This page is for the minor locomotive characters who have appeared in The Railway Series.
The First Red Tender Engine[]
The First Red Tender Engine was a large engine who once lived at Vicarstown Sheds and joined the other big engines in teasing Edward. It is unknown what happened to this engine, though it is likely it returned to the Mainland alongside the other engines loaned during the North Western Railway's early years.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The exact basis for the first red engine is unknown. It is depicted as a 4-6-2 by William Middleton similar to Gordon, albeit with a substantially smaller boiler than and a different cab.
After C. Reginald Dalby's problems with achieving consistent accuracy of his locomotive illustrations in the early books, later characters introduced were based more closely on real locomotives. This also means that this engine's guise should not be taken at face value, as the Rev. W. Awdry was often keen to retcon inaccuracies in the early books and illustrations.
Livery[]
This engine is painted red with yellow and black lining.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series
Companion Volumes
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Video Releases
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Trivia[]
- In the original Middleton illustrations, this engine is depicted as being the one who attempts to push Henry out of the tunnel. This was later changed to a separate engine in the book's subsequent re-illustration by C. Reginald Dalby.
The Second Red Tender Engine[]
The Second Red Tender Engine was an engine which visited Sodor in 1922. It attempted to push Henry out of a tunnel when he stopped there, but without success.
Personality[]
This engine, unlike the first, seemed to be quite helpful, seeing as he tried to push Henry out of the tunnel after being asked.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
In C. Reginald Dalby's illustrations, this engine is depicted as being identical to James, a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) Class 28 fitted with a front pony truck (thus making him a 2-6-0 instead of an 0-6-0), 5'6" driving wheels instead of the class' original 5'1" ones and a Fowler tender.
After C. Reginald Dalby's problems with achieving consistent accuracy of his locomotive illustrations in the early books, later characters introduced were based more closely on real locomotives. This also means that this engine's guise should not be taken at face value, as the Rev. W. Awdry was often keen to retcon inaccuracies in the early books and illustrations.
Livery[]
This engine is painted red with black lining and yellow boiler bands. Its front and driving wheels are red while its tender wheels are black.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- The Three Railway Engines - The Sad Story of Henry (C. Reginald Dalby illustration only; does not speak)
Companion Volumes[]
- 1995 - The Thomas the Tank Engine Man (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- Awdry's original sketches for The Sad Story of Henry depict this engine as a 4-4-0 rather than a 2-6-0.
- In the original Middleton illustrations, the first and second red engines were depicted as the same character, hence them having had the same wheel configuration.
- Dalby originally illustrated him to be James. However, children wrote to the Reverend W. Awdry asking why James was red before his repainting in the third book. With all the confusion, Awdry decided that it was not James, but a different character altogether.
- The engine's role in the Thomas & Friends adaptation of The Sad Story of Henry was filled by Thomas. Ironically, James took on the engine's role in the special The Adventure Begins, in his original black livery. In the 1953 adaptation of The Sad Story of Henry, the engine's role was also filled by James.
The Blue Tank Engine[]
- “Here are your trucks, James. Have you got some bootlaces ready?”
- ― The Blue Tank Engine teasing James
The Blue Tank Engine was a little engine who once shunted trucks at Tidmouth Yards.
Biography[]
This tank engine once shunted James' goods train for him and teased him about the incident he had with some bootlaces when he needed some to mend a hole in his coaches. He ran off laughing rudely, which made James very cross.[1]
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The tank engine's basis is unknown.
Livery[]
The tank engine is painted blue with red lining.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- James the Red Engine - Troublesome Trucks (not named)
- Toby the Tram Engine - Dirty Objects (possible cameo)
Trivia[]
- The tank engine's role was replaced by other engines in adaptations of Troublesome Trucks:
- In the first series adaptation of Troublesome Trucks and the magazine story based of the episode, the tank engine was replaced with Thomas.
- In the pop-up book James the Red Engine and the Troublesome Trucks, the tank engine was replaced with a dark green tank engine.
- In the Engine Adventures book James, the tank engine was replaced with Charlie.
- A similar-looking engine appears to be pulling the Breakdown Train after James collided with some tar tankers.
- In an Australian jigsaw puzzle, the engine is incorrectly painted red.
The Dark Green Tank Engine[]
The Dark Green Tank Engine is a saddle tank engine who at one point worked at Tidmouth Yards.
