There are two types of drivers which specialise in operating engines, buses and many other vehicles.
Notable Drivers[]
The following drivers have their own separate pages:
Engine Drivers[]
- “I'd never go without my driver. I'd be frightened.”
- ― Toby
Engine drivers are railway staff who are responsible for driving the engines.
A steam engine driver operates the controls of a steam engine. This includes the regulator, which allows the steam to enter the cylinders, and the brakes, which stop or slow down the engine. For the steam engines that burn coal or wood, the driver is accompanied by a fireman. Diesel engine drivers operate the controls through a control stand and are sometimes accompanied by a secondman.
The drivers keep their assigned engine in order and examine the engine if they break down or have any problems. If the engine is unsure of something, their drivers usually explain it to them. The drivers also provide a voice of reason when the engine is being difficult or makes a wrong decision.
Uniform[]
An engine driver's uniform consists of blue trousers, a black tie and a white shirt with a blue jacket over it. They wear a blue peaked cap with a black brim.
Trivia[]
- To date, five other engine drivers have also been named:
- In Very Old Engines, Mr. Bobbie was Skarloey's driver.
- In The Railway Series: Surprise Packet, Culdee's driver is revealed to be named Joe.
- In The Little Old Engine, Mr. Hugh is Rusty's driver. In Gallant Old Engine, Mr. Hugh was revealed to be both Skarloey and Rheneas's driver and fireman when their railway was facing hard times. In The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, Mr. Hugh is the driver of Ivo's Flying Bedstead.
- In The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, Sir Topham Hatt I was revealed to be the engineer of the Coffee Pots.
- In the annuals, Stepney's real-life driver, Jack Owens, is mentioned.
- According to Sodor: Reading Between the Lines, it was revealed that Peter Sam's driver is the Refreshment Lady's son-in-law.
- According to The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways and Sodor: Reading Between the Lines, it was revealed that Donald and Douglas' crews were related. Following Donald's acquisition to the North Western Railway, this compelled them to stow away Douglas to Sodor as well.