The Milk Van is an old-fashioned van used for transporting milk from Ffarquhar down to the dairy at Elsbridge.
Biography[]
Every morning the van is coupled to Thomas' first train, the farmers send the milk to the stations and Thomas delivers the milk to the dairy. When Daisy was preparing for her first train, she refused to pull the van once it was coupled to her, claiming it was "bad for her swerves," and she blew a fuse on purpose.[1] Percy and Toby had to take the van in Thomas' absence and Daisy's refusal. However, now that Daisy has learnt sense, she sometimes takes the milk instead of Thomas.[2]
The milk van has occasionally been added on Percy's Mail Train.[3]
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The milk van is based off of the Great Western Railway's Siphon milk vans. In illustrations, it is shown to be a four-wheel Siphon C milk van. Wilbert Awdry's model of the milk van for his Ffarquhar Branch layout, however, was made using a Keyser kit of a six-wheel diagram 04 'Low Siphon'.
Livery[]
The milk van is painted chocolate brown with a light grey roof. The initials "'N W" are painted on its sides in yellow. On Wilbert Awdry's model, the number 61 is also painted on the van's sides in yellow.
In the My Thomas Story Library books, the milk van is painted dark blue with a light grey roof. The word "MILK" is painted on its sides in white.
In the 2006 magazine story Food Chain Train, the milk van is painted red with a brown sliding door.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- Branch Line Engines - Daisy and Percy's Predicament
- Really Useful Engines - Mind that Bike
- Wilbert the Forest Engine - Foaming at the Funnel (mentioned)
Companion Volumes[]
Magazine Stories[]
- 1988 - Percy's Predicament (mentioned)
- 2006 - Food Chain Train
Books[]
My Thomas Story Library[]
- 2005 - Daisy
Trivia[]
- The milk van was not known to have been a part of the original Ffarquhar Branch layout, but was likely added during the mid-1960s, as the timetable was evolving to include Daisy, Mavis, and the enthusiast specials.
- In the television series, the milk van was replaced with a milk tanker, despite it still being referred to as a van in the narration.
- Despite not appearing in the television series, the milk van has appeared in the My Thomas Story Library books and in a magazine story.
Gallery[]
The Railway Series[]
Main Series[]
Miscellaneous[]
Others[]
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References[]
| Locomotives | Steam | Thomas | Percy | Toby | Bloomer |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Daisy | Mavis | |
| Former | Coffee Pots | |
| Rolling Stock | Passenger | Annie and Clarabel | Henrietta | Victoria | Thomas' Special Coach | The Quarryman's Coach | Observation Saloon Coaches |
| Goods | Elsie | Old-King Coal | Suncole | Milk Van | |
| Non-Rail Vehicles | Terence | Bertie | Harold | Caroline | Bulstrode | Murphy | |
| People | Mrs. Kyndley | Terence's Owner | Kevin Volley | Tom Tipper | |
| Affiliates | St. Pedroc's Dairy | Ffarquhar Quarry Company | |
| Infrastructure | Stations | Knapford (Harbour) | Dryaw (Goods Station) | Toryreck | Elsbridge | Hackenbeck | Ffarquhar |
| Sheds | Knapford Sheds | Ffarquhar Sheds (Carriage Shed) | |
| Tunnels and Bridges | Knapford Harbour Bridges | Elsbridge Viaduct | Hackenbeck Tunnel | Hackenbeck Bridge | |