Biography[]
After shunting James' trucks, the tank engine teased him about the incident when James needed bootlaces to mend a hole in his coaches.[2]
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The tank engine's specific basis is currently unknown. It appears to be a saddle tank engine with inside cylinders.
Livery[]
The tank engine is painted dark green with yellow window frames.
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- The tank engine replaces the original blue tank engine from James the Red Engine.
The Dukes[]
The Dukes were Great Western tender engines. Duck once told Peter Sam that all the Dukes had been scrapped, leading Peter Sam to misunderstand the statement and think that his Duke had been scrapped.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The Dukes are based on the GWR 3252 class, also referred to as the Duke class, built between 1895 and 1899 for passenger work in Devon and Cornwall. As mentioned by Duck, all of the Duke class engines were scrapped, and none survive to this day.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- Very Old Engines - Duck and Dukes (mentioned)
- Duke the Lost Engine - Bulldog (mentioned)
Companion Volumes[]
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)
Gordon's Brothers[]
Gordon's Brothers were LNER A1 and A3 Pacifics built between 1922 and 1935. With the exception of Flying Scotsman, all were scrapped between 1959 and 1966. The scrapping of his brothers made Gordon depressed, leading the Fat Controller to bring Flying Scotsman to Sodor to cheer him up.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
These engines were based on the LNER Class A1 and A3 4-6-2 steam locomotives. 78 of these were produced. They were all scrapped, with the exception of Flying Scotsman being the sole surviving member of its class.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- Enterprising Engines - Tenders for Henry (mentioned)
- James and the Diesel Engines - Fire-Engine (mentioned)
Companion Volumes[]
- 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways (mentioned)
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- Two of Gordon's siblings are mentioned by name in the annual story Galloping Sausage, these being Lemberg and Pretty Polly.
Percy's Ghost Engine[]
Percy's Ghost Engine was mentioned in a ghost story Percy told to Thomas and Toby.
Biography[]
According to Percy's story (which his driver told him the night prior), the engine fell to its doom, and its ghost continues to run every year on the anniversary of the accident as a warning to others. Thomas refused to believe the story and Percy's driver later confirmed the ghost's story to be a fictional one he saw on television.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- Tramway Engines - Ghost Train (mentioned) and Woolly Bear (mentioned)
Companion Volumes[]
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)
Toby's Brothers[]
Toby's Brothers were tram engines who worked alongside him at a harbour in East Anglia during his younger years.[3]
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
Toby is based on a GER Class C53 0-6-0T steam tram (reclassified as J70 by the LNER) built at Stratford Works. They were seen by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry on a holiday at Yarmouth, hence Toby's origins.
The J70s started their career on the Great Eastern Railway, and spent most of their careers on the Wisbech and Upwell tramway pulling slow goods trains and - until 1927 - passenger trains, though several were also assigned to the docks at Ipswich and Yarmouth. The first withdrawal came in 1942. Eventually, the sole survivor of this class was withdrawn from service and scrapped at Stratford Locomotive Works by 1955. They were replaced by BR Class 04 diesel engines, Mavis' class.
Liveries[]
Toby's brothers were painted brown with black cowcatchers and side plates. Their company's initials (LNER) were painted on their side plates in yellow. Each had a brass builder's plate on their sides and red buffer beams with silver buffers.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- Toby, Trucks and Trouble - Toby's Seaside Holiday (do not speak)
Companion Volumes[]
- 1972 - The Railway Series: Surprise Packet (mentioned)
- 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways (mentioned)
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)
The Highland Engines[]
The Highland Engines worked on the Highland Railway in Scotland. These engines were painted in a yellow-green livery and were nicknamed Jocks. Douglas once mentioned these engines in passing, suggesting their nickname be used for the Arlesdale Railway's new engine, which wore an undercoat of a similar colour.[4]
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- Jock the New Engine - Jock (mentioned)
Companion Volumes[]
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)
Green Arrow's Brothers[]
Green Arrow's Brothers were LNER Class V2s built between 1936 and 1944. Following the decline of steam, they were all scrapped. They were mentioned in passing when Green Arrow told Thomas that he and his brothers were built to pull fast goods trains, but did it so well they were allowed to pull express trains too in the end.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
These engines were based on the LNER Class V2 2-6-2 steam locomotives. 184 of these were produced. They were all scrapped, with the exception of Green Arrow being the sole surviving member of its class.
