This page is for the minor locomotive characters who have appeared in The Railway Series.
The First Red Tender Engine[]
The first red engine once visited The North Western Railway lived at Vicarstown Sheds. Like the other big engines, he teased Edward for his size and age. In the William Middleton illustrations, he tried to push Henry out of a tunnel, but without success.[1] It is unknown what happened to him after this event.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The exact basis for the first red engine is unknown. He is depicted as a 4-6-2 by William Middleton, however he has a substantially smaller boiler than Gordon as well as a different cab. In C. Reginald Dalby's illustrations, he bears a similar shape to 98462 albeit with a taller and thinner chimney and dome, meaning it may be an LNER Robinson B4 4-6-0. He also resembles Henry and 87546 albeit without cylinders.
Livery[]
This engine is painted red with yellow lining. He has red wheels and his dome switches between red and black in illustrations.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series
Companion Volumes
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Video Releases
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Trivia[]
- In the original Middleton illustrations, the first and second red engines were depicted as the same character, hence them having the same wheel configuration.
- The engine's role in the Thomas & Friends episode adaptation of The Sad Story of Henry was filled by Thomas. In the adaptation of the story in the Thomas & Friends special The Adventure Begins, the engine's role was filled by James.
The Second Red Tender Engine[]
In the C. Reginald Dalby illustrations, the second red engine once tried to push Henry out of a tunnel, but without success.[1] It is unknown what happened to the engine following this event.
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.[1]
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
Exactly like James, this engine is based on a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) Class 28, a class of 0-6-0 mixed-traffic tender engine designed by George Hughes for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and built by Horwich Works between 1909 and 1912, but with a 3500 gallon Fowler tender.
It was a rebuild of Aspinall's Class 27, with the addition of a Belpaire firebox, a Schmidt/"twin-plug" superheater and the extension of the footplate and front sandboxes and a Fowler tender.
Livery[]
This engine is painted red with black lining and yellow boiler bands. His dome is painted red and his rooftop is painted black. His front and driving wheels are red while his tender wheels are black. Unlike James, he does not have handrails.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series
Companion Volumes
|
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 replaced by Thomas. Ironically, James took his role in the special, The Adventure Begins, in his original black livery. In the 1953 adaptation of The Sad Story of Henry, his role was also replaced by James.
The Blue Tank Engine[]
- “Here are your trucks, James. Have you got some bootlaces ready?”
- ― The Blue Tank Engine teasing James
A Blue Tank Engine was once seen shunting trucks at Tidmouth Yards.
Biography[]
The 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. [2]
It is unknown what happened to the engine afterwards, although it can be assumed he was either scrapped or relocated to a different part of the Island.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The tank engine's basis is unknown. He appears to have either a 0-4-2T or 0-4-4T wheel arrangement with inside cylinders. He bears some resemblance to the Midland Railway 690 class, so it is possible he may be one of the Midland Railway Engines or a loaned engine. He could also be based on an NER Class O, especially since some extended side tanks are visible in the illustrations.
Livery[]
The tank engine is painted bright blue with red lining, similar to the North Western Railway's livery of the same colour scheme.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- James the Red Engine - Troublesome Trucks (not named)
- Toby the Tram Engine - Dirty Objects (possible cameo)
Companion Volumes[]
- 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection (not named)
- 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine (Est. 1945): Style Guide (cameo)
Books[]
- 2003 - James (not named)
- 2011 - James the Red Engine (not named)
Miscellaneous[]
- 1986 - James the Red Engine (puzzle) (cameo)
- 2011 - Thomas and A Lot of Engines! (cameo)
Trivia[]
- The tank engine's role was replaced in the adaptations:
- In the first series of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends episode, "Troublesome Trucks" and the magazine story based of the episode, the tank engine's role was replaced with Thomas.
- In The Railway Series pop-up book, James the Red Engine and the Troublesome Trucks, the tank engine's role was replaced with a dark green tank engine.
- In the Thomas & Friends: Engine Adventures book, "James", the tank engine's role was replaced with Charlie.
