This page is for minor human characters that only appear in the magazine stories.
The Golfers
| This article is about 'the characters'. You may be looking for 'the magazine story'. |
- “I'm terribly sorry. I did not mean to hit the golf ball towards the railway at all. I'm not very good at golf yet, you see. I often hit my golf balls into bunkers full of sand but never before have I hit one into a bunker full of coal!”
- ―The golfer
The Golfers often practice golf in a field along Thomas' Branch Line. One of the golfers was not very good and once hit a golf ball into Thomas' coal bunker. The golfers went to the station where he asked if Thomas' Crew had seen their missing golf ball. The Fat Controller returned the man's golf ball, but not before telling him off for hitting the ball at Thomas. The golfer apologised and the Fat Controller talked to him about golf for quite some time and offered to have a game with him one day.
Appearances
- 1988 - The Golfers (only one speaks)
The Shepherd
The Shepherd once had a sheep that strayed onto Thomas' line. Some time before this event, he had left his crook on the train and it is returned to him by the guard.
Appearances
- 1992 - Lost and Found!
Bert Coke
Bert Coke is a coal merchant who has a stall at a large market in a town along Thomas' Branch Line. When Thomas ran out of coal after making a delivery to the market, his driver and fireman purchased six bags of coal from Bert. He has his own lorry which is red.
Appearances
- 1993 - Food for Thomas (does not speak)
The Bride and Groom
The Bride and Groom got married at a church in 1993. Their wedding car broke down after getting the bride to the church, so the bride, groom and their guests travelled to their reception in Wellsworth with Thomas.
Appearances
- 1993 - The Wedding Engine! (do not speak)
The Special Stationmaster
| This article is about 'the stationmaster'. You may be looking for 'the magazine story'. |
The Special Stationmaster with the Fat Controller
The Special Stationmaster was a stationmaster that is popular with the Fat Controller's engines. He earned his nickname because he keeps calm and cheerful in times of trouble. His best friends are the engines and he always has a kind word to say about all of them. He retired in 1993 and the Fat Controller arranged for him to live in a house in Wellsworth. Unfortunately, this was not good enough for the stationmaster as he would miss seeing his friends everyday. The Fat Controller later arranged for an old, disused coach to be converted into a house for him. The coach was then placed in a field near his station.
Appearances
- 1993 - The Special Stationmaster!
The Café Owner
The Café Owner is a retired engine driver who opened up a café next to the seaside. One day, the café burnt down and the owner was very upset. Thomas had an idea though and soon the Fat Controller sent an old coach which has been taken out of service to be refitted. Thomas then took it to a seaside siding where it was transformed into a popular new café.
Appearances
- 1993 - The Carriage Café
The Very Important People
The Very Important People had come to the Island to open a new station on Thomas' Branch Line. Thomas was given the job of collecting them which made James very jealous.
The group consisted of a mayor and a man that looked very similar to the Fat Controller, amongst others.
Appearances
- 1994 - The New Station (do not speak)
The Chimney-Sweep
- “Has he come to sweep our funnels?”
- ―Henry
The Chimney-Sweep sweeps out chimneys for a living. He gets around on a green bicycle which his equipment is tied to. He once caused alarm amongst the engines when they thought he had come to sweep out their funnels. They were wrong and the sweep is employed by the Fat Controller to sweep out the waiting-room chimneys at stations along Thomas' branch line.
Appearances
- 1994 - Puffing Pots! (does not speak)
The Painter and Decorator
The Painter and Decorator once painted the Fat Controller's office at the main station. Whilst they were doing this, the Fat Controller used Daisy as an office.
Appearances
- 1995 - A Desk for Daisy!
Bobo the Clown
Bobo is a clown who has appeared in a few Play and Learn magazine stories.
Appearances
- 2007 - Ding-a-Ling! (actually Kuffy; does not speak)
The Coalman
The Coalman delivers coal to places all over Sodor, including the theatre at Wellsworth. He once helped Thomas by giving him some coal when the tank engine was running low. Thomas later returned the favour when the coalman's lorry broke down.
Appearances
- 1997 - Carrying Coal!
The Famous Film Star
| This article is about 'the Film Star from a 1997 magazine story'. You may be looking for 'the Film Star from a 2011 magazine story'. |
- “What a sweet little engine he is!”
