Guards, also known as Conductors or Brakemen in the US, are in charge of passenger and goods trains and ensure that they run on time. When trains are ready to depart, the guards blow their whistles and ride in the brake vans or brake coaches, where they can operate the controls and apply the brakes if required. When a problem occurs, the guards inform the engines and their crews about it. The guards handle tickets and also carry both a green flag, which means "all set", and a red flag, which means "danger" or "stop".
Notable Guards
The following guards have their own separate pages:
Clarabel's Guards
Clarabel's Guards perform jobs on the trains that Clarabel is a part of. When Clarabel is pulled, the guards ride in her and apply the brakes if required.
Biography
When one of Clarabel's guards once blew his whistle, Thomas had started so quickly that he left him behind. The guard waved his red flag to stop Thomas, but to no avail as he was already out of sight. Clarabel was upset that the guard has been left behind and Annie tried to inform Thomas about the missing guard, however, Thomas was in too much of a hurry to listen. The two coaches then tried to apply their brakes, but they could not without the guard. Eventually, Thomas stopped at a signal and they all waited for the guard to tell them what the problem is. When the guard did not arrive, Annie and Clarabel finally told Thomas that they had left him behind. Everyone then looked and saw the guard running to them. When he arrived, he had a drink and told everyone what had happened. Thomas apologised for the incident and the guard accepted the apology, stating that the incident was not the tank engine's fault. The guard then told Thomas that the signal was down and that they could go and make up for lost time. When they started again, Annie and Clarabel were happy to have their guard back and Thomas quickly arrived at the next station.
Uniform
The uniform worn by Clarabel's guards consists of blue trousers, a black tie and a white shirt with a blue overcoat with light blue accents over it. They wear blue peaked caps.
Voice Actors
- Keith Wickham (UK/US; eighteenth series onwards)
- Kōzō Shioya (Japan; Thomas and the Guard)
- Hiroo Sasaki (Japan; Thomas and the Emergency Cable)
- Andre Rinaldi (Brazil; Thomas and the Emergency Cable)
Trivia
- In the first series episode, Thomas and the Guard, Thomas refers to one of Clarabel's guards as "Mr. Guard".
- In the magazine stories, Dave is one of Clarabel's guards.
Nancy's Father
Nancy's Father is a guard who works for the North Western Railway. His daughter, Nancy, sometimes volunteers on the Skarloey Railway.
Uniform
The uniform worn by Nancy's father consists of blue trousers, a black tie and a white shirt with a blue overcoat with light blue accents over it. He wears a blue peaked cap with a black brim.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
- Series 4 - Home at Last (cameo) Passengers and Polish (does not speak), Bowled Out (cameo), Paint Pots and Queens (cameo), Thomas and the Special Letter (cameo) and Mind that Bike (cameo)
Trivia
- In The Railway Series book, Sodor: Reading Between the Lines, Nancy's father is named Mr. Rushen.
Toad's Guards
Toad's Guards perform jobs on the trains that Toad is a part of. When Toad pulled, the guards ride in him and apply the brakes if required.
Biography
When a coupling broke on Gordon's Hill, causing Toad and some trucks to become a runaway, the guard that was in Toad had jumped out and landed in the bushes, leaving Toad in state of shock.
When James hit a tree branch on Gordon's Hill, Toad and some trucks almost became a runaway again, however, this time the guard that was in Toad ran to the controls and applied the brakes, preventing a crash from happening.
Uniform
The uniform worn by Toad's guards consists of blue trousers, a black tie and a white shirt with a blue overcoat with light blue accents over it. They wear blue peaked caps.
Voice Actors
- Nobuaki Kanemitsu (Japan; Toad's Adventure)
The Slip Coaches' Guards
The Slip Coaches's Guards perform jobs on the trains that the Slip Coaches are a part of. When the Slip Coaches are pulled, the guards ride in them and operate their controls, which include uncoupling or applying the brakes if required.
Biography
When James first pulled the Slip Coaches and had arrived at Bluff's Cove, he told the third coach's guard to release the coach, to which the guard did. However, James had slowed down so the passengers could see him, which caused the third coach to bump into the train.
Uniform
The uniform worn by the Slip Coaches' guards consists of blue trousers, a black tie and a white shirt with a blue overcoat with light blue accents over it. They wear blue peaked caps.
Dave
| This article is about 'the guard'. You may be looking for 'the busker or the miller'. |
Dave is a guard who works for the North Western Railway.
Biography
Dave usually works with Thomas on his branch line trains, but has also been known to work with Gordon on night trains. Between trains, Dave assists at the stations by sweeping up, checking tickets and giving out information.[1]
Dave once lost his whistle and found it again in a magpie's nest on the station roof. After finding the whistle, he worried about how he would explain the situation to Sir Topham Hatt.[2]
Appearances
Dave also appears in several activities in the magazines.
Other Guards
Many Other Guards have been seen around the Island of Sodor and abroad.
Uniform
The uniform worn by the guards consists of blue trousers, a black tie and a white shirt with a blue overcoat with light blue accents over it. They blue peaked caps. For some guards on the Skarloey Railway, their uniform is in a blue-grey colour scheme instead. The uniform colours vary for guards abroad.
Voice Actors
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Trivia
- A miniature model of a guard is now on display at the Hara Model Railway Museum.
- Three other guards have been named in the magazines, annuals and books, which are Bill, Bob and Sally.
- In Shining Time Station and Thomas and the Magic Railroad, the guards are named Mr. Conductor and C. Junior respectively.
- The story Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady was inspired by the Rev. W. Awdry's time as a guard on the Talyllyn Railway.
Merchandise
- Ertl Company (discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Wood (discontinued)
- Tomy Trains (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail
- Bachmann
- My First Thomas (discontinued)
- Trading Cards (discontinued)
- Departing Now (discontinued)
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)