Ernest

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Behind the Scenes

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This article is about the mountain engine. You may be looking for the broad gauge engine.

Ernest
Background Information
First appearance	Mountain Engines (RWS)
Last appearance	Mountain Engines (RWS)
Creator(s)	Rev. W. Awdry
Character Overview
Name	Ernest
Gender	Male
Country	Island of Sodor Switzerland (formerly)
Affiliation	Culdee Fell Railway Godred (formerly) Wilfred Culdee Shane Dooiney Patrick Alaric Eric
Technical Details
Basis	Snowdon Mountain Railway's Enid
Gauge	2'7½" (800 mm; narrow gauge)
Power type	Steam
Vehicle	Locomotive
Type	Rack-equipped tank engine
Fuel type	Coal
Configuration	0-4-2RT
Wheels	6
Top speed	7.5 mph (12 kph)
Designer(s)	Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works
Builder(s)	Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works
Year built	1900
Arrived on Sodor	1900
Number	CFR 2
Railway	Culdee Fell Railway
Owner(s)	Lord Barrane (RWS)

Ernest is a narrow gauge mountain-climbing engine who works on the Culdee Fell Railway. Like the other mountain engines, he has his own coach used for passenger services.

Biography

The Railway Series

Ernest was built at the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur, Switzerland, in 1900. Soon afterwards, he arrived on Sodor alongside the other four engines in time for the railway's inspection and opening.

Following Godred's accident shortly after opening, Ernest and the three other engines worked the line successfully for 60 years. They were carefully maintained and sent back, in rotation, to the builders in Switzerland for overhaul.

When Culdee returned from the works in Switzerland, Ernest and Wilfred informed him about the changes that happened to the Culdee Fell Railway while he was away.

Ernest and Wilfred were superseded by the more modern Nos. 6-8 in 1964.

Personality

It is implied that Ernest is an old and wise mountain engine. He is good friends with Wilfred and Culdee.

Technical Details

Basis

Ernest is based on No. 2 Enid, an engine who works on the Snowdon Mountain Railway.

Ernest's basis

Enid painted blue with white lining during the 1990s

Livery

Ernest is painted in the Culdee Fell Railway's livery of purple with orange lining. His number (2) is painted on the sides and back of his cab in yellow and he has a red nameplate with a gold boarder on the sides of his tanks with his name (Ernest) on them, also in gold.

Appearances

• Railway Series
• Other Media

The Railway Series Mountain Engines - Mountain Engine (cameo), Bad Look-Out (indirectly mentioned), Danger Points and "Devil's Back" (indirectly mentioned) Companion Volumes 1970 - Twelve Happy Engines (cameo) 1972 - The Railway Series: Surprise Packet (mentioned) 1976 - Famous Engines and Railway Map of the Island of Sodor 1979 - Annual (mentioned) 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways (mentioned) 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)

Video Releases

• 2015 - Secret Journey of Thomas the Tank Engine

Quotes

“Later, Culdee met two old friends. Ernest, number two, and Wilfred, number three.
After some happy gossip, Culdee asked. "Who is Lord Harry?"
"He's one of the new engines," they said, "who came while you were away; he's number six. Alaric and Eric are seven and eight, they're nice quiet engines, but old Harry's a terror!”

―Ernest and Wilfred talking about the new engines, Danger Points, Mountain Engines

Trivia

• Like the other engines of the Culdee Fell Railway, Ernest has a face at each end.

References

Culdee Fell Railway

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