Minor Human Characters in the Railway Series

This section is for characters who only or first appeared in the Railway Series, listed in chronological appearance. For characters that first or only appeared in the television series see: Minor Human Characters in the Television Series.

The Little Boys

Several groups of three or more young boys have appeared at various times. They have told Edward and his crew that the guard was coming, confused Gordon for a tank engine and falling into a ditch, thrown stones on Henry, fiddled with James' controls, taunted Daisy with "bull's-eyes", laughed at Sir Handel for racing George and got trapped inside the waiting room at Maithwaite, because of a ram.

Appearances

The Lady in the Black Bonnet

At Cronk, Edward told James of the time he had to push Gordon up a hill. James laughed so much he surprised an old lady as she was carrying some parcels. She dropped them and the stationmaster and some porters had to pick them up for her.

Appearances

The Old Lady with the Umbrella

This old lady left her umbrella lying on the platform in Thomas and the Guard. When Thomas was about to leave, the guard tripped on the umbrella. By the time he had gotten up again, Thomas had left.

Appearances

The Elephant Keeper

The Elephant Keeper is the keeper of the circus elephant. He came after his animal had a mishap with Henry.

Appearances

Trivia

• In Series 5 his body was repainted white for use as a waiter in Bye George!, using the head of the inspector with the bowler hat.

The Fire Brigade

The fire brigade were first seen riding a fire engine in Gordon's Whistle after hearing Gordon whistling and mistaking the noise for a fire alarm.

They once rescued James when one of his fuel tankers caught fire. Later, when the workmen's hut caught fire, the Fire Brigade arrived without water, so they were hopelessly forced to let the fire cause furthur damaged to it until Thomas offered them water he and Percy just took on.

Appearances

The Stone-dropping Boys

Three foolish boys found it fun to try dropping stones down Henry's funnel as he passed underneath a bridge, causing minor damage to several carriage windows and Henry's boiler and hitting the fireman on the head. Although the passengers wanted to call the police, Henry's crew persuaded them to let them get their own revenge by showering them, as well as some friends who came to watch, with ashes from Henry's fire.

Appearances

The Hatts' Nanny

While Sir Topham and Lady Hatt went on holiday in East Anglia in Toby and the Stout Gentlemen, they were accompanied by another lady, presumably a "nanny" to care for Stephen and Bridget Hatt.

Appearances

The Hatts' Butler

The Hatt family employs two butlers, in 1951 one told The Fat Controller, who was in the middle of having his breakfast (toast and marmalade), he was wanted on the telephone, to which The Fat Controller then found out about Thomas getting into trouble with the police and had to go at once.

The first butler has balding, black hair. The second has neatly kept brown hair.

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Shinobu Satouchi (Japan; first series only)

The Doctor

The Doctor tended to Mrs. Kyndley in Mrs. Kyndley's Christmas after Thomas' crew saw her dressing-gown waving from her window and suspected the worst. As it was, she had only fainted from the effort of warning them about a landslide ahead.

Appearances

Mr. Kyndley

Mr. Kyndley is Mrs. Kyndley's husband.

Appearances

Bert and Alf

This article is about the cleaners. You may be looking for the steam engine, the Sodor Ironworks diesel engine, the book named after him, the Talyllyn Railway diesel engine, the former snack bar manager, the excavator or the book named after him.

Bert and Alf are two cleaners who washed Gordon down in Leaves after he derailed from the turntable in a ditch at Vicarstown Sheds.

Appearance

The Painter

This man was painting Tidmouth station for Queen Elizabeth II's visit in Paint Pots and Queens when Henry came in. He lost his footing in the smoke and fell. His fall was luckily broken by a tarpaulin draped over Henry's cab, but his paint-pot landed on Henry's dome, making him look, in the Fat Controller's words, like an iced cake.

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Toshio Kobayashi (Japan)

The Naughty Boys

These two ill-behaved boys wandered into James' cab and started him off from Maron (Knapford Yards in the television series), prompting a high-speed chase by Edward. They were eventually caught by the police and forbidden to watch trains by their parents until they were trusted, although this did not happen in their television series appearance.

Appearances

Mrs. Last

Mrs. Last lives near Cros-ny-Cuirn on the Skarloey Railway. Although that is not her real name, she gained the nickname because she was always late to arrive at the station.

Appearances

Trivia

• Mrs. Last is based on Mrs. Pugh, a passenger on the Talyllyn Railway who would go from Rhydoren to Tywyn every Friday to go shopping. She was commonly late for the return train, but guards, such as The Rev. W. Awdry, would usually stop the train from going until she came aboard.

