Milk Tankers

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Milk Tankers
Background Information
First appearance	Wilbert the Forest Engine (RWS) Thomas and Gordon (T&F)
Last appearance	Wilbert the Forest Engine (RWS) Chucklesome Trucks (T&F)
Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England
Technical Details
Basis	14 Ton Fuel Tanker (T&F)
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Tanker
Wheels	6 (RWS) 4 (T&F)
Year built	1921 (T&F)
Railway	North Western Railway
Company	Sodor Dairy Tidmouth Milk Company (T&F)
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

Milk tankers are used for transporting milk.

On the Ffarquhar Branch Line, a milk tanker is used for transporting milk down from local farms to the dairy at Elsbridge. Each morning, Toby collects a milk tanker from the dairy on his way to the quarry and leaves it at Ffarquhar for Thomas to take on his first train. Occasionally, Daisy also pulls the milk tanker, though she used to avoid this job.

Technical Details

Basis

These tankers are based on standard 14 ton pre-war tankers common across most of regions. In the Railway Series they are based on six-wheeled tankers.

A tanker in real life

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Livery

The milk tankers are painted white with black stripes. They formerly had "TIDMOUTH MILK" painted in blue on both sides. Since the switch to CGI, the milk tankers have a logo of a cow in a blue circle on both sides, replacing the former "TIDMOUTH MILK" title.

In The Railway Series, the milk tankers are painted golden yellow.

Appearances

The Railway Series

• Wilbert the Forest Engine - Foaming at the Funnel

Thomas & Friends Series 1 - Thomas and Gordon, Edward and Gordon, Thomas and the Breakdown Train, Troublesome Trucks, Thomas, Terence and the Snow, Tenders and Turntables and Trouble in the Shed Series 2 - Daisy and Percy's Predicament Series 3 - Diesel Does it Again, No Joke for James, Trust Thomas and One Good Turn Series 4 - Rock 'n' Roll, Steam Roller, Henry and the Elephant, Toad Stands By and Bulls Eyes Series 5 - Cranky Bugs, Horrid Lorry, James and the Trouble with Trees, Double Teething Troubles, Thomas and the Rumours and Oliver's Find Series 6 - Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry, James and the Red Balloon and Gordon Takes a Tumble Series 7 - Emily's New Coaches, What's the Matter with Henry?, James and the Queen of Sodor, Bulgy Rides Again and Best Dressed Engine Series 8 - Percy's New Whistle, Thomas Saves the Day, Emily's Adventure, You Can Do it, Toby! and Chickens to School Series 9 - Percy and the Oil Painting and Thomas and the Golden Eagle Series 10 - The Green Controller, Seeing the Sights and Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out Series 14 - Thomas' Tall Friend and Thomas in Charge Series 15 - Edward the Hero and Surprise, Surprise Series 16 - Flash Bang Wallop!, Bust My Buffers! and Whiff's Wish Series 19 - Thomas the Babysitter Series 20 - Ryan and Daisy and Pouty James Series 21 - Philip's Number Series 23 - Chucklesome Trucks Specials 2010 - Misty Island Rescue 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery Music Videos Series 9 - Day and Night Learning Segments Series 9 - What Goes Where?

Magazine Stories

• 1988 - Daisy
• 1999 - Percy's Accident
• 2000 - The Milk Train
• 2003 - The Cat Controller!

Trivia

• In the first two series, due to budget limitations, the milk tankers were painted half white and half black, with the latter side being used for the tar tankers. Just like when Old Coaches were painted on the same models from the same reason.
• In the television series, three milk tanker models was constructed.
• The three milk tanker models are currently on display at Drayton Manor.
• In The Railway Series, the tankers have six wheels instead of four.
• In the televised adaptation of Daisy, the milk tanker is called a van due to the script being copied nearly word-for-word from the original story.
• Milk tankers with faces appeared in the fourth series episode, Toad Stands By.

Merchandise

• ERTL (discontinued; with a tar tanker)
• Wooden Railway (discontinued)
• Take Along (discontinued)
• Motor Road and Rail (with Diesel; discontinued)
• TrackMaster (discontinued)
• Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)
• Mini Die Cast Collection (discontinued)
• Bachmann (HO and large scale)
• Hornby (available as part of a triple pack with a fuel and oil tanker; discontinued)
• Lionel Trains (discontinued)
• Tomica (with Percy)
• My First Thomas (discontinued)
• De Agostini (discontinued)
• Capsule Plarail
• Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)
• Boss (with Emily; discontinued)
• Nakayoshi (discontinued)

References

North Western Railway

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

Ffarquhar Branch Line

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* RWS only | ** T&F only

Locomotives	Steam	Thomas | Percy | Toby
	Diesel	Daisy* | Mavis
	Former	Coffee Pots | Glynn**
Rolling Stock	Coaches	Annie and Clarabel | Henrietta | Victoria* | Thomas' Special Coach* | The Quarryman's Coach*
	Trucks	Quarry Trucks | Elsie*
Non-Rail Vehicles		Terence | Bertie | Caroline | The Orange Caterpillar Crane* | Cleo** | Harold | Tiger Moth** | Bulstrode
People		Mrs. Kyndley | Farmer Finney | Kevin Volley* | Farmer McColl** | Farmer Trotter** | Ruth**
Affiliates		Toby's Branch Line**
Locations		Knapford (Harbour, Airfield) | Dryaw (Goods Station, Airfield, Goods Yard**, Football Club**) | Toryreck (Lead Mines, Engine Shed**) | Crowe's Farm | Elsbridge (Dairy, Viaduct, Cricket Field, Trek and Leisure) | Hackenbeck (Bridge, Tunnel, Cottage) | Finney's Farm | Ffarquhar (Engine Sheds, Mountain**, Loop**) | Ffarquhar River Bridge | The Quarry Tramroad | Anopha Quarry | The Windmill** | McColl Farm** | Sports Field Halt** | The Watermill** | Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm** | Maithwaite** (Quarry Mine, Forest, Showground) | The Narrow Gorge** | Arlesdale End** (Engine Sheds)

United Kingdom

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* RWS only | ** T&F only