Molly

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This article is about the steam engine. You may be looking for the Story Library book.

Molly the Yellow Engine
Background Information
First appearance	Thomas' Milkshake Muddle (T&F)
Last appearance	The Great Discovery (T&F)
Creator(s)	Paul Larson Simon Spencer
Overview
Name	Molly
Title	Molly the Yellow Engine
Gender	Female
Country	Island of Sodor England (formerly)
Affiliation	North Western Railway Thomas Gordon Percy Emily Neville Murdoch
Technical Details
Basis	GER D56/LNER D15 "Claud Hamilton"
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Power type	Steam
Vehicle	Locomotive
Type	Tender engine
Fuel type	Coal
Configuration	4-4-0
Wheels	14
Top speed	85 mph (137 kph)
Designer(s)	James Holden Frederick V. Russell
Builder(s)	Stratford Works
Year built	Sometime between 1903 and 1911
Railway	North Western Railway
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

Molly is a bright yellow tender engine. She is very kind and pulls goods and passenger trains.

Biography

Thomas & Friends

When Molly first came to the railway, Emily laughed at her for having to haul "empties" to the Coaling Plant. Molly's feelings were hurt, so Thomas came up with an idea. He had workmen decorate Molly's trucks with lanterns and cover them with tarpaulins, to make them look special to the other engines. The wind, however, blew off a tarpaulin in front of Gordon, Percy and Emily. Molly ran away, embarrassed until she learned that engines at the depot needed her empty trucks to carry coal. When Molly arrived at the depot, Edward, Henry and James were grateful to see her; but Gordon was irritated when he had to wait at a signal for Molly's and Thomas' trains to pass.

When Emily had to work with Whiff, Molly was one of a number of engines who laughed at her, paying her back for their first meeting. Later, Molly helped James with the removal of pipes on the line during a busy winter, and then she advised Thomas to slow down when he was taking a sailing boat for the Mayor of Sodor.

In The Great Discovery, Molly received news from Bill and Ben that Stanley had found Thomas. She later attended the Sodor Day celebrations at Great Waterton.

Personality

Molly is a powerful, bright yellow steam engine. She is proud of her strength and is happy to put it to use as one of Sodor's bigger engines. She often works pulling empty trucks to the coaling plant. Being a sensitive engine, she often worries about fading into the background. Sometimes taking "empties" makes her feel less important and sad, but in the end, she will usually see that it is a vital part of operations and an important task after all. Molly has a peacekeeper attitude, tends to be rather sensible, and is looked upon as a "big sister" by some of the other engines. However, because of her sensitivity, she can be easily embarrassed or upset by conflict, and will steam away to avoid it, but will usually have the courage to do what she thinks is right. Molly likes to be as good as everyone else and wants the other engines to think the best of her.

Technical Details

Basis

Molly is based on a Great Eastern Railway (GER) D56 Class "Claud Hamilton", classified as D15 by the London and North Eastern Railway, with a Belpaire firebox, sandboxes on her wheel splashers, and the smaller 'water-cart' tender. Claud Hamiltons under the classes S46/D14, D56/D15, and H88/D16 were built at Stratford Works from 1900 to 1923. Under the LNER, most members of the class were rebuilt into the Gresley designed D16/3 sub-class. Members of this class pulled the Royal Train from Wolverton to the Sandringham Estate for several decades. The last D15 was withdrawn in 1952, while the last rebuilt Claud was withdrawn in 1960. None are preserved, though there are plans to construct a replica of D16/2 No. 8783 which is to be named Phoenix.

The original 8783 that is also a GER D56 class made a cameo appearance in the Railway Series book, "Toby, Trucks and Trouble".

Molly's basis

Livery

Molly is painted bright yellow with red and gold boiler bands, red and bronze lining, and a white roof and wheel rims.

Appearances

• Television Series
• Other Media

Thomas & Friends Series 9 - Thomas' Milkshake Muddle (cameo), Molly's Special Special and Thomas and the Golden Eagle (cameo) Series 10 - Big Strong Henry (cameo), Sticky Toffee Thomas (cameo), Emily and the Special Coaches (cameo) and Thomas and the Birthday Mail (cameo) Series 11 - Emily's Rubbish (does not speak), Henry's Lucky Day and Thomas Sets Sail Specials 2008 - The Great Discovery (does not speak) Music Videos Series 9 - Day and Night and Every Day's a Special Day on Sodor Series 10 - Favourite Place, Navigation, There's Always Something New Responsibility and Engine Roll Call (Rock 'n' Roll Version) The Great Discovery - Thomas, You're the Leader

