Gertrude and Millicent are two bogie coaches who work on the Skarloey Railway.
Biography
Gertrude and Millicent were built at Crovan's Gate Works at some point between 1952 and 1958, while Skarloey was being overhauled in England. The pair are built on the chassis of two former Mid Sodor Railway bogie coaches, which were recovered by the Skarloey Railway.[1]
As they run on bogies, Sir Handel considers them the only "proper" coaches on the railway and they remind him of pulling express trains on the Mid Sodor. Millicent has a small covered compartment for a guard where they can sell tickets, although Peter Sam does not like that as he believes that guards need vans, referring to this compartment as a "cupboard place".[2]
Technical Details
Basis
Gertrude and Millicent are based on the Talyllyn Railway's ninth and tenth carriages respectively. Carriages 9 and 10 were built on two bogie underframes supplied by W.G. Allen Ltd. of Tipton in 1954. Carriage 9 was originally fitted with the bodies of two ex-Penrhyn quarrymen's carriages, until a new six-compartment body was fitted in 1955. Carriage 10 was built with a five-compartment semi-open body with a small enclosed guard's compartment. They were rebuilt in 1967-68 and 1967 respectively to the Talyllyn Railway's standard bogie carriage design.
Livery
Gertrude and Millicent are painted in the Skarloey Railway light blue with cream window surrounds livery. Their rooftops are painted light grey.
Appearances
The Railway Series
- The Little Old Engine - Home at Last (do not speak)
- Gallant Old Engine - Special Funnel (cameos)
Companion Volumes
- 1976 - Famous Engines
- 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways (mentioned)
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)
Books
- 1996 - Bumper Colouring Book (Gertrude only; cameo)
Documentaries
- 2005 - Run! Thomas & Friends "Steam Locomotive is Alive" (cameos)
Official Description
From Official Media:[3]
| “ | Gertrude/Millicent: Bogie-coaches rescued from the Mid Sodor Railway and restored for use on the Skarloey. Millicent has a Guard's compartment, which has allowed Cora to revert to her original use. | ” |
Trivia
- Gertrude and Millicent have only been depicted with faces in illustrations by Edgar Hodges.
- Sodor: Reading Between the Lines erroneously refers to Gertrude and Millicent as being ex-Mid Sodor coaches, likely due to their chassis coming from former Mid Sodor coaches.
Quotes
- “Sir Handel likes Gertrude and Millicent best," Peter Sam went on. "He always tries to take them alone. They have bogies, and he says they're the only real coaches we have. They remind him of when he used to pull our Express. Both have seats for passengers, but Millicent has a Guard as well. He sells tickets and travels in a tiny cupboard place."
"I don't like that," he remarked earnestly. "Guards are very important. They need Vans. They shouldn't be put into cupboards".” - ― Peter Sam discusses Gertrude and Millicent to Skarloey
Gallery
The Railway Series
Main Series
Miscellaneous
Others
.png "Gertrude'sBasis(1954).png (4.14 MB)")
.jpg "Gertrude'sBasis(1955).jpg (93 KB)")
References
| Locomotives | Steam | Skarloey | Rheneas | Sir Handel | Peter Sam | Duncan | Ivo Hugh | Duke |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Rusty | Fred | | |
| Other | Ivo's Flying Bedstead | Skarloey Funicular Railway Cars | |
| Rolling Stock | Passenger | Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy and Beatrice | Ada, Jane and Mabel | Cora | Gertrude and Millicent | Saloon Coaches | Quarrymen's Coaches |
| Goods | Slate Trucks | Open End Door Wagons | Plank Trucks | V-Tipper Wagons | Side Tipping Wagons | Mineral Wagons | Vans | |
| People | The Owner (Sir Handel Brown I, Sir Handel Brown II) | The Thin Controller (Mr. Mack, Mr. Robert Sam, Mr. Peter Sam, Mr. Roger Sam) | Mr. Hugh (David Hugh I, Ivo Hugh, David Hugh II) | |
| Infrastructure | Stations | Crovan's Gate | Cros-ny-Cuirn | Glennock | Rheneas | Lakeside | Skarloey |
| Sheds | Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds | |
| Tunnels and Bridges | Rheneas Bridge | Rheneas Tunnel | Rheneas Viaduct | |