- ―The Famous Film Star talking about Thomas
The Famous Film Star flew into the airfield one day to visit the Island of Sodor. James was given the special job of collecting her, but her silk scarf blew away and landed on a rooftop where no-one could reach it. Then, Thomas pulled up with trucks of building supplies including a ladder. His driver was able to retrieve the scarf using the ladder and returned it to the film star. The film star wished to thank the engine who came up with the idea. She walked over to Thomas and called him a sweet, little engine and had her photograph taken with him. The next day, the photograph was in the newspaper.
Appearances
- 1997 - Star Story!
The Barleycorn Farm Shepherd
- “Red sky at night, shepherd's delight!”
- ―The Barleycorn Farm Shepherd
The Barleycorn Farm Shepherd is a good friend of Thomas'. Once, he told Thomas the rhyme: "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight" and how it used to predict the following day's weather. Thomas was very impressed by this little rhyme and repeated it all day. The following evening, Percy told Thomas that the red sky tonight was due to a barn fire at the farm. Thomas rushed to help, but was too late. The shepherd was not worried, however, as he had been planning on replacing the barn anyway so the fire has saved him a lot of hard work. He then reminded Thomas of the old rhyme and it has once again come true.
The shepherd is never referred by name in the story and he is also seen with a sheepdog that is never mentioned.
Appearances
- 1997 - Red Sky at Night!
Miss Brown
- “Now, come on, form a crocodile!”
- ―Miss Brown to her class of children
Miss Brown is a school teacher. Once, she had trouble getting her class of playful children onto Skarloey's train. She told the children to "form a crocodile" which is a method used to get children into an orderly line. Skarloey was then able to take the children and Miss Brown back to the main station. The Fat Controller then asked about the delay and Skarloey says it was down to some crocodile trouble.
Appearances
- 1997 - Silly Skarloey!
The Ice-Cream Man
- “It's a disaster, we've run out of fuel and all the ice-cream is going to melt!”
- ―The Ice-Cream Man
The Ice-Cream Man drives around Sodor in his ice-cream van selling ice-cream and ice-lollies to children. Once, they ran out of diesel fuel and the ice-cream would melt. Luckily, Daisy and her driver always carry a spare can of fuel in case of an emergency and kindly handed it over to the van. Both the van and his driver were very grateful and carried on selling ice-cream to the happy children.
Appearances
- 1997 - The Ice Cream Van
The Black-bearded Man
The Black-bearded Man was a rather scruffy-looking passenger who was waiting on a platform whilst Farmer Collett and the stationmaster where judging a scarecrow competition. Henry mistook him for one of the scarecrows, which the man took as a compliment as the scarecrows were fairly smartly dressed. He went on to help judge the competition and finally pick a winner.
Appearances
- 1998 - The Scarecrow Competition!
Nurse O'Neill
Nurse O'Neill is a nurse at Sodor Hospital. On the day of the nurses' fancy dress party, she fell over at Wellsworth station and sprained her wrist. This gave Gordon an idea and he suggested that she go to the party as a wounded soldier. So she borrowed her father's army uniform and that's what she did.
Appearances
- 1998 - Fancy Dress!
Mr. O'Neill
Mr. O'Neill is the father of Nurse O'Neill. He once lent his old army uniform to his daughter for a fancy dress party.
Appearances
- 1998 - Fancy Dress!
The End of the Rainbow Owner
This smartly-dressed man owns a shop called "The End of the Rainbow". He once arranged with the Fat Controller to have some wagons repainted in bright colours with his shop name on the sides. Then, he asked for James to do the stock run from the shop pulling the wagons. With bright red James at the front, the train looked like a rainbow which was good publicity for his shop.
Appearances
- 2000 - The End of the Rainbow!
The Balloon Seller
The Balloon Seller was selling balloons close to a station on a windy day. The balloons blew all over the railway and the engines turned catching them again into a game. All of his balloons had funny faces painted on them. The balloon seller wears a yellow waistcoat with a white shirt underneath, a red bowtie, a bowler hat and brown trousers.
Appearances
- 2001 - A Burst Balloon! (does not speak)
The Art Thief
The Art Thief stole a very valuable old painting from the art gallery. He hid from police inside a truck in Percy's train. Percy told the police where he was and he was quickly arrested and the painting was returned to the gallery.
