This page is for the managers who have appeared in Thomas & Friends.
Notable Managers[]
The following managers have their own separate pages:
Toby's Controller[]
Toby's Controller was once in charge of Toby's Branch Line.
Biography[]
Due to the buses and lorries taking over most of the work, the controller decided to close the line. He sold Toby and Henrietta to the Fat Controller.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 1 - Toby and the Stout Gentleman (mentioned) and Thomas in Trouble (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- In the US narration of Thomas in Trouble, the controller is referred to as a superintendent by Sir Topham Hatt.
Gangers[]
Gangers are foremen of groups of labourers.
Biography[]
During the summer, the gangers arrived at the hay farm and cropped the long grass that had been growing beside the line, raking it into heaps to dry in the sun. After it dried, Percy brought some trucks to the hay farm and the gangers loaded up his trucks with the dried grass, which he took to the station for Toby to take to the hills so that the farmers could feed their stock.
Appearances[]
Magazine Stories[]
- 1991 - Thomas Sees Smoke
- 1988 - Woolly Bear
- 1992 - Harold in a Hurry
- 2007 - Blown About!
- 2008 - George Slips Up
Trivia[]
- In Woolly Bear, Jem Cole was among the gangers.
- In the US narration of Woolly Bear, the gangers are referred to as work crews.
The Sodor China Clay Company Manager[]
The Sodor China Clay Company Manager, also known as the quarrymaster, is in charge of the Sodor China Clay Company. There have been two different managers shown to run the company.
Biography[]
The first manager was originally in charge of running the Clay Pits. He informed Bill and Ben that they were both required by the Fat Controller to shunt trucks at Brendam Docks. Later on, while Bill and Ben were working at the Clay Pits, they heard a rumble which turned out to be a rockslide. The alarm was raised and the manager alerted everyone to evacuate the quarry. Bill and Ben waited as the workmen boarded their trucks. As Bill left with his load, the manager, having been left behind, shouted for help. Ben waited until the manager was safely aboard his train and they all evacuated the quarry just before the rockslide started to damage the quarry. The next day, the manager, along with the Fat Controller and the workmen, cheered for Bill and Ben's bravery.
The manager was present at the second official opening of the station at Kirk Ronan.
A second manager later took over some time before Derek was purchased.
Uniform[]
The first manager's uniform consists of blue trousers, a brown tie and a white shirt with a brown overcoat over it. He wears an orange hardhat.
The second manager's uniform consists of a white shirt with blue overalls and a green jacket over it. He wears a grey flat cap.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 3 - One Good Turn (cameo) and Heroes
- Series 5 - A Better View for Gordon (cameo) and Double Teething Troubles
Music Videos[]
- Series 5 - Every Cloud has a Silver Lining
- Series 6 - Little Engines
Voice Actors[]
- Kōzō Shioya (Japan; third series only)
- Shinobu Satouchi (Japan; fifth series only)
Trivia[]
- The small scale figure of the first manager's head is currently owned by Twitter user TomsProps.
The Vicarstown Foreman[]
The Vicarstown Foreman is in charge of Vicarstown.
Biography[]
When Douglas was leaving Vicarstown with Oliver and Toad, the foreman blew a whistle and flagged them down. He then stated that they could not take Oliver and Toad, however, Douglas' driver explained that Oliver and Toad belonged to them. The foreman looked all over Oliver and although wary at first, he allowed them to proceed.
Uniform[]
The foreman's uniform 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[]
Voice Actors[]
- Toshio Kobayashi (Japan)
The Mid Sodor Railway Manager[]
The Mid Sodor Railway Manager was once in charge of the Mid Sodor Railway. He was later in manager of the Bluebell Railway.
Biography[]
When Smudger continually derailed and shrugged off all the advice he was given from Duke, the manager decided to turn him into a generator behind Duke's Shed. The manager later arranged for Falcon to double-head a passenger train with Duke on the Mountain Road, which nearly resulted in disaster after Falcon derailed. Luckily, no harm was done and the manager later apologised to the passengers for the incident. Due to the mines being closed and the engines having little work to do, the manager decided to close the Mid Sodor Railway. He sold Stuart and Falcon to the Skarloey Railway.
