There are many types of tractors on Sodor, built for different purposes.
Named Tractors
The Bulldozer
This is a small bulldozer that originally appeared in TUGS. It would later reappear in the third and the fifth series of Thomas & Friends.
It has been used at various construction sites, yards, quarries and harbours.
Technical Details
Basis
The specific basis of the bulldozer is unknown. It can, however, be assumed that it was built in the 1920s due to its origins in TUGS.
Livery
The bulldozer is painted brown grey all-over.
Appearances
Trivia
- The model was later modified in the the fifth series with a raised seat and an exhaust pipe.
Fordson Tractors
The Fordson Tractors are used for ploughing fields and hauling trailers. The trailers carry farm products, such as hay bales and wool and are delivered to markets.
Biography
A blue tractor can be seen at Hill Farm near the Skarloey Railway. Duncan almost collided with this tractor while he was pulling a runaway elephant statue to Elephant Park station.
Butch was once summoned by Farmer McColl to rescue a green tractor out of the mud at McColl Farm.
Once, Willie and his tractor were late to deliver a load of wool and he did not secure the bales properly. Unfortunately, due to Willie's carelessness and an overloaded trailer, the load slipped onto the line, causing Rex to crash into it and derail.
A decrepit green tractor buried in sand could be seen at The Italian Construction Site. During his visit to Italy, Thomas mistook the tractor as an ancient Roman chariot.
Technical Details
Basis
The tractors are loosely based on the blue Fordson tractors with red wheel rims. In the Model Series, the radiator was based on the Fordson E27N and the exhaust was modelled after the Fordson Power Major.
In the CGI Series, the radiator was remodelled after the Fordson N and a blank registration panel was also added to resemble the green Fordson N design.
Livery
Between the seventh-sixteenth series, these tractors were painted dark blue with red rims. From the nineteenth-twenty-fourth series, they were painted faded green with faded red rims, light grey engine components, and added rust texture. An unused dark blue tractor with light grey engine components and rust texture was also created by Nitrogen Studios.
An old brown tractor appears in the 1993 book, Wave Hello to Thomas!, illustrated by Owen Bell. A dark blue cab tractor appeared in the 2002 book, Really Useful Bertie. A green tractor with a grey grill owned by Farmer Collett appears in the 2003 magazine story, Thrills and Spills!
Appearances
Trivia
- Three models of the tractor were built for the Model Series. These were Gauge 1, Gauge 3 and a Close-up model.
- The Gauge 3 tractor model was built from brass by model-maker, Peter Lee for the Large Scale Narrow Gauge sets during production of the seventh series.[2]
- The Gauge 1 tractor model used to be on display at Drayton Manor. Farmer Finney's Gauge 1 figurine was reused as the tractor's driver.
- The tractor has had a few modifications following the television series transition into CGI:
- The radiator was remodelled after the Fordson N.
- The towbar and red toolbox were removed.
- The front wheels were redesigned.
- The exhaust changed shaped.
- The right engine detail was omitted, while the left engine detail was redesigned.
- The chassis was updated with two bars.
- The crank handle was lowered and placed on a rectangular block.
- Blank registration panels were placed on the front and rear.
- Farmer McColl and Farmer Trotter each have their own blue and green tractors. Willie owns a green tractor, and Jem Cole has been seen driving a green tractor.
John Deere Waterloo Boy
The John Deere Waterloo Boy is one of the earliest forms of tractor.
Biography
Farmer McColl owns one of these tractors. Once Thomas and Hank had to pick up the old tractor from McColl Farm to take it to the repair yard. Hank complimented Farmer McColl saying that he had "a mighty fine tractor".
Technical Details
Basis
The tractor is based on the Waterloo Boy Model N. It was in production at the Waterloo Engine Company when, in 1918, it became the John Deere Tractor Company.
Livery
The tractor is painted in the standard John Deere green and yellow livery, and has a red visible engine. The tractor is heavily weathered and rusty.
Appearances
Trivia
- The Waterloo Boy's model is an ERTL 1:32 scale diecast. It is still produced under the Britains brand.
- The Waterloo Boy's model was on display at Drayton Manor.
- The tractor has had a few modifications following the television series transition into CGI:
- The exposed radiator was covered.
- The tyre tracks were removed.
- There are less wheel spokes.