Appearances
- 2001 - Percy's Picture (does not speak)
The Art Gallery Manager
- “Help! Police! We've been robbed! One of our paintings has gone!”
- ―The Art Gallery Manager
The Art Gallery Manager runs the art gallery which is located near a railway station. A very expensive picture was once stolen and the gallery manager called for the police. The thief was arrested and the picture was returned.
Appearances
- 2001 - Percy's Picture
Sophie
- “There's Sophie on Playful!”
- ―Percy
Sophie is a young girl and a friend of Percy's. She owns a pony called Playful which she rides in a field close to the railway line. Sophie competed in horse shows and once gave Percy some old horseshoes to bring him good luck.
Appearances
- 2001 - Playful Pony
Stephen
| This article is about 'the Small Boy'. You may be looking for 'Sir Topham Hatt's grandson or the steam engine'. |
Stephen is a young boy who travels to school on Bertie. Bertie has stated that Stephen is his favourite passenger.
Appearances
- 2002 - Birthday Bus
Stephen's Mother
Stephen's mother arranged a party for Stephen at the local village hall, but the party ended up being held on their good friend Bertie when the hall was flooded. In the puzzle that made up the story, she looks a lot older than she does in the illustration.
Appearances
- 2002 - Birthday Bus
The Elderly Lady
- “Thank you, young man!”
- ―The elderly lady to Thomas' driver
The Elderly Lady was a passenger on Thomas' train that runs from the Main Station to the Shopping Centre. At the Shopping Centre, she dropped her shopping on the platform and Thomas' driver had to help her pick it up. When the Fat Controller arrived, he reprimanded Thomas for being late, but the elderly lady interrupted him, saying how kind Thomas' driver had been. She owns a poodle.
Appearances
- 2002 - Time Trouble!
Paul Walford
- “I'm here to take some photographs for a brochure. Paul Walford's the name!”
- ―Mr. Walford
Paul Walford is a professional photographer. He was employed to help promote Dingley Hall, but the Horrid Lorries kept ruining his shots. The problem was resolved when the hall manager set up a no entry sign to stop the lorries.
His name could come from the fictional setting of the BBC soap, "EastEnders".
Appearances
- 2002 - In the Picture
Dingley Hall's Manager
Dingley Hall's Manager runs the refined Hotel, Dingley Hall.
Appearances
- 2002 - In the Picture
The two Smartly-dressed Women
The two Smartly-dressed Women were passengers on Henry's train. They like to visit factories to find out how different things are made. One day, they spilt some "Sodor Dew" in one of Henry's carriages causing a curious scent. They appear to be quite posh and elegant.
Appearances
- 2002 - What's That Smell?
Danny
| This article is about 'the little boy'. You may be looking for 'the pop star'. |
Danny is in charge of hiring deckchairs to holidaymakers on the beach, but one day, Lorry 1 crushed his store-shed. Danny was worried that the tide would wash his chairs away, so his good friend, Bulstrode, told him to stow the deckchairs safely in his hull overnight. The next morning, Danny mended his store-shed and gave a gift for Bulstrode - a roll of stripy deckchair material to cover his hull so that Bulstrode did not get continuously hit with beach balls and kites.
He is very kind and in the event of a deckchair being torn, he never seems annoyed. He just takes the damaged chairs home and mends them with stripy deckchair canvas that he keeps for just such an occasion.
Appearances
- 2002 - Take Cover!
Danny Day
| This article is about 'the pop star'. You may be looking for 'the little boy'. |
Danny Day is famous pop star who arrived on Sodor via ferry for the "Sodor Goes Pop" concert. He disguised himself as a fireman to avoid any attention from the crowds and James secretly took him to the festival site.
Appearances
- 2002 - Sodor Goes Pop! (does not speak)
The Sherbets
The Sherbets are a famous band. Harold gave them a private ride to the airfield, where Thomas was waiting to deliver them a special pop concert called "Sodor Goes Pop".
Appearances
- 2002 - Sodor Goes Pop! (do not speak)
Restless Eric
| This article is about 'the DJ'. You may be looking for 'the mountain engine'. |
Restless Eric is a famous DJ from Radio Sodor. He was the host of the pop concert "Sodor Goes Pop" which included acts such as Danny Day and the Sherbets.