Afterwards, the manager was in charge of the Bluebell Railway. He told Rusty's driver that he would make a home for a "Bluebell Engine" if they found one. After Rusty saved Stepney from scrap, the manager promised to repair Stepney and give him a new coat of paint. He later allowed Stepney to visit the Fat Controller's engines.
Uniform[]
The manager's uniform consists of grey trousers, a grey tie and a white shirt with a grey jacket over it. He wears a grey top hat.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends
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Voice Actors[]
- Tomohisa Asō (Japan; Bulldog only)
- Masato Hirano (Japan; Rusty to the Rescue only)
Trivia[]
- His large scale body was later repainted and reused for various passengers.
- His large scale head is now owned by Twitter user Tomsprops.
- His Gauge 1 figure is now in the possession of ThomasTankMerch.
Worksite Foremen[]
Worksite Foremen are in charge of the workmen at construction and repair sites and supervise the operations.
Biography[]
When Henry's Tunnel was blocked, Henry took some workmen to investigate the tunnel. When the workman went inside and tried to dig at the block, it started grunting and moving, which caused the workman to quickly run out of the tunnel. After the workmen explained what happened, a foreman did not believe them and decided to ride in one of the trucks and have Henry push the block out. When Henry entered the tunnel, the block started to push him and the trucks out of the tunnel. The block turned out to be an elephant, much to the surprise of Henry and the foreman.
When Thomas arrived with the bridge section for the Sodor Suspension Bridge, Diesel suggested to the workmen that he should be given the job of lowering the bridge section. However, a foreman entrusted that Thomas should do the job. After Thomas lowered the bridge section, the foreman along with the workman cheered for him.
Appearances[]
The Flour Mill Foreman[]
The Flour Mill Foreman is in charge of the Flour Mill.
Biography[]
When Toby arrived at the Flour Mill and found Lorry 3 doing his job, the foreman apologised to Toby's driver for Toby's replacement and told him that the times were changing.
Uniform[]
The foreman's uniform consists of a white shirt with blue overalls and a grey jacket over it. He wears a grey flat cap.
Appearances[]
Voice Actors[]
- Tomohisa Asō (Japan)
The Coal Mines Foreman[]
The Coal Mines Foreman is in charge of the Coal Mines.
Biography[]
When Percy was at the Coal Mines, the foreman told Percy and his crew that some trucks were stuck on a mechanism and required a push. After a rockslide occurred at the Coal Mines, the foreman, along with some miners, noticed a large pile of rocks in which Percy and his crew were buried underneath. While Percy and his crew were safe, the miners did not know that and the foreman arranged for a rescue.
Uniform[]
The foreman's uniform consists of a white shirt with blue overalls and a grey jacket over it. He wears a grey flat cap.
Appearance[]
Voice Actors[]
- Masato Hirano (Japan)
The Knapford Yards Manager[]
The Knapford Yards Manager is in charge of Knapford Yards and Knapford Harbour. There have been two different managers shown to manage the yards.
Biography[]
The first manager was originally in charge of running the yards. Due to a misunderstanding at Knapford Harbour, the manager had sent Henry and the Flying Kipper past Tidmouth Beach, without knowing about the unsafe tracks, which caused Henry and the train to plunge into the sea.
A second manager later took over. He felt sorry for Thomas who had broken down.
Uniform[]
The first manager's uniform consists of a white shirt with blue overalls and a grey jacket over it. He wears a grey flat cap.
The second manager's uniform consists of brown trousers and a white shirt with a black jacket over it. He wears a brown flat cap.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 5 - Something in the Air
- Series 12 - Heave Ho Thomas! and James Works It Out (mentioned)
- Series 13 - Splish Splash Splosh (cameo)
Voice Actors[]
- Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japan; fifth series only)
- Nobuaki Kanemitsu (Japan; twelfth series only)
The Ffarquhar Quarry Manager[]
The Ffarquhar Quarry Manager (also known as the quarry foreman or the quarrymaster) is in charge of the Ffarquhar Quarry Company, and runs both Ffarquhar Quarry and the Sodor Slate Quarry.