Books 2006 - Molly 2007 - Ride Along with Thomas 2008 - Steam Engine Stories (cameo) 2010 - Let's Go, Thomas! (cameo) 2009 - Watch Me Draw Thomas & Friends 2011 - The Big Book of Engines 2012 - Copy the Stickers Colouring Book and Full Steam Ahead! 2017 - Thomas' Color Book Molly also appeared in the book, Smart Henry and Sliding Puzzle Books. Magazine Stories 2006 - Well, well! and Splendid Sight (cameo) 2007 - Post Train Plane and Shady Business 2008 - Percy's Post!, Being Bright (does not speak) and Just in Time 2009 - Luggage Lorry 2011 - Hooked Hat, Dolly Molly and Post Train Plane! 2012 - Percy the Post Train (does not speak) Molly also appeared in the magazine stories, Double Disaster, Smoky Sky, Super Splash, Super Stunt and The Kettle Train. Video Games 2006 - Right on Time 2008 - Begins Educational Learning 2017 - Read and Play! Molly also appeared in DVD Bingo.

Audio Files

Theme

First used	Last used	Composer	Theme
Series 9	Series 9	Robert Hartshorne

Whistles

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Series 10	Read and Play!

In one of the games on the Official Website, Whistle and Peep, Molly is incorrectly portrayed with Stanley's whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Whistle and Peep	Whistle and Peep

In Right on Time, Molly is incorrectly portrayed with Henry's whistle at a half step higher in pitch.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Right on Time	Right on Time

In Molly the Bright Yellow Engine in the mobile app, Read and Play!, Molly has a sad whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Molly the Bright Yellow Engine (Read and Play!)	Molly the Bright Yellow Engine (Read and Play!

Trivia

• Molly had a total of four facial expressions during the model series era and were all used on-screen as well as four prototype faces, but were not used on-screen. However her prototype happy face appeared in promotional shots, the Official Website, and in some Thomas & Friends magazine stories. This is assumed to be a prototype face, as it was never used in the television series. Her final face also has slightly more feminine features.
  • The face was also used on her Take Along card and all merchandise lines except for the Capsule plarail line. The Motor road and rail, My first thomas, and TrackMaster range face covers the whole smokebox but is designed like her standard face.
  • Her original faces are now owned by ThomasTankMerch on Twitter, including two that were never shown in public until then.
• Molly's model used to be on display at Nitrogen Studios and wore her happy face. It is now on display at Drayton Manor and is wearing her content face.
• Although Molly's tender wheels are black, most merchandise ranges have them yellow, excluding Motor road and rail and TrackMaster.
  • Additionally, her Take Along tender has six wheels but her Take-n-Play tender has only four wheels.
• Molly's Take Along, Capsule Plarail and My First Thomas toys depict her with black buffers, as well as several magazine stories.
• Molly's whistle sound is Douglas' fourth series whistle at two steps lower-pitched. It is also Thomas', but at twelve steps lower-pitched.
• Molly is the first female steam engine to be painted yellow, the second being Flora and the third being Rebecca.
• In the Thomas Making Tracks Game on the front, it shows Molly without her tender.

Quotes

“Hello!" Thomas puffed cheerfully.
"Hello." Molly chuffed back. Molly looked sad.
"What's the matter?" Asked Thomas.
"Emily laughed at me because I have to take empty trucks to the coaling plant". Molly puffed sadly. "I want to take full trucks like a really useful engine!”

―Molly being introduced, Molly's Special Special, ninth series

“With your trucks covered up, no one will know they are empty." Puffed Thomas."We can make everyone think you're carrying a special delivery."
"Then I will feel important!" Molly chuffed cheerfully.”

―Thomas telling Molly his plan, Molly's Special Special, ninth series

“Molly had stopped in a siding. She looked very sad.
"I'm sorry I made you look silly." Puffed Thomas "But they are waiting for your empty trucks at the coaling plant."
"But I've nearly run out of coal." Moaned Molly.
"Don't worry." Puffed Thomas. "I can help you get there.”

―Thomas and Molly, Molly's Special Special, ninth series

“We need even more trucks!" Chuffed Henry
"I'll get them!" Molly chuffed cheerfully.
"And I'll help!" Puffed Thomas.”

―Henry, Molly and Thomas, Molly's Special Special, ninth series

“Out of the way!" Puffed Molly. "Empty trucks coming through!”

―Molly, Molly's Special Special, ninth series

“I thought you were collecting presents." Chuffed Molly.”

―Molly, Henry's Lucky Day, eleventh series

“Be careful, Thomas!" Molly tooted. "The wind is filling the boat's sails!”

―Molly's final line of dialogue, Thomas Sets Sail, eleventh series

Merchandise

• Wooden Railway (normal and talking, discontinued)
• Take Along (normal and metallic, discontinued)
• Take-n-Play (discontinued)
• Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)
• TrackMaster (normal and R/C, discontinued)
• My First Thomas (talking; discontinued)
• My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)
• Capsule Plarail
• Switch-On Keychains (discontinued)
• Bath Toys (discontinued)

References

North Western Railway

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* RWS only | ** T&F only | --- Dropped