Appearances[]
Sixteen's Friends[]
Sixteen's Friends were industrial engines who worked alongside Sixteen at his old steelworks. According to Wilbert, they - unlike Sixteen - obeyed the rules and never went beyond the danger notice at the tip. They tried their best to warn Sixteen not to go beyond it, but to no avail. It is likely that at least some of them wore the numbers 1 to 15.
Appearances[]
The Hunslet Diesels[]
The Hunslet Diesels were two narrow gauge diesel engines used to build Fred, formerly owned by the National Coal Board.
Biography[]
These diesel engines were designed and built by the Hunslet Engine Company for work in mines. They worked for the National Coal Board on the Mainland. By the 1980s, the two diesels became worn-out, so the Skarloey Railway purchased them.[5]
They were transferred to the Island of Sodor, and dismantled at Crovan's Gate Works. By using the best parts from both engines, Fred was constructed in 1989.[5]
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
These engines are based on narrow gauge diesels designed and built by the Hunslet Engine Company. Individual examples of some of these diesel types have been preserved on heritage railways throughout England, Scotland and Wales, such as the Dean Forest Railway.
Fred's basis, Alf, an engine who works on the Talyllyn Railway, was also rebuilt using parts from another Hunslet diesel engine after they arrived on the railway. The remains of the spare engine have since been stored at Brynglas level crossing/railway station.
Appearances[]
Rheneas Quarry Locomotives[]
These small battery-electric locomotives are owned by the Rheneas Quarry Company.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
It is currently unknown what these engines would have been based on.
Trivia[]
- In one piece of writing about Rheneas Quarry preserved at the Awdry Study, it is briefly mentioned that shunting in the quarry is handled by small battery-electric locomotives.[6]
Other Engines[]
According to The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, the North Western Railway has at least a total of eighty (80) locomotives with which to work its system, including British Railways and industrial locomotives.
A number of background engines were inserted into earlier volumes of The Railway Series by C. Reginald Dalby. A blue tender engine with what appears to be an 0-6-0 wheel arrangement can be seen in the second illustration of Thomas and the Trucks, though it is possible this is meant to be Gordon or Henry at a distance. Another blue engine appears in the background of the first illustration of Gordon's Whistle, passing by Tidmouth Sheds, though it is possibly meant to be Edward but illustrated incorrectly.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- Thomas the Tank Engine - Thomas and the Trucks (possible cameo)
- Henry the Green Engine - Gordon's Whistle (possible cameo)
Companion Volumes[]
- 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways (mentioned)
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ RWS #3 James the Red Engine - "Troublesome Trucks"
- ↑ RWS James the Red Engine and the Troublesome Trucks
- ↑ RWS #32 Toby, Trucks and Trouble - "Toby's Seaside Holiday"
- ↑ RWS #34 Jock the New Engine - "Jock"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 RWS: Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
- ↑ Railway Series Book Club #54 Trucks! (ft. Luke Ryan) on YouTube (Timestamp 59:55)
| Locomotives | Steam | 87546 and 98462 | Workshop Engines | Big City Engine | Jinty and Pug | City of Truro | Stepney | Bluebell and Primrose | Adams | Cromford | Captain Baxter | Flying Scotsman | Toby's Brothers | 8783 | 1020 | Stephenson's Rocket | Green Arrow | Boxhill | Iron Duke | Mallard | Duchess of Hamilton | Wilbert | Sixteen | Albert | King James I | Bahamas |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Diesel | Diesel 4711 | Diesel 199 | Diesel 40125 | Diesel 31120 | 10751 | |
| Rolling Stock | Helena | |
| People | Elizabeth II | The Thin Clergyman | The Fat Clergyman | |
| Stations | Barrow-in-Furness | Brighton | Carnforth | Crewe | Euston | Horsted Keynes | King's Cross | Lakeside | Norchard | Paddington | St. Pancras | York | |
| Railways | Bluebell Railway | British Railways | Corris Railway | Dean Forest Railway | Ffestiniog Railway | Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway | Snowdon Mountain Railway | Talyllyn Railway | Toby's Old Tramway | |
| Locomotives | Steam | The Little Blue Tank Engine* | Coffee Pots | W&SR Tank Engines* | Arlesdale Tramway Engines* | The Dark Green Tank Engine* | Lady** | Sodor Tramway Engines** |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Mavis | |
| Other | Ministry of Defence Engine* | Skarloey Funicular Railway Trams* | Vicarstown Tramway Engines** | |
| People | Burnett Stone** | |
| Locations | Anopha Quarry | The Magic Railroad** | Sodor Tramways** | |