Hoppers

Main Page

Gallery

The Hoppers are used for transporting large amounts of bulk material such as coal, ballast, and stone. They are commonly used for railway construction on Sodor, such as when the Harwick Branch Line was being built. During that time, several hoppers of ballast loads were seen in the Construction Yard. Hoppers are mostly used at quarries or mines.

BR 22 Ton Hoppers

BR 22 Ton Hoppers
Background Information
First appearance	Thomas and his Friends (RWS) Thomas in Charge (T&F)
Last appearance	Thomas and his Friends (RWS) Henry Gets the Express (T&F)
Character Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England (built)
Technical Details
Basis	British Railways 22 ton iron ore hoppers
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Hoppers
Wheels	4
Designer(s)	British Railways
Builder(s)	BR Crewe, Darlington, Derby, Doncaster or Horwich Works
Year built	1950s
Railway	North Western Railway
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

The North Western Railway owns a selection of BR 22 Ton Hoppers. In the Railway Series, these hoppers have been seen being pulled by James, carrying ballast for trackwork along The Main Line. In the television series, these hoppers are commonly used by quarries, such as the Blue Mountain Quarry and the Ffarquhar Quarry. They first appeared in the fourteenth series.

Technical Details

Basis

These hoppers are based on BR 22 ton iron ore hoppers.

BR 22 Ton Hoppers' basis

Livery

In the Railway Series, these hoppers have been seen painted yellow, purple, red, and grey. In the television series, they are painted black.

Appearances

• Railway Series
• Television Series

The Railway Series

• Thomas and his Friends - Buffer Bashing

Thomas & Friends Series 14 - Thomas in Charge, Being Percy and Thomas and Scruff Series 15 - Edward the Hero and Henry's Happy Coal Series 16 - Express Coming Through, Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor, Sodor Surprise Day and Whiff's Wish Series 17 - Not Now, Charlie!, The Lost Puff, No Snow for Thomas and Away From the Sea Series 18 - Marion and the Pipe Series 19 - Den and Dart Series 20 - Toby's New Friend and Henry Gets the Express Specials 2011 - Day of the Diesels 2013 - King of the Railway

ZFV Dogfish Hoppers

ZFV Dogfish Hoppers
Background Information
First appearance	Day of the Diesels (T&F)
Last appearance	Out of Site (T&F)
Character Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England (built)
Technical Details
Basis	British Railways ZFV 'Dogfish' ballast hoppers
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Hoppers
Wheels	4
Designer(s)	British Railways
Builder(s)	BR Crewe, Darlington, Derby, Doncaster or Horwich Works
Year built	1950s
Railway	North Western Railway (T&F)
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt (T&F)

In the television series, the North Western Railway owns some ZFV Dogfish hoppers. These hoppers are often used to carry ballast from Arlesburgh West and were heavily used during the construction of the Harwick Branch Line. They first appeared in the fifteenth series.

Technical Details

Basis

These hoppers are based on British Railways' ZFV 'Dogfish' ballast hoppers. Some hoppers of this type survive in use on the Bluebell Railway.

ZFV Dogfish Hoppers' basis

Livery

These hoppers have been seen in varying shades of green, red, orange, and grey. From the seventeenth series onward they are painted grey with brown frames.

Appearances

• Television Series

Thomas & Friends Series 15 - Fiery Flynn Series 16 - Race to the Rescue, Express Coming Through, Percy and the Monster of Brendam, Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Thomas Toots the Crows, Sodor Surprise Day, Emily's Winter Party Special, Muddy Matters, Whiff's Wish, Welcome Stafford! and The Christmas Tree Express Series 17 - Henry's Hero and Luke's New Friend Series 19 - Den and Dart, The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead and Philip to the Rescue Series 20 - The Way She Does It Series 23 - Out of Site Specials 2011 - Day of the Diesels 2015 - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure

ICI Hoppers

ICI Hoppers
Character Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England (built)
Technical Details
Basis	ICI bogie hoppers
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Hoppers
Wheels	8
Designer(s)	Charles Roberts & Co.
Builder(s)	Charles Roberts & Co.
Year built	1936-1953
Railway	North Western Railway (T&F)
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt (T&F)

In the television series, the North Western Railway owns an ICI bogie hopper named Hector.

Technical Details

Basis

These hoppers are based on ICI bogie hoppers.

ICI Hoppers' basis

Livery

Hector is painted black with "HECTOR" painted on both sides in cream, and white wheel rims.

Trivia

• To date, Hector is the only hopper wagon that has been named and seen with a face.

Merchandise

• Take Along (discontinued)
• Take-n-Play (discontinued)
• TrackMaster (discontinued)

North Western Railway

---

* RWS only | ** T&F only | --- Dropped