brass Band (faceless, not named; does not speak), What's the Matter with Henry? (faceless, cameo), The Spotless Record (faceless, cameo), Bad Day at Castle Loch (faceless, cameo), Salty's Stormy Tale (faceless, cameo), Something Fishy (faceless, cameo), Peace and Quiet (faceless, cameo) and Not So Hasty Puddings (faceless, cameo) Series 8 - Thomas to the Rescue (faceless, cameo), James Gets a New Coat (faceless, cameo), Percy's Big Mistake (faceless, cameo), Squeak, Rattle and Roll (faceless, cameo), Thomas and the Circus (faceless, cameo), Fish (faceless, cameo) and Percy and the Magic Carpet (faceless, cameo) Series 9 - Thomas and the Rainbow (faceless, cameo), Thomas and the Birthday Picnic (faceless, cameo), Thomas and the Toy Shop (faceless, cameo), Toby Feels Left Out (faceless, cameo), Thomas Tries His Best (faceless, cameo), Henry and the Flagpole (faceless, cameo), Thomas' New Trucks (faceless, cameo) and Saving Edward (faceless, cameo) Series 10 - Toby's Afternoon Off (faceless, cameo), Seeing the Sights (faceless, cameo), Edward Strikes Out (faceless, cameo) and Thomas and the Treasure (faceless, cameo) Series 11 - Thomas and the Storyteller (faceless, cameo), Gordon and the Engineer (faceless, cameo), Smoke and Mirrors (faceless, cameo), Thomas Sets Sail (faceless, cameo), Hide and Peep (faceless, cameo), Thomas and the Runaway Car (faceless, cameo), Thomas in Trouble (faceless, cameo) and Percy and the Left Luggage (faceless, cameo) Series 12 - Steady Eddie (faceless, cameo), Rosie's Funfair Special (faceless, cameo), Henry Gets it Wrong (faceless, cameo) Heave Ho Thomas! (faceless, cameo) and Tram Trouble (faceless, cameo) Series 13 - Creaky Cranky (faceless, cameo), The Lion of Sodor (faceless, cameo), The Early Bird (faceless, cameo), Percy's Parcel (faceless, cameo), Thomas and the Runaway Kite (faceless, cameo), The Biggest Present of All (faceless, cameo) and Buzzy Bees (faceless, cameo) Series 14 - Thomas' Tall Friend (faceless, cameo), Thomas in Charge (faceless, cameo), Merry Winter Wish (faceless, cameo), Thomas' Crazy Day (faceless, cameo), Merry Misty Island (faceless, cameo) and Henry's Magic Box (faceless, cameo) Series 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand (faceless, cameo), Toby and Bash (faceless, cameo), Percy's New Friends (faceless, cameo), Happy Hiro (faceless, cameo), Up, Up and Away! (faceless, cameo), Henry's Happy Coal (faceless, cameo), Surprise, Surprise (faceless, cameo), Stop That Bus! (faceless, cameo) and Percy the Snowman (faceless, cameo) Series 16 - Percy and the Monster of Brendam (faceless, cameo), Bust My Buffers! (faceless, cameo), Percy and the Calliope (faceless, cameo), Salty's Surprise (faceless, cameo), Sodor Surprise Day (faceless, cameo) and Happy Birthday Sir! (faceless, cameo) Series 17 - Kevin's Cranky Friend (faceless, cameo), Henry's Hero (faceless, cameo), Not Now, Charlie! (faceless, cameo), Too Many Fire Engines (faceless, cameo), Santa's Little Engine (faceless, cameo), Away From the Sea (faceless, cameo), Gone Fishing (faceless, cameo), The Afternoon Tea Express (faceless, cameo), The Smelly Kipper (faceless, cameo) and No More Mr. Nice Engine (faceless, cameo) Series 18 - Old Reliable Edward (faceless, cameo), Disappearing Diesels (faceless, cameo), Thomas the Quarry Engine (faceless, cameo), Missing Gator (faceless, cameo), No Steam Without Coal (faceless, cameo), Toad's Bright Idea (faceless, cameo), Long Lost Friend (faceless, cameo), Emily Saves the World (faceless, cameo) and Timothy and the Rainbow Truck (faceless, cameo) Series 19 - Who's Geoffrey? (faceless, cameo), The Truth About Toby (faceless, cameo), A Cranky Christmas (faceless, cameo), Toad and the Whale (faceless, cameo), Salty All at Sea (faceless, cameo), Diesel's Ghostly Christmas (faceless, cameo), The Other Side of the Mountain (faceless, cameo), Reds vs. Blues (faceless, cameo), The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead (faceless, cameo), No Help at All (faceless, cameo), and Wild Water Rescue (faceless, cameo) Series 20 - Henry Gets the Express (faceless, cameo), Diesel and the Ducklings (faceless, cameo), Bradford the Brake Van (faceless, cameo), Saving Time (faceless, cameo), Pouty James (faceless, cameo), All in Vain (faceless, cameo) and Henry in the Dark (faceless, cameo) Series 21 - Dowager Hatt's Busy Day (faceless, cameo), Stuck in Gear (faceless, cameo), Cranky at the End of the Line (faceless, cameo) and Emily in the Middle (faceless, cameo) Specials 2018 - Big World! Big Adventures! Faceless 2005 - Calling All Engines! (faceless, cameo) 2008 - The Great Discovery (faceless, cameo) 2009 - Hero of the Rails (faceless, cameo) 2010 - Misty Island Rescue (faceless, cameo) 2011 - Day of the Diesels (faceless, cameo) 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery (faceless, cameo) 2013 - King of the Railway (faceless, cameo) 2014 - Tale of the Brave (faceless, cameo) 2015 - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (faceless, cameo) 2016 - The Great Race (faceless, cameo) 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor (faceless, cameo) Videos 2019 - Meet Percy (cameo) Faceless 2016 - Thomas & Friends in 4-D: Bubbling Boilers (faceless, cameo)

