| This article is about the steam engine. You may be looking for the Story Library book. |
Molly is a powerful, yellow mixed traffic tender engine. She primarily works on the mainline and is never seen on branch lines usually.
Biography
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 she 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".
Livery
Molly is painted bright yellow with red and gold boiler bands, red and bronze lining, and a white roof and wheel rims.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
Specials
Music Videos
Learning Segments |
Books
Molly also appeared in the book, Smart Henry and Sliding Puzzle Books. My Thomas Story Library
Magazine Stories
Molly also appeared in the magazine stories, Double Disaster, Smoky Sky, Super Splash, Super Stunt and The Kettle Train. Video Games
Molly also appeared in DVD Bingo. |
Official Description
| “ | Molly: Molly is a large, powerful and bright yellow steam engine. She's proud of her strength, but Molly is also very sensitive. She wants the other engines to think the best of her. She finds any conflict very upsetting and steams away to avoid it.
|
” |
Audio Files
Theme
| First used | Last used | Composer | Theme Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 9 | Series 9 | Robert Hartshorne |
Whistles
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Series 10 | Read and Play! |
In Right on Time, Molly has 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 was originally given a much larger face - with four known different expressions being sculpted for her at this size - however was later given the smaller face she has in episodes.
- Despite never appearing on-screen, her prototype happy face appeared in promotional shots, the Official Website, and in some Thomas & Friends magazine stories.
- The face was also used on her Take Along card and all merchandise lines except for the Capsule Plarail line, bath toy, Switch-on keychain, Motor Road and Rail, My First Thomas, and TrackMaster. Some of her merchandise's face covers the whole smokebox but is designed like her standard face.
- Three of 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 used to be on display at Drayton Manor and it was wearing her content face.
- Although Molly's tender wheels are black, most merchandise ranges have them in 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.
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
References
| Locomotives | Steam | Thomas | Henry | Gordon | James | Donald and Douglas | Emily | Murdoch | Molly | Nia | Rebecca |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | BoCo | |
| Former | Edward | |
| Rolling Stock | Passenger | Annie and Clarabel | Emily's Coaches | Green Express Coaches | Red Express Coaches |
| Former | The Spiteful Brake Van | Slip Coaches | |
| Trains | Passenger | The Express | The Local | The Great Waterton Special |
| Goods | The Flying Kipper | The Midnight Goods | |
| Infrastructure | Stations | Tidmouth | Lower Tidmouth** | Knapford | Crosby | Wellsworth | Maron | Cronk** | Killdane** | Balladrine** | Kellaby** | Whispering Woods Halt** | Kellsthorpe Road** | Crovan's Gate | Great Waterton** | Vicarstown | Barrow-in-Furness** |
| Sheds | Tidmouth Sheds | Ffarquhar Sheds | Knapford Sheds | Crovan's Gate Sheds* | Vicarstown Sheds | |
| Tunnels and Bridges | Henry's Tunnel | Crosby Tunnel | Crosby Bridge* | The Viaduct | Sodor Suspension Bridge** | Maron Bridge* | Standard Gauge and Narrow Gauge Viaduct | Vicarstown Bridge** |