Uniform[]
The manager's original uniform consisted of a white shirt with blue overalls and a green jacket over it. He wore a grey flat cap in the fifth series, which was changed to green in the sixth series. In the eighth series, he wore a brown peaked cap. From the twelfth series onwards, the manager's uniform consists of black trousers and a white shirt with a black jacket over it. He wears a brown flat cap.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends
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Voice Actors[]
- Keith Wickham (Thomas and Percy Stick Together)
- Yoshihiro Kanemitsu (Japan; Thomas to the Rescue)
- Tony Marot (France and French speaking Canada; Thomas to the Rescue)
Trivia[]
- Although he only spoke in the model era, he did have a speaking role in the Thomas & Friends Storytime podcast episode Thomas and Percy Stick Together. Here, he is given a Scottish accent similar to Harvey.
The Sodor Ironworks Manager[]
The Sodor Ironworks Manager is in charge of the Sodor Ironworks. There have been two different managers shown to run the company.
Biography[]
The first manager was originally in charge of running the Sodor Ironworks. According to him, they intended they break up Old Slow Coach once they found the time when asked by Percy’s driver while Percy and Thomas and Percy were at the scrapyard.
A second manager later took over. It was this manager who arranged for Thomas, Percy and Duck to work at the Sodor Ironworks during Halloween.
Uniform[]
The first manager's uniform consists of a white shirt with blue overalls and a grey jacket over it. He wears a grey flat cap.
The second manager's uniform consists of dark blue trousers and a white shirt with a dark blue jacket over it. He wears an orange hardhat.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 5 - Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach
- Series 6 - Scaredy Engines
- Series 7 - James and the Queen of Sodor (cameo)
- Series 8 - Halloween (cameo)
Voice Actors[]
- Keiji Hirai (Japan)
The Marshalling Yards Foreman[]
The Marshalling Yard Foreman is in charge the yard at the top of the hill near Miner's Halt. Trains brought in from the Coal Mines are parked and organised here.
Biography[]
When some trucks broke away from Percy on the hill near Miner's Halt, the foreman alerted the Fat Controller about the situation.
Uniform[]
The foreman's uniform consists of a white shirt with blue overalls and a green jacket over it. He wears a grey flat cap.
Appearance[]
Voice Actors[]
- Shinobu Satouchi (Japan)
Mr. Hobson[]
Mr. Hobson is in charge of the Coaling Plant.
Biography[]
Mr. Hobson once told off Percy for going on the tipper loading ramp and reported him to the Fat Controller.
Thomas and Percy later tricked Mr. Hobson into giving Henry a long line of trucks to pull when they thought he was faking an illness.
When Gordon accidentally took some of Henry's special coal, Mr. Hobson tried to warn him but was ignored.
Uniform[]
From the sixth series to the tenth series, Mr. Hobson's uniform consists of a white shirt with blue overalls and a green jacket over it. He wore a green cap, which was changed to brown after the sixth series. In the eleventh series, Mr. Hobson's uniform consists of black trousers, a black tie and a white shirt with a black jacket over it. He wears a black bowler hat.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends
Specials
Common Room Segments
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Voice Actors[]
- Takeshi Endo (Japan; sixth series only)
- Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japan; seventh series only)
- Satoshi Taki (Japan; eighth series only)
- Kunihiro Kawamoto (Japan; Calling All Engines! only)
- Nobuaki Kanemitsu (Japan; tenth series only)
Trivia[]
- In the US narration of the sixth series, Alec Baldwin gave Mr. Hobson a Bronx accent.
- Mr. Hobson's name was first revealed in Mr. Perkins' Fancy Costume from the Common Room Segments, during the scene when Mr. Perkins telephones him.
- Mr. Hobson's small scale model is currently owned by Twitter user Machan of Sodor.
The Sodor Ice Cream Factory Manager[]
The Sodor Ice Cream Factory Manager is in charge of the Sodor Ice Cream Factory.
Biography[]
One Summer, the manager asked Thomas to collect cream, strawberries and cocoa powder for the ice cream lady at the beach as she had run out of ice cream. After Thomas returned, he asked him if he could deliver the ice cream to the beach once it was finished, much to Thomas' disappointment, for he had wanted to help take children to the beach.