Harold's Pilots

Harold the Helicopter has a pilot and co-pilot. Their uniforms consist of dark blue trousers, a black tie, a white shirt with a dark blue jacket over it and a dark blue cap.

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Katsuji Mori (Japan; Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday)
• Naoki Tatsuta (Japan; A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter)
• Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japan; The Grand Opening)

The Vicar of Knapford

The Vicar of Knapford hosts a Sunday School at Knapford Harbour.

He only appeared in the story Percy's Promise; in the television series, he was replaced by the Vicar of Wellsworth.

Appearances

The New Signalman

The new signalman is a signalman at Killdane (Lower Tidmouth in the television series) who refused to listen to Toby's driver about Toby having small water tanks. He told them that they had to clear the line for James and that they could get more water from the next station, but this only resulted in Toby running out of steam in the middle of the main line when he did not have enough water. He later apologised and said that he did not understand Toby's situation.

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Toshio Kobayashi (Japan)

The Railway Society

The Railway Society visited Sodor in Domeless Engines, bringing City of Truro with them. Among the members illustrated is a vicar and a man in a bow-tie, both looking at Duck; Eric Marriott theorised they may have been the Rev. W. Awdry showing C. Reginald Dalby what Duck really looked like.

Appearances

The Barber

This man set up a barbershop in Crosby, unwisely placed at the end of the siding. After Duck crashed into the wall, the furious barber covered Duck's face in shaving cream. He later washed it off after realising that Duck prevented a potentially fatal accident and the North Western Railway gladly paid for the repairs.

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Daisuke Gōri (Japan)

The BBC Television Producers

These men came to the Skarloey Railway in Little Old Twins to film a documentary about the railway. Peter Sam and Sir Handel, recalling the same happening on the Mid Sodor Railway, at first feared the railway was going to be closed. They later returned to the railway to film a documentary for Skarloey and Rheneas' 100th birthday in Very Old Engines.

Appearances

The Foreign Gentlemen

Three gentlemen talked to the Fat Controller after Douglas accidentally shunted the special coach in a siding in The Missing Coach. They later accompanied him when he disciplined Douglas.

Appearances

The Careless Cleaner

Upon hearing Thomas' plan to prove to Toby and Percy he can manage without his driver, this cleaner fiddled with Thomas' controls in Thomas Comes to Breakfast, starting him and resulting into his crashing into the stationmaster's house. It is not revealed as to what happened to him after the accident.

Appearances

The Ffarquhar Stationmaster and his Family

The Stationmaster of Ffarquhar lives near the Ffarquhar sheds with his wife, son and daughter. When Thomas crashed into his house, he shut off steam while his wife reprimanded Thomas for spoiling their breakfast.

Appearances

Daisy's Fitter

Daisy's fitter is a man who checks Daisy every day before she goes to work. According to her own words, he tells Daisy never to pull any coaches or trucks since it would be bad for her swerves, which is what she said when she refused to pull a truck of milk. However, this was all just revealed to be an excuse.

Appearances

Stepney's Controller

The controller of the Bluebell Railway accompanied Stepney to the North Western Railway on his visit. In the television series, he is in charge of Stepney's Branch Line.

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Masato Hirano (Japan)

Trivia

• In the television series, his model is reused from that of the Mid Sodor Railway manager.

The Important Passenger

The important passenger appeared in Stepney's Special and the fourth series episode Thomas and Stepney. After Thomas had left with his last branch line train, the passenger appeared and requested a special train for himself, resulting in Thomas being shunted to a siding while Stepney took the special train.

Appearance

Voice Actors

• Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japan)

Elsbridge Cricket Club

A cricket team played at the Elsbridge cricket field when a batsman hit a "six" that landed in one of Stepney's trucks. It was their only ball they could play the game with, so four of the cricketers chased after Stepney in Caroline.

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Hideo Ishikawa (Japan)

 

Trivia

• The tailor and the inspector with the bowler hat are among the members.

The Rockclimbers

During a gale on Culdee Fell, news came at Devil's Back Station that of a group of injured climbers were stuck on the mountain. One of them, Patrick, had hurt himself saving the leader. Number 6 was later named Patrick in the climber's honour.

Appearances

Mr. Bobbie

Mr. Bobbie helped build Skarloey, Rheneas, Talyllyn and Dolgoch in England and later came to Sodor to help build the line. When Skarloey would not co-operate with Mr. Mack, he had Mr. Bobbie drive Skarloey.