- The shape of the cylinder and drive axle have been slightly altered.
- The engine and wheels are now a rustic brown colour.
JCB 1 Grave Digger
The JCB 1 Digger is small bulldozer.
Technical Details
Basis
The bulldozer is based on the JCB 1 Grave Digger (minus the backhoe).
Livery
The bulldozer is painted yellow. It has a black registration plate with white lettering and lining on its front.
The Blue Mountain Quarry variant has a dark blue bottom half and the top half of their cabs are orange. They have the Blue Mountain Quarry logos on their doors.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
Specials
- 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery
Music Videos
- Blue Mountain Mystery - Blue Mountain Mystery and Working Together
Videos
Trivia
- Unlike its basis, the bulldozer's engine is covered.
BF Avery Tractor
The BF Avery Tractor is a small yellow-orange three-wheeled tractor.
Technical Details
Basis
The tractor is based on a 1942 BF Avery Model "A" Tractor.
Livery
The tractor is painted yellow-orange with black lettering, light orange and cream-coloured wheel rims.
Appearances
Trivia
- The tractor was created by Nitrogen Studios. However, it did not feature in any episodes and only appeared in a CGI promotional countryside background image with Butch on the Official Website.[3]
Emerson-Brantingham Tractor
The Emerson-Brantingham Tractor is a vintage tractor.
The tractor appeared in the My Thomas Story Library series, as a tractor owned by Farmer McColl. Thomas and Hank had to take it to the repair yard.
Technical Details
Basis
The tractor is based on a 1916 Emerson-Brantingham Big 4-20 Tractor.
Livery
The tractor is painted red. It has a grey radiator, exhaust, wheels and black fenders.
Appearances
Books
- 2009 - Hank
- 2010 - Heave Ho Thomas!
- 2011 - Hank the Giant Engine and The Big Book of Engines
- 2013 - Thomas and Friends Story Treasury
- 2016 - The Engine Shed Story Collection
Ford N-series Tractor
The Ford N-series tractors are small farm tractors that appear in the Golden Books.
Technical Details
Basis
These tractors are based on the 1948 Ford N-series 8N model. In real life, they were the successor to the Fordson Tractors.
Livery
These tractors are painted white-grey. Two different models exist, one with a "red belly" and one with a "blue belly".
Appearances
Books
- 2009 - Hero of the Rails (Big Golden Book)
- 2010 - Hero of the Rails (Little Golden Book)
- 2011 - Day of the Diesels and Tales of Discovery
- 2013 - Busy, Busy Thomas and Little Golden Book Library
- 2014 - Nine Favorite Tales
Trivia
- The tractor is a modified 3D render sourced from the website Renderosity.[4]
The Digger
The Digger is a yellow caterpillar tractor fitted with a digging bucket.
In the magazines, Thomas pulled a flatbed carrying the digger as part of a convoy that helped restore power to a village on Thomas' Branch Line during Christmas Eve.
Technical Details
Basis
The digger has no definitive known basis, however bears similarities in shape to Terence.
Livery
The digger is painted yellow with vermilion lining.
Appearances
Trivia
- The digger appears to have a maroon face.
Winget 42 Tractor
The Wignet 42 Tractor is a small orange farm tractor that appeared in the magazines.
Technical Details
Basis
The tractor is based on a 1970s Winget 42 Diesel Tractor with a Lister engine.
Livery
The tractor is painted orange with light grey wheel rims.
Appearances
Massey Ferguson 35 Tractor
The Massey Ferguson 35 Tractor is a red-orange farm tractor. One of these was owned by Billy Twofeathers, and another by Farmer Collett in the magazines.
Technical Details
Basis
The tractor is based on a 1958 Massey Ferguson FE-35 diesel tractor.
Livery
The tractor is painted red-orange with orange and dark pink wheel rims.
Appearances
Trivia
- One of these tractors appeared in a deleted scene of Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
Other Tractors
Robert Gauld-Galliers illustrated Gordon passing a sentient tractor towing a hay cart in the fifth series concept art of an unused location called the "Coastal Scenic Runby". In 2023 he gave user 01Salty the opportunity to name the tractor, which then led to a poll on Twitter. The winning name was 'Travis', of which Robert approved.
A small orange-brown tractor owned by Farmer Collett appears in the 2013 magazine story, Thomas and the Bluebird.