Later, when the Fat Controller asked Thomas to collect milk from the dairy to make ice cream for the children's summer party at Maithwaite, Thomas went quickly to show Emily he could be fast. When he arrived at the factory, the manager was shocked to see that the milk was almost butter. He explained to Thomas that milk turns to butter when it is shaken for a long time and sent Thomas back to the dairy to collect more milk.
Uniform[]
The manager's uniform consists of white trousers, a black tie and a white shirt with a white jacket over it.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 8 - Too Hot for Thomas
- Series 9 - Thomas' Milkshake Muddle
- Series 10 - The Green Controller (cameo) and Thomas and the Treasure (cameo)
Learning Segments[]
- Series 10 - Where is Henry's Coal? (cameo)
Voice Actors[]
- Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japan; eighth series only)
- Nobuaki Kanemitsu (Japan; ninth series only)
Trivia[]
- His body is shared with the Sodor Dairy Manager and is refurbished from the dinosaur experts.
- His first head was shared with a beachgoer. His second head originated as a fallen passenger in Henry and the Wishing Tree.
- In the tenth series he reused the bodies of Old Bailey and the Pack foreman.
The Sodor Dairy Manager[]
The Sodor Dairy Manager is in charge of the Sodor Dairy.
Biography[]
The manager once arranged with the Fat Controller for Thomas to deliver Sodor's stinkiest cheese to Brendam Docks.
On Mr. Percival's birthday, Thomas mistook him for the Man in the Hills.
The manager later arranged with Sir Robert Norramby for Stephen to collect milk from the Dairy for Ulfstead Castle's afternoon tea.
Uniform[]
The manager's uniform consists of white trousers, a black tie and a white shirt with a white jacket over it. He wears a white hat.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends
Specials
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Voice Actors[]
- Keith Wickham (UK/US; twenty-fourth series)
- Mitsuhiro Sakamaki (Japan; ninth and twenty-fourth series)
- Nobuaki Kanemitsu (Japan; eleventh series only)
- Kunihiro Kawamoto (Japan; twentieth series only)
- Jun'ichi Kanemaru (Japan; thirteenth series only)
- Wojciech Machnicki (Poland; twentieth series only)
Trivia[]
- His body is shared with the Sodor Ice Cream Factory manager and is refurbished from the dinosaur experts.
Merchandise[]
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
The Sodor Airport Manager[]
The Sodor Airport Manager is in charge of the Sodor Airport.
Biography[]
Following the construction of the Sodor Airport, Thomas was shunting trucks nearby when they derailed and crashed into a nearby water tower, causing it to fall over and crack the runway. No-one was terribly hurt, though the airport manager inspected the damage and determined that unless it could have been cleared away, the aeroplane set to land would have to go back. After most of the wreckage was cleared away, the manager telephoned to have Harvey clear the tracks, but he was on the other side of Sodor.
Uniform[]
The manager's uniform consists of black trousers, a red tie and a white shirt with a black jacket over it.
Appearances[]
Voice Actors[]
- Shōto Kashii (Japan)
The Transfer Yards Manager[]
The Transfer Yards Manager is in charge of the Transfer Yards.
Biography[]
When Duncan arrived at Transfer Yards, a large bell was loaded into his flatbed and the manager explained to Duncan that the tracks to the polishers were old and required repairs and that he was required to go slowly and carefully.
When Mr. Percival got his new bicycle, which was without a bell, Freddie had the idea to ask the manager to take the old bell from Mr. Percival's old bicycle. The manager did so and after polishing the bell twice, he placed it on Mr Percival's new bicycle.
Uniform[]
In the tenth series, the manager's uniform consisted of a white shirt with blue overalls and a green jacket over it, however, in the eleventh series, the manager's uniform consists of black trousers and a white shirt with a black jacket over it. He wears a brown peaked cap.
Appearances[]
The Mainland Controllers[]
The Mainland Controllers are in charge of the railways on the Mainland.
Biography[]
When Thomas was going to Brendam Docks, he met Percy on the way, who told him that Charlie had just arrived and was the favourite engine of a Mainland controller.
