Dennis

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This article is about the diesel engine. You may be looking for the Story Library Book.

Dennis the Lazy Diesel
Background Information
First appearance	Thomas' Day Off (T&F)
Last appearance	The Great Discovery (T&F)
Creator(s)	Sharon Miller Simon Spencer
Character Overview
Name	Dennis
Title	Dennis the Lazy Diesel
Nicknames	Lazy Dennis (DVD Bingo)
Gender	Male
Country	Island of Sodor England (formerly)
Relative(s)	Norman (twin brother) Neville (cousin) Rebecca (cousin)
Affiliation	North Western Railway Thomas Diesel Mavis Salty 'Arry and Bert Edward (magazine story) BoCo (magazine story) Murdoch (magazine story) Class 40 (magazine story) Vicarstown Dieselworks Diesel 10 Norman
Technical Details
Basis	BR 11001
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Power type	Diesel–mechanical
Vehicle	Locomotive
Type	Diesel shunter
Fuel type	Diesel
Configuration	0-6-0DM
Wheels	6
Top speed	45 mph (72 kph)
Designer(s)	Oliver V.S. Bulleid
Builder(s)	BR Ashford Works
Year built	1st February 1949
Number	BR 11001
Railway	North Western Railway British Railways (formerly)
Company	Vicarstown Dieselworks
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

“Thomas has shown me that being a really useful engine is much better than being really lazy.”

―Dennis to Sir Topham Hatt

Dennis is a lazy diesel who doesn't like work, but he likes other engines to do his work. He has a twin named Norman.

Biography

Thomas & Friends

When Dennis was new to the railway, he tried to take advantage of Thomas by getting him to do all his work for him. He soon learned his lesson when he reversed into a ditch. With Thomas' help, he was able to finish his work and promised to be a Really Useful Engine from then on.

In The Great Discovery, Dennis and a number of other diesel engines were waiting in the quarry yard upon hearing that Thomas had been found in the days leading up to the reopening of Great Waterton.

Personality

Dennis is considered to be a very lazy diesel who tries to take advantage of others and depend on them to do his work instead. Dennis will often create excuses to get out of work and is infamous for the fact that, unlike most of the engines on Sodor, he does not make an effort on being really useful, and slacks off on a regular basis. As a result of his laziness, he is very unpopular with other engines, but they are forgiving enough to let him redeem himself, depending on how motivated he really is. He usually gets caught in his lies and always says sorry - but whether or not he means it is the question.

Technical Details

Basis

Dennis is based on British Rail (BR) 11001, a prototype Bulleid diesel built at Ashford Works, England in 1949 and scrapped in 1959. He also carries his basis' number. Dennis' twin, Norman, is also based on the BR 11001.

Dennis' basis.

Livery

Dennis is painted two-tone grey with dark grey wheels, gearboxes, roof, and front. His number 11001 is painted on his sides in white, and his jackshaft is red.

Appearances

• Television Series
• Other Media

Thomas & Friends Series 9 - Thomas' Day Off Specials 2008 - The Great Discovery (not named; does not speak) 2011 - Day of the Diesels (dropped) Music Videos Series 10 - There's Always Something New Learning Segments Series 10 - Diesels and Steamers (cameo) Series 12 - Thomas' Favourite Friends - Neville and Dennis

Books 2007 - Dennis 2009 - Trainloads of Fun and Watch Me Draw Thomas & Friends 2011 - The Big Book of Engines and The Ultimate Diesel Guide 2012 - Full Steam Ahead! 2015 - Thomas the Helpful Engine 2018 - Character Encyclopedia (mentioned) My Thomas Story Library - Dennis Magazine Stories 2006 - Dizzy Dennis, Justice for James and The Lazy Diesel 2007 - Easy for Edward 2008 - Come Back, Please! 2011 - Salty's Surprise! 2012 - Bubbling Boiler (cameo) Dennis also appeared in the magazine stories, Diesel Display, Do-Nothing Dennis, and Speedy Dennis. Video Games 2008 - Begins Educational Learning Dennis also appeared in DVD Bingo.

Official Description

• 2010-2012
• 2013-2021

From Official Website[1]

“

Dennis: Dennis is a lazy diesel who will do anything to get out of working. He takes advantage of any opportunity to create an excuse to avoid a decent day's work. When he's found out, he’s sorry -- until the next opportunity to avoid work comes along. Fun Fact: Dennis is based on a prototype built by British Railways Ashford. It was designed for shunting and mainline duties with a top speed of only 43mph!

”

From Official Website[2]

“

Dennis: Dennis is a lazy diesel who will do anything to get out of working. He takes advantage of any opportunity to create an excuse to avoid a decent day's work. When he's found out, he’s sorry -- until the next opportunity to avoid work comes along. Fun Fact: Dennis and Norman are based on a British Rail 11001 Diesel Locomotive prototype built by British Railways Ashford. It was designed for shunting and mainline duties with a top speed of only 43mph!

”

Voice Actors

• Tsutomu Densaka (Japan)

Audio Files

Horns

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Series 9	Series 9

On the Diesel's Locomotion Mayhem ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park, Dennis is incorrectly portrayed with Diesel's horn.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Drayton Manor Theme Park	Drayton Manor Theme Park

Trivia

• According to a magazine article, Dennis lives at Vicarstown Dieselworks with Diesel 10, possibly an idea from the early stages of production for Day of the Diesels.
  • Dennis was originally intended to return in Day of the Diesels, however, he was later dropped and replaced by Norman, who is also based on the same engine as Dennis and is known as his twin.
• Dennis and Norman are the only twins to never appear onscreen together.
• Dennis' horn sound comes from a stock sound effects pack and as such can be found in many other pieces of media. It was also mistakenly reused for 'Arry in the eleventh series episode Hide and Peep and Flynn in the twenty-third series episode Steam Team to the Rescue.
• Excluding the new characters introduced in the twelfth series, Dennis is the only character introduced in the HiT Entertainment model era without a Capsule Plarail toy.
• Dennis had a total of six facial expressions, one of which (a drowsy face) was never shown on-screen.
• A character face checklist from the tenth series reveals that Dennis was originally going to be named Denzel.

Merchandise

• Wooden Railway (discontinued)
• Take Along (discontinued)
• Take-n-Play (discontinued)
• Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)
• TrackMaster (discontinued)
• My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)

References

North Western Railway

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