| For other uses, see Elizabeth (disambiguation). |
Elizabeth is a vintage Sentinel steam lorry, formerly owned by Sir Topham Hatt. She often works alongside the Skarloey Railway.
Biography
Thomas & Friends
Prior to becoming the controller of the North Western Railway, Sir Topham Hatt owned Elizabeth - she noted that he was not the best driver. For unknown reasons, Elizabeth was shut up in a shed and remained there until Thomas' crew found her several years later when they needed urgent transportation to the Works for new side rods. Jem Cole restored Elizabeth and she is to this day in perfect working order.
When the Skarloey Railway was facing hardships, Elizabeth agreed to help the narrow gauge engines clear the line of fallen branches and restore the line, which they succeeded at.
One winter, when Thomas refused to wear his snowplough, Elizabeth scolded him, stating that he could not be reliable without it. She was given the task of taking puddings to Brendam Docks for delivery to the Mainland, but during the trip, she slid on the icy roads and got herself stuck in a snowdrift. Thomas and Terence rescued her and they managed to deliver the puddings in time before the ship left.
Personality
Elizabeth does not like laziness, carelessness or rudeness and will respond to these characteristics in the strongest terms. Because of this, she can often come off as harsh and severe.
Although she believes roads are superior to rails, she often helps the engines out. She is very sensitive about how others refer to her by her age.
She has a special fondness for her former owner Sir Topham Hatt and it seems that even he never seems to take offence or get angered by her critical assessment of the way he drives.
Technical Details
Basis
Elizabeth is based on a Sentinel DG4 steam lorry with a three-way tipper behind her cab. Isobella shares the same basis.
Livery
Elizabeth is painted maroon with gold and black lining and an orange-brown tipper.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
Specials
Music Videos
|
Magazine Stories
Elizabeth also appeared in the magazine stories, A Colourful Christmas, Christmas Puddings, Diesel Display, Fun With Friends, Musical Duncan, Rusty's Plan and Slow Tow. |
Audio Files
Horns
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Series 6 | Series 7 |
In Series 11, Elizabeth reuses Bertie's horn sound from the Series 4 episode, Bowled Out to Series 7.
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Series 11 | Series 11 |
Trivia
- Elizabeth is the only character able to insult Sir Topham Hatt without getting into trouble, as she was the first lorry he ever drove.
- Elizabeth is the first character created by Paul Larson.
- In the original concept art done by Robert Gauld-Galliers, Elizabeth was named "Grumpy".
- According to Abi Grant, the name Elizabeth was chosen due to the 1998 film, Elizabeth, coming out after the concept art had been completed.
- Elizabeth's television series model is on display at Drayton Manor and is currently wearing her grumpy face since early 2020. However, her smiling face was on her television series model when she was first put on display at Drayton Manor in 2009.
- Elizabeth is often misspelled as "Elisabeth", particularly in merchandise and in the subtitles of DVDs. The Official Website also spelled her name this way before the site was revamped. Elisabeth is the spelling used in the Welsh dub of the show.
- A large scale model of Elizabeth was built to interact with the narrow gauge engines, as used in "Rusty Saves the Day" and "Faulty Whistles". The large scale model was built by Chris Lloyd as revealed in an interview with Sodor Island Fansite.
- A Sentinel steam bus (originally a lorry) that gives tour rides around Weston-super-Mare (formerly around Whitby) is named after Elizabeth.
- In her concept art, Elizabeth was depicted with a tipper, despite this not being shown in the series. This has been carried on to her Ertl, Wooden Railway, Take Along and Take-n-Play toys.
- In the magazines, a sailboat was named Lizzie after Elizabeth by some children.
- Elizabeth had a total of eleven face masks, three of which (clenched, furious and sleeping) that were not used on-screen.
- Her horn sound used in the eleventh series was previously used for Bertie in the fourth series episode, Bowled Out to the seventh series.
Merchandise
- Ertl (UK only; discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail
- Pocket Fantasy (normal and Christmas; discontinued)
- Mini Die Cast Collection (discontinued)
- Thomas Town (discontinued)
- Nakayoshi (discontinued)
References
- ↑ T&F S6 #05 "Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry"
- ↑ T&F S6 #25 "Rusty Saves the Day"
- ↑ "Elizabeth (Story Library book)"