Appearances
- 2002 - Sodor Goes Pop!
Sam the Shepherd
- “Those sheep will feel cooler and more comfortable in this warm weather once they're clipped.”
- ―Sam the Shepherd
Sam the Shepherd works on a farm with his trusty collie dog, Beth, nestled in the hills of Thomas' Branch Line. One day, Thomas took some sheep-shearers to the farm along with the Fat Controller and his grandson, Stephen Hatt. One sheep broke loose, but was soon quickly rounded up again by Beth.
Appearances
- 2002 - Time for a Trim
Roddy Bowlby
- “I've been all around the world in all kinds of weather, except snow that is...”
- ―Roddy Bowlby
Roddy Bowlby is a well-known and much loved adventurer from Brendam Bay. He sailed around the world single-handedly in his trusty yacht, the Sea Farer.
When the Fat Controller heard of Roddy's voyage coming to an end in the newspaper, he scheduled more trains to greet Roddy at Brendam Bay and arranged for Thomas to deliver a present to the adventurer. Roddy returned home to a very warm welcome and was presented with the present that Thomas delivered which turned out to be a big globe with Roddy's trip mapped out on it.
Appearances
- 2002 - A Snowy Reception
The Nurse
- “Good work. You'd be a great help in a real accident!”
- ―The Nurse praising the railway staff
The Nurse works at St. Mary's Hospital and sometimes gives courses on first aid to the railway staff at the Main Station. She usually travels from the hospital to the station on Bertie.
Appearances
- 2003 - Feeling Fine
| For other uses, see Fred (disambiguation). |
Fred the Fogman
Fred the Fogman is a fogman on the narrow gauge railway. He once saved Peter Sam from running into a tree.
Appearances
- 2003 - Seeing Smoke
The Milkman
- “Sorry to hold you up, Thomas, but my milkfloat doesn't go very fast.”
- ―The Milkman
The Milkman drives around Sodor delivering milk and other groceries such as bread and eggs in his milk float. His milk float once broke down, but luckily Caroline was happy to help the milkman complete his rounds.
Appearances
- 2003 - Milk and Motors!
The Sculptor
The Sculptor is a well-respected and versatile sculptor. She hosts sculpture shows at her shop somewhere along the Skarloey Railway. One winter, she carved a fish in a frozen waterfall, which everyone loved.
Appearances
- 2005 - Ice Carving (does not speak)
The Mine Inspector
The Mine Inspector is an inspector, who Peter Sam was afraid of. When Peter Sam decided to rest near a mine he heard noises and thought it was a ghost. The Inspector came out of the mine and Peter Sam was relieved that it was not a ghost.
Appearance
- 2005 - Mine Mystery
Alf
| This article is about 'the former snack bar manager'. You may be looking for 'the Talyllyn Railway diesel engine, the cleaner, the excavator or the Story Library book'. |
- “They'd rather miss my train than Alf's snacks!”
- ―James
Alf ran the snack bar at the Main Station for many years until he retired in 2005. Upon his retirement, no suitable replacements could be found, hence the snack bar closed. Later on, Nelly was hired to run it. Alf's food was said to be so delicious that James had to blow his whistle to remind the passengers to catch their train. He used to joke that the passengers would rather miss their train than Alf's food!
Appearance
- 2005 - What's Cooking? (does not speak)
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. 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
- 2005 - What's Cooking?
Tigerwoman and The Fang
- “Holy hatstands, Thomas, haven't you heard about the Elsbridge Carnival?”
- ―Tigerwoman and The Fang
Tigerwoman and The Fang are superheroes. Two people disguised as Tigerwoman and The Fang attended the Elsbridge Carnival.
Appearance
- 2003 - Super Heroes!
Webman
- “I'm taking Webman!”
- ―Annie
Webman is a famous superhero. A man dressed as Webman was to attend the Elsbridge Carnival. He was due to arrive on board Harold who had been disguised to resemble Webman's own helicopter. However, Harold was called out to assist in catching a jewel thief. Webman went along with him and lent his web to the police officers who were able to get the thief tangled in it. He did not make it to the carnival, but appeared on the front page of Sodor News the next morning. He is based on Marvel Comics' Spider-Man, though his costume is more similar to Captain America's.
Appearances
- 2003 - Super Heroes!
Farmer Collett's Wife