Books

Faceless

• 2003 - Elizabeth (faceless, cameo)
• 2007 - Arthur (faceless, cameo) and Murdoch (faceless, cameo)

Songs

• Where in the World is Thomas? (partially performed)

Trivia

• Big Mickey had many modifications throughout the television series. These include:
  • Series 3 (from TUGS):
    • He had cool grey paintwork.
    • His megaphone was taken away.
    • His top railing became thinner.
    • His walkway received more detailing.
    • He gains windows on his front.
  • Series 6:
    • He gained riveted steel sides.
    • He gained a new hook.
    • His hoist end became covered.
    • His crane arm became longer.
    • His wheelhouse walkway became square.
    • He gained a new base.
    • He became taller.
  • Series 13:
    • His overall size increased exponentially.
    • His wheelhouse became wider.
    • His crane arm became taller.
    • His paintwork became more cream coloured.
  • Series 21 (New Crane on the Dock):
    • He gained a face.
• Big Mickey is the only TUGS character to have his name carried over to Thomas & Friends.
• In episodes of the twenty-first series prior to New Crane on the Dock, Big Mickey was always positioned facing away from the camera. This was done to hide his face.
• Big Mickey is the third character to have been given a face after debuting without one, the first two being Butch and Henrietta.
• Since the television series switched from live-action to CGI, Big Mickey's model was left in the hands of HiT Entertainment/Mattel Creations. It was later on display at the Star Tugs Company exhibition from 24-26 August 2019.
• Although he never had a face until the twenty-first series of Thomas & Friends, a prototype face was originally produced for use on TUGS. This face was from a different design to the one used in Thomas & Friends and covered his full front end. This face was never used but was displayed at the aforementioned exhibition.
• A faceless version of Big Mickey's model with a pink version of Kobe's body can be seen in Brazil.
• A recolour of him appears in the background at Dar es Salaam Docks.
• In 2020, the Thomas & Friends website updated its Engines page to include Big Mickey and many other characters. For his image, a fan 3D render made to work as a custom model for a Trainz game by User:Ilovetrains323 was erroneously used instead of an official render. Big Mickey's page was removed soon after, for unknown reasons.

Merchandise

• Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)
• Crane de Ball toss (discontinued)

See also

• Big Mickey on the TUGS Wiki.

North Western Railway

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* RWS only | ** T&F only | --- Dropped

Brendam Branch Line

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* RWS only | ** T&F only

Non-rail vehicles

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* RWS only | ** T&F only | *** Other Media only