Appearances

The Dukes of Sodor

The current Duke of Sodor came to the Skarloey Railway to open the new loop line around Skarloey lake. Duck, however, mistook him for a Great Western engine and told Peter Sam all "engine" Dukes had been scrapped. Although a "person" Duke came to the opening ceremony, Peter Sam was doubtful and interrupted the Duke during a speech to ask him if he was real. The Duke, however, had been told to expect the question and cheerfully replied he was a real, live person.

King Henry IV conferred the title Earl of Sodor on the last Regent, Sir Arnold de Norramby, who had assisted the King's troops in expelling the Percy garrisons from Sodor in 1404.

The Earldom was extinguished by Attainder in 1715, but on the conclusion of his first term of office as Lieutenant Governor in 1873, Queen Victoria graciously responded to popular petition and restored to John Arnold Norramby the Earldom of Sodor and the estates of Ulfstead Castle of which his ancestor had been deprived, and which had been reverted to the Crown.

List of Dukes

1. John Arnold Norramby (1822-1894) - Promoter and Chairman of the Mid Sodor Railway. Presented the company with an engine which they named in his honour.
2. Henry John Norramby (1854-1915) - Earl from 1894-1915.
3. Charles Henry Norramby (1883-1941) - Served throughout World War I in the Sodor Regiment. Retired with the rank of Lieutenant General.
4. Robert Charles Norramby (1918-1943) - Killed in action in North Africa. Lieutenant Colonel Sodor Regiment.
5. Richard Robert Norramby (1940-) Succeeded as a minor. Was age seven when the Mid Sodor Railway closed. 25 when he opened the Skarloey Railway Loop Line. 29 when Duke was found.

Appearances

Trivia

• There is really no Duke of Sodor. The Earls of Sodor are active on the Council of the Duchy of Lancaster and as there is no Duke of Lancaster; Sudrians refer to the Earl as their "Duke".

Fred and Bert

This article is about 'the porters'. You may be looking for 'the Skarloey Railway diesel engine, the steam engine, the Sodor Ironworks diesel engine or the Story Library book'.

Fred and Bert are two porters at Tidmouth. They were carrying a beehive on a trolley, but when an old lady suddenly appeared in front, they stopped so suddenly the beehive fell over and broke, prompting the station's occupants (bar James and his crew) to clear the platform.

Appearances

The Lady with the Floppy Green Hat

This lady chose to wear a large green hat when saying goodbye to a friend at Tidmouth. When she waved to the friend, who was sitting near the guard's van, Gordon's fireman thought the green flag had been waved and set off, causing the first in a series of mix-ups.

Appearances

Trivia

• Her body was reused for Mrs. Kyndley in Buzz, Buzz and a generic lady in the fourth series.
• Her floppy hat was repainted for the Duchess of Boxford's summer hat.

The Enthusiasts

Two separate groups of enthusiasts appeared in Edward's Exploit and What a Picture!. The first group were pulled home by Edward, despite him breaking a crank-pin. The second group visited Brendam and went to watch Ben when he was asked to pull a boat into deeper water, except one man who continuously took pictures of Bill. Unluckily for the photographer, as he was about to take his best picture Bill's driver turned a tap, releasing a cloud of steam and spoiling the photo.

Bill and Ben enjoy the enthusiasts' visits, mainly because of the way they fuss over them.

Appearances

The British Railways Foreman

A foreman at a goods depot on the British Railways tried to stop Douglas from taking Oliver, Isabel (only in the Railway Series) and Toad back to Sodor, but grudgingly let them pass after finding nothing to fault. He dresses in the default railway staff uniform of a blue overcoat, a blue cap, a white shirt, blue trousers and a black tie.

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Toshio Kobayashi (Japan)

The Mid Sodor Railway Manager

This man was the manager of the Mid Sodor Railway when Falcon was new to the line. When Stanley (Smudger in the television series) continuously derailed and shrugged off all the advice he was given from Duke, the manager decided to turn him into a pumping engine behind the shed. He later arranged for Falcon to double-head with Duke on the "Mountain Road", which nearly resulted in disaster after Falcon derailed. Luckily, no harm was done and the manager later apologised to the passengers for the trouble.

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Tomohisa Asō (Japan)

Trivia

• In the television series, his model would later be reused for Stepney's Controller.
• His large scale head is now owned by Twitter user Tomsprops.
• His large scale body was repainted and used for various passengers.

