Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
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Buster is a simple steamroller who goes about his job with glee, pride and content. He works for the Sodor Construction Company.

Biography

Buster helped out when Miss Jenny found molehills on the football field. Buster was also seen at the new school construction site.

Buster likes to think of himself as the "world's fastest steamroller" and often dreams of winning races. This came true when he won a race against Max and Monty on the newly completed Sodor Rally Track.

When Thomas rediscovered the old town of Great Waterton, Buster helped with its restoration.

Personality

Buster is a hard worker with heart and commitment in what he does and he is a good dreamer. He goes about his job with glee and pride knowing all is right with the world. What Buster lacks in imagination, he makes up for with heart, commitment, and hard work. He is liked by all the machines for his wonderful enthusiasm and kindness to help with everything.

Technical Details

Basis

Buster is based on an Aveling and Porter R10 class steamroller.

Livery

Buster is painted brownish-red with yellow and red lining. The words "SODOR CONSTRUCTION Co." are painted on the sides of his roof in yellow, and the alloys of his rollers are painted red.

In concept art, Buster retains a similar livery, but with purple as the main colour rather than the brownish-red used on the final model.

Appearances

Official Description

From Official Media[1]

Buster: Buster is a simple steamroller who goes about his job with glee and pride, knowing all is right with the world. What Buster lacks in imagination, he makes up for in heart, commitment and hard work, and is liked by all the machines in Jenny Packard's yard.

From Official Website[2]

Buster: Buster is a steamroller and is as simple and straightforward as the job he does. He loves his job - rolling over things and flattening them - and would work all day if he could. What Buster lacks in imagination he makes up for in commitment and hard work.


Fun Fact: When problems emerge on site, Buster's suggestion is always the same…”Would it help if I rolled over it?” Buster is based upon an Aveling and Porter steamroller.

Audio Files

Whistle

First used Last used Sound Effect
Fun Cubes Fun Cubes

Trivia

  • Up until the introduction of Darcy in the twenty-third series, Buster was the only member of the Pack with no visible number. According to Phil Fehrle in an interview with SiF, Buster may have been intended to have a number, though he states that there was not a convenient place to put a number on his bodywork.
  • Buster's name was originally planned to be given to Oliver.
    • Coincidentally, the description of the Jack Jumps In livestream on the official UK YouTube channel incorrectly states that Buster is an excavator.
  • Buster, along with Monty, are the only characters introduced in the spin-off series to be introduced in the main series.
  • Buster is the last character introduced that was designed by Robert Gauld-Galliers, excluding dropped character Nigel.
  • He is the second known steamroller on Sodor, the first being George.
  • He, Ned and Isobella are the only steam-powered vehicles in the Sodor Construction Company.
  • Although he never had a whistle sound in the show, the Fun Cubes game does feature him with one when you get it right. This was the only time his whistle sound was ever heard, which is in fact a stock sound effect.
  • In a magazine, Buster is illustrated with a smaller face similar to George.
  • Buster's theme when he flattens the molehills in Thomas and the Moles is heard in the thirteenth series episodes Creaky Cranky and The Lion of Sodor when Thomas is on his way to the Steamworks.

Merchandise

  • TrackMaster (normal and snowstorm version; discontinued)

References


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