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.
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
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)