Sam the Farmer

This article is about 'the farmer'. You may be looking for 'the engine or the porter'.

Sam the Farmer is a farmer that most likely works at Crowe's Farm. He once had to deliver a cart of lime to Mr. Crowe's forty-acre field. His cart became stuck on the crossing and he went for help. Percy eventually ended up smashing the cart to smithereens.

Appearances

Trivia

• His model is the small scale model for the signalman from Ghost Train and Old Iron.
• In the Railway Series, he was pulling the cart with a horse. However, he was only mentioned in the television series, but a deleted scene implied that he was pulling the cart with Terence.

Anopha Quarry Manager

This man is in charge of the quarry where Mavis works. He forbade her from leaving the quarry after jaunting onto the tramway, but later allowed her to go as far as the first level crossing after productivity increased, and later to Ffarquhar after she rescued Toby from a "tightrope".

Appearances

Voice Actors

• Yoshihiro Kanemitsu (Japan; Thomas to the Rescue)
• Tony Marot (France and French speaking Canada; Thomas to the Rescue)

Trivia

• His speaking role in the "Toby's Tightrope" was given to Percy in the television adaption.

The Thieves

Two men robbed the Ffarquhar stationmaster's house of his gardening trophies and rounded it off by stealing his new car. Luckily, they were stupid enough to use the car the day after the burglary. Thomas' fireman alerted the police and the thieves were arrested, with the car and the trophies (in the boot of the car) both unharmed.

Appearances

The Boy Scouts

One summer, some boy scouts camped near the Skarloey Railway. Their leader arranged with Mr. Hugh to fix some ditches near the line. Later, their leader asked Duncan and his crew to find them something to drink from the Refreshment Lady when they got thirsty. They only appeared in Great Little Engines.

Appearance

Prince Charles

Charles, Prince of Wales (born as Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor) is a member of the Royal Family and the eldest son of Elizabeth II, who has visited the Island of Sodor several times. He was read the Railway Series when he was younger by his parents.

On 25th of November 1982, Prince Charles visited the Talyllyn Railway as part of a royal tour of Wales with his wife, Diana, the Princess of Wales. Sir Handel was also visiting the railway at the time and acted as a spare engine for the Royal Train, which was pulled by Dolgoch. The Prince and Princess were then presented with some of the Thin Clergyman's books about the Skarloey Railway. When Sir Handel returned to Sodor in 1984, he told the other engines about the visit, among other adventures.

He first visited the North Western Railway on the Golden Jubilee of the Railway Series in 1995. Pip and Emma were loaned to bring him to Tidmouth, where he was greeted by Sir Stephen Topham Hatt, who had masterminded the Royal Visit. He had visited Sodor again by 2005.

In 2011, Prince Charles was again brought to Tidmouth Station by Pip and Emma, this time to unveil the statue of the Thin Clergyman at Tidmouth in celebration of his 100th birthday. He made a short speech, where he remarked that there would never be another place like Sodor anywhere.

Appearances

The Wedding Guests

As Gordon passed Wellsworth one day, the poor coal he was using caused him to "sneeze" out a cloak of ashes, spoiling the clothes of the angry wedding guests. They appeared in Gordon the High-Speed Engine.

Appearances

The Dairy Farmer

This man's lorry broke down as he was delivering some dairy products to Brendam. He was phoning for help when Thomas crashed into the lorry and got covered in eggs. Bill and Ben were swift to tease Thomas about it afterwards. He only appeared in Thomas and the Twins.

Appearances

The Traffic Warden

After Thomas crashed into a crossing gate en route to York, he was put onto a lorry and taken to York. The driver was unsure of the way to the National Railway Museum and parked the lorry while asking for directions. In the meantime, the traffic warden booked the lorry for illegal parking.

Appearances

The Child and his Mother

When a bag was thrown onto Thomas' demonstration line at the National Railway Museum, Thomas could not stop in time and ran over the bag. A child was frightened by the steam and his furious mother went to complain to the manager.

Appearances

Kathy and Lizzie

This article is about 'the little girl'. You may be looking for 'the boat'.

Kathy and Lizzie Presres are two girls who worked on the Talyllyn Railway cleaning the engines. When their family went holidaying on Sodor, they polished Skarloey Railway engines.

Kathy has brunette hair, while Lizzie has blonde hair.

Appearances

The Inspector

After a policeman spotted quarrymen riding on Henrietta's balcony, the inspector visited the quarry manager to inform him that it was illegal to do so.

Appearances