Magazines[]
Sir Topham Hatt once swapped jobs with a Mainland controller for a week, to see how other railways can be run. During the Mainland controller's time on Sodor, he switched the engines' jobs and gave them more work throughout the day; he had James and Daisy shunt coal trucks, Donald and Douglas deliver china clay, Bill and Ben pull the Express, Gordon deliver scrap, Thomas work at the quarry and Toby pull Annie and Clarabel.
Appearances[]
The Sodor Search and Rescue Centre Manager[]
The Sodor Search and Rescue Centre Manager (also known as the Search and Rescue Manager or the Rescue Centre Manager) is in charge of the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre.
Uniform[]
The manager's uniform consists of a white shirt with a dark yellow jacket over it and red overalls with the logo of the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre on the front of the overalls. He wears a red hardhat.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends
Specials
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Voice Actors[]
- Matt Wilkinson (UK)
- Glenn Wrage (US)
- Daiki Nakamura (Japan)
- Sigbjørn Solheim (Norway)
- Pasi Ruohonen (Finland)
The Blue Mountain Quarry Manager[]
The Blue Mountain Quarry Manager is in charge of the Blue Mountain Quarry.
Uniform[]
The manager's uniform consists of black trousers and a white shirt with a black jacket over it. He wears a brown flat cap.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 18 - Long Lost Friend (does not speak)
- Series 23 - Steam Team to the Rescue (cameo) and Diesel Glows Away (cameo)
The Arlesburgh Maritime Museum Manager[]
The Arlesburgh Maritime Museum Manager is in charge of the Arlesburgh Maritime Museum.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 20 - Blown Away, The Missing Breakdown Train (cameo) and Skiff and the Mermaid
Voice Actors[]
- Keith Wickham (UK/US)
- Kunihiro Kawamoto (Japan)
- Arturo Mercado Jr. (Latin America)
- Albrecht Ganskopf (Germany)
The Art Gallery Manager[]
The Art Gallery Manager is in charge of an art gallery located near a station.
Biography[]
Once, a thief stole a very expensive picture from the art gallery. The manager called the police and told them about the situation. The thief was arrested and the picture was returned to the manager.
Appearances[]
The Dingley Hall Manager[]
The Dingley Hall Manager is in charge of Dingley Hall.
Biography[]
When Minor Human Characters in the Magazine Stories#Paul Walford the photographer visited Dingley Hall to take pictures, the manager assisted him with getting the shots. However, two of the Horrid Lorries drove in the way of the shots. The next day, the manager added a "No Entry" sign to ensure that the lorries do not come near.
Appearances[]
The Sodor Toy Factory Manager[]
The Sodor Toy Factory Manager is in charge of the Sodor Toy Factory.
Biography[]
The manager allowed schoolchildren to have tours of his factory on school trips. He is also rather generous as he always gave the children a bag of free toys for their school. The manager was responsible for making a game called "Edward's Escape", based on Edward's brave attempt to apprehend burglars. The game turned out to be a huge success.
Appearances[]
The Elsbridge Rovers F.C. Manager[]
The Elsbridge Rovers F.C. Manager is in charge of the Elsbridge Rovers football club.
Appearances[]
The Sodor Launderette Manager[]
The Sodor Launderette Manager is in charge of Sodor Launderette.
Biography[]
Once, the manager explained to the engines that too much soap powder had been put into the machines, and that the soapy water had been filling up the drains near the railway.
Appearances[]
The Timber Mill Manager[]
The Timber Mill Manager is in charge of the Timber Mill. He once helped Thomas with making new toys for the children.
Appearances[]
The Ōigawa Railway Manager[]
The Ōigawa Railway Manager is in charge of the Ōigawa Railway.
Biography[]
He once invited Thomas, James, Percy, Hiro and Kenji to visit his railway.
Appearances[]
Other Yard Managers[]
Many other yard managers have been seen around the Island of Sodor and are in charge of the various yards.
Biography[]
When Tom Tipper was about to leave Callan Station to do his mail rounds, a foreman called to him to come back to the Fat Controller's office to sign important papers.
After the Workmen's Hut at Tidmouth Hault was destroyed due to a fire, a foreman arrived and said that they had to find housing for the workmen. Percy suggested that Old Slow Coach could be used and his crew, along with the foreman, telephoned the Fat Controller, who agreed on the idea.
Merchandise[]
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)