Little Giant

Little Giant
Background Information
Creator(s)	Robert Gauld-Galliers
Character Overview
Name	Little Giant
Gender	Males
Country	Island of Sodor
Technical Details
Basis	FR No. 12 David Lloyd George
Gauge	2'3" (686 mm, narrow gauge)
Power type	Steam
Vehicle	Locomotive
Type	Double Fairlie tank engine
Fuel type	Coal
Configuration	0-4-4-0T
Wheels	8
Top speed	45 mph (72 kph)
Designer(s)	George P. Spooner
Railway	Skarloey Railway (dropped)

Little Giant was a double-ended Fairlie engine who was planned to be part of the Skarloey Railway and introduced in the sixth series of Thomas & Friends. Little Giant was developed by Robert Gauld-Galliers before writing for the series started, but was dropped before any scripts were produced.

Personality

Little Giant are two engines in one. Based on concept art and crew descriptions, they appear to have opposing personalities: one end appears nervous and worried, while the other is brave and confident.

Technical Details

Basis

Little Giant is based on the Ffestiniog Railway Double Fairlie locomotive, David Lloyd George. Unlike their original basis, Little Giant is gauged to 2'3" instead of 1' 11½" and is fitted with buffer beams, buffers and chain couplings. Additionally their smokeboxes are closer to "Little Wonder" in shape. Mighty Mac is also a member of this class.

"Little Giant" also happens to be the name of another former Ffestiniog engine, a "Large England" 0-4-0 saddle tank-tender locomotive similiar to Duke's basis. This engine was built in 1867 and was withdrawn from service and scrapped in 1929.

Little Giant's basis

The real Little Giant

The real Little Giant circa 1912

Livery

Little Giant is painted golden yellow and black with red lining. Their name is painted on their tanks in red lettering and their wheels are painted black with orange and red lining around the rims. Their handrails and funnel cowls are brass.

Appearances

• Television Series

Thomas & Friends

Little Giant was planned to appear in the sixth series, but was later dropped.

Trivia

• According to Robert Gauld-Galliers, the reason why Little Giant was dropped was because "some may have found a character with two faces disturbing".
• Series 9 would introduce another double-ended Fairlie engine, Mighty Mac, two years after Robert Gauld-Galliers departed from the show following the production of the seventh series.
• Little Giant's basis, David Lloyd George, has been previously been featured at Days Out with Thomas events on the Ffestiniog Railway. Interestingly, its faces show opposing emotions on either end, similar to Little Giant.
• The original concept art for Little Giant is now owned by Twitter user TomsProps.

Gallery

Concept artwork

David Lloyd George at a Day Out with Thomas event

References

Skarloey Railway

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* David Mitton map only | ** Sam Wilkinson map only | --- Dropped