- “Real? Of course we're real! We bring ballast to put under your track! ”
- ― Mike to Marion
Mike is a small strong grumpy red tender engine who prefers goods trains to passengers. He works on the Arlesdale Railway.
Biography[]
When Marion met the small railway engines for the first time, Mike took her belief that they were magical much less kindly than the other two. The following day when Thomas came up to Arlesburgh West, depressed about being sent to work on the new branch line as punishment for derailing the express coaches at Knapford, Mike, along with the others, sang "Never Overlook a Little Engine" to cheer him up.
At dusk that day, Mike was shunting ballast wagons onto the chute when Marion reappeared at their junction to make a wish; while Rex and Bert managed to escape unnoticed, Marion trapped Mike on the chute with her shovel and held on until she made her wish. Mike escaped at full speed when Marion let go, but this only strengthened Marion's belief.
When Sailor John went through with the pirate ship two nights later, the three small engines shunted a train of ballast wagons off the chute in front of the ship to decrease its speed after hearing Thomas approaching the junction. The ship ran over most of the hoppers, but one got caught under the flatbed the ship was on, lifting its front bogey off the track and slowing it down as a result.
As in the Railway Series, Mike lost his whistle when he came across a cow and his temper when he came across some sheep.
Personality[]
Mike means well and works hard, but can sometimes appear a little cunning and arrogant. He thinks he should be in charge of the other two engines, though neither of them really let him boss them around. Bert simply humours him, but Rex goes out of his way to tease Mike and wind him up, which is not very difficult given the fact that he is hot-headed. Mike much prefers pulling goods trains to passengers, unlike Gordon, as he considers goods much more straightforward and less likely to complain. He is proud of his strength and appears rather confident, but he would not be so easy to tease if he was not hiding at least a little insecurity. He can sometimes be a little argumentative and irritable and it is common for him to overheat when he loses his temper. But overall, Mike has a kind personality and wants to be a really useful engine.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
Mike is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's River Mite.
Livery[]
Mike is painted red with blue lining and yellow cab window frames. The word "ARLESDALE" is painted on his tender in yellow with a red outline. He has a grey running board with red bufferbeams and valences. He also has a brass dome and brass nameplates with red backing.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends
Specials
Music Videos
Learning SegmentsVideos
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Books
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Official Description[]
From Official Website:[1]
| “ | Mike: Mike is a strong red engine who sometimes appears a little arrogant. He thinks he should be in charge of the other two engines, though neither of them really let him boss them around. Bert simply humours him, but Rex goes out of his way to tease Mike and wind him up, which is not very difficult. Mike much prefers pulling goods trains to passengers, unlike Gordon, as he considers goods much more straightforward and less likely to complain. He is proud of his strength and appears rather confident, but he wouldn’t be so easy to tease if he wasn’t hiding at least a little insecurity. He can sometimes be a little irritable.
|
” |
Audio Files[]
Theme[]
| Only used | Composer | Theme Song | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike's Whistle | Chris Renshaw | ||
Whistle[]
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure | Active |
Trivia[]
- For unknown reasons, Mike's right-hand cab windows have gold frames rather than yellow ones.
- Mike's coupling rods, motion and cranks are reused from Hiro's model. Resultingly, Mike's eccentric rods are not animated properly as they do not complete a full rotation around his larger connecting rods.
- Mike has the most merchandise out of every Arlesdale engine.
- He is also the only Arlesdale Railway engine to have a TrackMaster release.
| Locomotives | Steam | Bert | Rex | Mike |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Stock | Passenger | Open-Topped Coaches |
| Goods | Hoppers | Plank Trucks | |
| People | Fergus Duncan | |
| Stations | Arlesburgh West | Arlesburgh Bridge Street | Ffarquhar Road | Marthwaite | Arlesdale Green | Arlesdale | |