- A similar-looking engine appears to be pulling the Breakdown Train after James collided with some tar tankers. [3]
- In an Australian jigsaw puzzle, the engine is incorrectly painted red and has an 0-6-2 wheel configuration.
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. [4]
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.
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- The tank engine's role is based on the Little Blue Tank Engine in The Railway Series book, James the Red Engine.
Percy's Ghost Engine[]
This Ghost Engine was mentioned in a ghost story Percy told to Thomas and Toby, which his driver told him about the night prior. The story stated that the ghost steam train fell to its doom in a ravine where a viaduct was going to be built, and its ghost continues to run every year on the anniversary of the accident as a warning to others. However, Thomas refused to believe him and Percy's driver confirmed to him that the ghost was just television fiction. Percy could not help but feel disappointed. When Percy crashed into a cart of lime, a signalman remarked that Percy looked like a ghost. This gave Percy an idea to scare Thomas. With the help of Toby, they convinced Thomas that Percy had crashed and returned as a ghost, thus scaring Thomas out of the shed. Later, Toby jokingly told Percy that Thomas had seen a ghost.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- Tramway Engines - Ghost Train (mentioned) and Woolly Bear (mentioned)
Companion Volumes[]
- 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection (mentioned)
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)
Sixteen's Friends[]
When Sixteen worked at the steelworks, he worked with several other industrial engines who were described by Wilbert as his friends. Unlike Sixteen, they obeyed the rules and never went beyond the danger notice at the tip. They tried their best to warn Sixteen not to go beyond the danger notice, to no avail. It is likely that at least some of them wore the numbers 1 to 15.
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
- Wilbert the Forest Engine - Cab Over Wheels (not seen)
Companion volumes[]
- 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection (not seen)
The Hunslet Diesels[]
The Hunslet Diesels were two narrow gauge diesel engines, 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. He was put into service as a secondary diesel (to Rusty) and used exclusively for maintenance and engineering work. [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[]
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 BR and industrial locomotives.
A number of background engines were inserted into earlier The Railway Series volumes by William Middleton and C. Reginald Dalby, including 87546 and 98462.[6] The vast majority of these engines are undocumented in The Railway Series. No details about them are given, however some are possibly seen in the form of background appearances.
One engine was a blue 0-6-0 tender engine seen heading towards Vicarstown Station, as Thomas backed down on several trucks. A second engine appeared outside Tidmouth Sheds as James, Gordon, Henry and Percy spoke inside, and unlike Edward, it has a sloped front footplate. It is possible these are illustration errors of established characters, including Gordon and Edward.
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[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 RWS #1: The Three Railway Engines - "The Sad Story of Henry"
- ↑ RWS #3: James the Red Engine - "Troublesome Trucks"
- ↑ RWS #7: Toby the Tram Engine - "Dirty Objects"
- ↑ RWS James the Red Engine and the Troublesome Trucks
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 RWS: Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
- ↑ "The Thomas the Tank Engine Man" p.119-120
| Locomotives | Steam | Skarloey | Rheneas | Sir Handel | Peter Sam | Duncan | Ivo Hugh | Duke |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Rusty | Fred | | |
| Other | Ivo's Flying Bedstead | Skarloey Funicular Railway Cars | |
| Rolling Stock | Passenger | Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy and Beatrice | Ada, Jane and Mabel | Cora | Gertrude and Millicent | Saloon Coaches | Quarrymen's Coaches |
| Goods | Slate Trucks | Open End Door Wagons | Plank Trucks | V-Tipper Wagons | Side Tipping Wagons | Mineral Wagons | Vans | |
| People | The Owner (Sir Handel Brown I, Sir Handel Brown II) | The Thin Controller (Mr. Mack, Mr. Robert Sam, Mr. Peter Sam, Mr. Roger Sam) | Mr. Hugh (David Hugh I, Ivo Hugh, David Hugh II) | |
| Infrastructure | Stations | Crovan's Gate | Cros-ny-Cuirn | Glennock | Rheneas | Lakeside | Skarloey |
| Sheds | Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds | |
| Tunnels and Bridges | Rheneas Bridge | Rheneas Tunnel | Rheneas Viaduct | |
| 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** | |