This page is for the managers who have appeared in Thomas & Friends.
Notable Managers[]
The following managers have their own separate pages:
The Upper Brendam Foreman[]
The Upper Brendam Foreman is in charge of Upper Brendam yard.
Biography[]
After Bill and Ben finished shunting the trucks at Upper Brendam yard, they were allowed to go on the turntable for the first time as a reward for all their hard work. Bill went first and stayed on the turntable, until the foreman stopped it and ordered Bill off to make way for the other engines. However, the foreman had accidentally sent Bill on the wrong track where he and Ben ended up buffer to buffer.
Uniform[]
The foreman's uniform consists of a white shirt with blue overalls and a dark grey jacket over it. He also wears a dark grey flat cap.
Appearances[]
Voice Actors[]
- Hikaru Midorikawa (Japan)
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)
- Yasuhiko Tokuyama (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)
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 with a foreman to investigate the tunnel. When they entered and tried to dig at the block, it grunted and moved, causing all the workmen to evacuate the tunnel. After one of them explained what had happened, the foreman did not believe him and decided to ride in one of the trucks and have Henry push the block out. When Henry entered the tunnel, the block, which was a circus elephant, pushed him and the trucks out of the tunnel, much to the surprise of both him and the foreman. This foreman was later present at the second official opening of the station at Kirk Ronan.
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 and after he lowered the bridge section, the foreman and the workman cheered for him.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 4 - Henry and the Elephant (only one)
- Series 5 - A Better View for Gordon (only one; cameo)
- Series 7 - Rheneas and the Roller Coaster (only one)
Specials[]
- 2005 - Calling All Engines!
Books[]
- 2005 - Engines & Animals (only one)
- 1990 - Henry and the Elephant (only one)
- 2007 - Henry and the Elephant (only one)
Magazine Stories[]
- 1993 - Bertie's Burst Tyres! (only one)
- 2005 - A Jumbo-Sized Surprise (only one)
Voice Actors[]
- Katsuji Mori (Japan; fourth series only)
- Takeshi Endo (Japan; seventh series only)
- Kunihiro Kawamoto (Japan; Calling All Engines! only)
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 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)
- Kōzō Shioya (Japan; fifth series only)
- Yoshihiro Kanemitsu (Japan; eighth series only)
- 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 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 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 to break up Old Slow Coach once they found the time when asked by Percy's driver while 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[]
- Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japan; fifth series only)
- Keiji Hirai (Japan; sixth series only)
The Marshalling Yards Foreman[]
The Marshalling Yard Foreman is in charge of 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 mistakenly told off Percy for going on the tipper loading ramp (when it was Henry who had inadvertently pushed him onto the ramp itself) 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 to tenth series, Mr. Hobson's uniform consisted 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 also 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 and eleventh series)
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 to pay her back for calling him a "slowcoach". 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)
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 the eighth series episode, Henry and the Wishing Tree.
- In the tenth series, he reused the bodies of Old Bailey and the Pack foreman.
- His close-up scale figures were sold in the Propstore's Thomas & Friends Online Charity Auction 2025.
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 also 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.
- His close-up scale figures were sold in the Propstore's Thomas & Friends Online Charity Auction 2025.
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 which made the Diesels, Percy and Emily cross. 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 the 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[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 10 - Duncan Drops a Clanger and Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out (cameo)
- Series 11 - Ding-a-Ling (does not speak)
Voice Actors[]
- Nobuaki Kanemitsu (Japan)
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 also 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)
Mia[]
Mia is the head of the Museum of Archeology in Italy. She is an expert in archaeology and is good friends with Gina.
Appearances[]
Voice Actors[]
- Montserrat Lombard (UK/US)
- Marylú Castellanos (Latin America)
- Carol Ruis (Brazil)
- Emiko Takeuchi (Japan)
- Olga Kuznetsova (Russia)
- Jeong Yu-jeong (South Korea)
The Plantation Foreman[]
The Plantation Foreman is in charge of the Hackenbeck Plantation.
Biography[]
During one Christmastime, the foreman contacted the Ffarquhar Stationmaster to send Percy to collect the Christmas trees from the plantation after one of their lorries broke down to take to Tidmouth Market. As gratitude for delivering the trees, the foreman gave Percy a Christmas tree for Tidmouth Yards Sheds as a "thank you".
Appearances[]
The Tidmouth Museum Curator[]
The Tidmouth Museum Curator is in charge of Tidmouth Museum.
Biography[]
After Terence unearthed some old pottery with his plough, his owner telephoned the Tidmouth Museum curator, who came over with some archaeologists to look at the pottery Terence found and the curator thanked Terence for finding what they failed to find in the wrong field.
Appearances[]
The Sodor Animal Park Manager[]
The Sodor Animal Park Manager is in charge of the Sodor Animal Park.
Biography[]
The manager is good friends with Percy and they like to chat. Sometimes they chatted for so long that Percy sometimes ran behind schedule but he usually made up time.[1]
When Percy found out that the manager had installed narrow gauge tracks at the animal park, he refused to talk to the manager, until the manager explained that he had the tracks relaid at standard gauge to accomodate Percy. After the new track was completed, the manager held a special opening ceremony and allowed Percy to be the first engine to run on the new rails.[2]
Appearances[]
Magazine Stories[]
- 1989 - Some Most Unusual Passengers, The Escape, Narrow Gauge and A Change of Plans
- 1993 - Thomas and Hoppy
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 Caravan Park Manager[]
The Caravan Park Manager was the manager of the caravan park.
Biography[]
Terence initially helped out towing away the old caravans to be replaced by new ones, but he popped a tread and was replaced by Trevor.
Appearances[]
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 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 Mill Manager[]
The Mill Manager is in charge of an old windmill.
Biography[]
The windmill was once undergoing repairs and the manager was hoping to reopen it soon. While Harvey was lifting a windmill's sail into position, it swung and hit the side of the mill and the manager was very upset about the damage to the sail. Luckily, Thomas had the idea to have the sails covered in spring flowers to hide the damage on the windmill until further repairs to the sail could be completed. The opening was a great success and the manager's windmill produces lots of flour and is a grand tourist attraction.
Appearances[]
Nelly[]
- "Coffee and home-made cakes for everyone!"
- ― Nelly
Nelly is a retired school dinner-lady and the current manager of the snack bar at the Main Station.
Biography[]
When Alf retired, the Fat Controller could not find a suitable replacement and the snack bar was closed. Days later, James came across a broken rail and whilst he and his crew waited for it to be repaired, Nelly gave them coffee and home-made cakes that she had made in her nearby cottage. After James told the Fat Controller about her, she was immediately hired to run the snack bar.
Appearance[]
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 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[]
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 Sir Topham Hatt'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)