Molly

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

“I want to take full trucks/cars, like a Really Useful engine!”

― Molly, Molly's Special Special, ninth season

Molly
Background Information
First appearance	Molly's Special Special (T&F)
Last appearance	The Great Discovery
Creator(s)	Paul Larson(T&F)
Character Overview
Gender	Female
Country	Island of Sodor
Technical Details
Basis	GER D56/LNER D15 "Claud Hamilton"
Power type	Steam
Configuration	4-4-0
Wheels	14
Top speed	90 mph
Designer(s)	James Holden and Frederick V. Russell
Builder(s)	GER Stratford Works
Year built	sometime between 1903 and 1911
Railway	North Western Railway
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt (T&F)

Molly is a powerful, bright yellow tender engine.

Bio

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 annoyed 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. 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.

Persona

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.

Basis

Molly is based on a Great Eastern Railway D56 Class

"Claud Hamilton", classified as D15 by the London and North Eastern Railway, with a Belpaire firebox. 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 Sardingham 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.

The original 8783 cameoed in The Railway Series book, Toby, Trucks and Trouble.

Livery

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

Appearances

• Television Series
• Other Media

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Season 9 - Molly's Special Special, Thomas' Milkshake Muddle (cameo) and Thomas and the Golden Eagle (cameo) Season 10 - Big Strong Henry (cameo), Sticky Toffee Thomas (cameo), Emily and the Special Coaches (cameo) and Thomas and the Birthday Mail (cameo) Season 11 - Emily's Rubbish (cameo), Henry's Lucky Day and Thomas Sets Sail Specials 2008 - The Great Discovery (does not speak) Music Videos Day and Night, Every Day's a Special Day on Sodor, Favourite Place, Navigation, There's Always Something New, Responsibility, Engine Roll Call (Rock 'n' roll Version) and Thomas, You're the Leader Learning Segments Season 12 - Thomas' Favourite Friends - Rosie and Molly

Books 2006 - Molly 2007 - Ride Along with Thomas 2008 - Steam Engine Stories (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.

Voice Actors

• Keiko Nemoto (Japan)
• Blanche Ravalec (France and French-speaking Canada)
• Celine Fontanges (Germany; Audio Books only)

Trivia

• Molly appeared with a larger face in promotional shots and in certain Thomas and Friends magazine stories. This is assumed to be a prototype face, as it was never used in the television series. The face was also used on her Take Along card and all merchandise lines except for the Wind-up line. The TOMY and TrackMaster range face covers the whole smoke box 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.
• On the newly designed Official Website, Molly's promo has her large face.
• One of Molly's models used to be on display at Nitrogen Studios.
• According to The Big Book of Engines, Molly's nickname is 'Molly the Mighty!'.
• Even though Molly's tender wheels are black, most merchandise ranges have them yellow, except for TOMY and TrackMaster.
• Molly's whistle sound is a two-tone variation of Duck's.

Merchandise

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

North Western Railway

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