| For other uses, see City of Truro. |
City of Truro is a famous tender engine from the Great Western Railway who once visited the Island of Sodor.
Biography
When City of Truro visited Sodor, he was displayed on the turntable at Tidmouth Sheds. The engines initially believed that Truro would be conceited due to his high status, but soon learnt that he was not conceited at all, and he enjoyed talking to the engines till long after the stars came out. Gordon, who was jealous of City of Truro's record, later attempted to go as fast as him, only to have his dome blown off on the Viaduct.[1]
A photograph of City of Truro later appeared in "Great Railways", a book of famous railway engines which Sir Topham Hatt showed to the engines at Tidmouth Sheds.[4] City of Truro has since been preserved at the National Railway Museum.[5]
Personality
City of Truro and Duck got on very well during his stay on Sodor, talking about their Great Western heritage and ways. He sparked jealousy within Gordon, and gave him ambition to break City of Truro's record but to no avail. In addition, Edward and Duck described him as "the finest engine in the world".
Technical Details
Real-Life History
City of Truro is based on the real locomotive of the same name, built in 1903 for the Great Western Railway (GWR) at Swindon Works, to a design by George Jackson Churchward. Debatably, City of Truro allegedly broke the 100 mph speed barrier for steam railways in 1904, the year after it was introduced. However, Flying Scotsman was the first steam engine to attain the speed of 100 mph that was officially recorded. It went on static display at the National Railway Museum following a tube failure in February 2013. In November 2015, it was moved to Steam Museum in Swindon, Wiltshire. For more information - see here.
Livery
In the Thomas & Friends television series, City of Truro is painted in his original GWR green with orange and black lining and dark red/brown frames. He also has a plain black chimney (it is copper-capped in the real-life), a brass safety valve bonnet (grey in magazine illustrations) and the early 1900s GWR monogram on his tender. The livery closely resembles that worn by the real City of Truro, which is currently painted in the later GWR green with black frames, "Great Western" lettering and garter crest.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
Music Videos
City of Truro's scrapped model appeared frequently between the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and twelfth series. |
Books
Magazine Stories
Video Games
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Official Description
From Official Website:[5]
| “ | City of Truro: The City of Truro is a famous GWR engine that once visited the Island of Sodor and became Duck's friend. It is a 4-4-0 type built in 1903, and is thought to be the first steam locomotive to reach 100mph.
|
” |
Audio Files
Theme
| Only used | Composers | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Series 3 | Mike O'Donnell Junior Campbell |
Whistle
| Only used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|
| Series 3 |
Trivia
- City of Truro is the first real engine to appear in the Thomas & Friends television series.
- City of Truro is the only of a few things:
- The only engine introduced in the third series not to appear in full CGI (excluding a real-life photograph in the sixteenth series episode Flash Bang Wallop!).
- The only engine to appear without a face in the Thomas & Friends television series.
- Although he did not appear with a face in the Thomas & Friends television series, City of Truro was portrayed with a face in the magazine story Surprise Visitor.
- The City of Truro prop used during the Models series, was made with a german smoke box door from the Märklin Engine, instead of Truro's original one.
- City of Truro is the first engine in the Thomas & Friends television series to not be available in Wooden Railway.
- Although City of Truro's name was never mentioned in the Thomas & Friends television series, it is seen on the banner at Tidmouth Sheds and his nameplate.
- City of Truro was given the name "セレブリティー" (English Translation: Celebrity) in Japan.
- In Thomas & Friends continuity, City of Truro is regarded as the first engine to reach 100mph and Flying Scotsman as the second. However, this is highly debated in real life.
Merchandise
Ertl Company
| Name | Released | Discontinued | Highlights | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Famous Visitor - City of Truro | 1993 | 2004 |
Originally sold under Shining Time Station brand as a "Special Edition" character |
 |
Thomas Engine Collection Series
| Name | Released | Discontinued | Highlights | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celebrity Engine | 1999 | 2008 |  | |
| Celebrity Engine Gold Edition | 2000 | 2000 |
Campaign Item, very few in existence, painted in a chrome gold colour, note the wheels remain red |
 |
| Celebrity Engine Silver Edition | 2000 | 2000 |
Campaign Item, very few in existence, painted in a chrome silver colour, note the wheels remain red |
 |
60th Anniversary
| Name | Released | Discontinued | Highlights | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Truro | 2005 | 2005 |
Keyring released in Japan only |
 |
References
| Locomotives | Steam | City of Truro | Flying Scotsman | Spencer | Stephen's Competitors | Connor | Caitlin | Logan | Samson | Dustin | Theo | Lexi | Hurricane | Merlin | Duchess | Flying Thistle | Thirteen |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Class 40 | The Mainland Diesels | Frankie | |
| Rolling Stock | Connor's Coaches | Caitlin's Coaches | Bradford | |
| Non-Rail Vehicles | 040 BMC | Beresford | Tony | Mitchell | The Hawker Hurricane | |
| People | Elizabeth II | The Duke and Duchess of Boxford | The Thin Clergyman | The Fat Clergyman | Baz and Bernie | |
| Stations | Barrow-in-Furness | Bournemouth | Brighton | Crewe | Doncaster | Victoria | |