Oil and Diesel Tankers (T&F)

The Railway Series

Thomas & Friends

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Oil and Diesel Tankers
Background Information
First appearance	Salty's Secret (2002)
Last appearance	Thomas' Animal Friends (2021)
Creator(s)	Robin Kingsland
Character Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England
Technical Details
Basis	14 Ton Fuel Tanker
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Tanker
Wheels	4
Builder(s)	Hurst Nelson, Motherwell
Year built	1912-1921
Number	082023[1]
Railway	North Western Railway
Company	Sodor Oil Company
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

The Oil Tankers, later known as Diesel Tankers, are used for transporting crude oil and diesel fuel.

The diesel fuel is used to power machinery that run on diesel. The diesel tankers are usually found at the Vicarstown Dieselworks.

Personalities

Sentient tankers fall into the category of Troublesome Tankers.

Types of sentient tankers in the Television Series:

Oil Tankers

Oil and Diesel Tankers

Technical Details

Basis

These tankers are based on standard 14-ton pre-war tankers common across most of regions.

A tanker in real life

Livery

The oil/diesel tankers are painted black. They formerly had "OIL" painted in white on both sides. Since the switch to CGI, the tankers now have a logo of an oil rig with oil gushing out of it in an olive circle, replacing the former "OIL" title.

Appearances

• Television Series
• Other Media

Thomas & Friends Series 6 - Salty's Secret, Harvey to the Rescue, No Sleep for Cranky, A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter, Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry, Twin Trouble, James and the Red Balloon, Gordon Takes a Tumble, Percy's Chocolate Crunch, Thomas the Jet Engine and Edward the Very Useful Engine Series 7 - Emily's New Coaches, Percy Gets it Right, Edward's Brass Band, James and the Queen of Sodor, The Spotless Record, Bad Day at Castle Loch, Salty's Stormy Tale, Snow Engine, Something Fishy, Peace and Quiet, Bulgy Rides Again, Best Dressed Engine, Gordon and Spencer and Not So Hasty Puddings Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - Jack Owns Up, Mud Glorious Mud and Percy Helps Out Series 8 - Thomas and the Tuba, Thomas to the Rescue, Henry and the Wishing Tree, James Gets a New Coat, Percy's Big Mistake, Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough, Don't Tell Thomas, Emily's New Route, Spic and Span, Squeak, Rattle and Roll, Thomas and the Circus, As Good as Gordon, Fish, Emily's Adventure, Halloween, You Can Do it, Toby!, James Goes Too Far, Chickens to School and Percy and the Magic Carpet Series 9 - Percy and the Oil Painting, Respect for Gordon, Thomas and the Toy Shop, Toby Feels Left Out, Thomas and the Statue, Emily Knows Best, Thomas' New Trucks, Thomas and the Golden Eagle and Flour Power Series 10 - Thomas and the Jet Plane, Percy and the Funfair, Toby's Afternoon Off, Big Strong Henry, Thomas' Frosty Friend, Emily and the Special Coaches and Thomas and the Colours Series 11 - Emily's Rubbish, Dream On, Dirty Work, Hector the Horrid!, Gordon and the Engineer, Henry's Lucky Day, Thomas and the Lighthouse, Smoke and Mirrors, Thomas Sets Sail, Don't be Silly, Billy, Edward and the Mail, Hide and Peep, Toby's Triumph, Thomas and the Runaway Car, Thomas in Trouble and Thomas and the Stinky Cheese Series 12 - Henry Gets it Wrong, Heave Ho Thomas!, Tram Trouble, Don't Go Back, Thomas Puts the Brakes On and Best Friends Series 13 - Creaky Cranky, The Lion of Sodor, Tickled Pink, Slippy Sodor, The Early Bird, Play Time, Time for a Story, Percy's Parcel, A Blooming Mess, Thomas and the Runaway Kite, Steamy Sodor, Splish Splash Splosh, Snow Tracks, Henry's Good Deeds, Buzzy Bees and Hiro Helps Out Series 14 - James in the Dark, Pingy Pongy Pick Up, Toby and the Whistling Woods, Henry's Health and Safety, Victor Says Yes, Thomas in Charge, Being Percy, Merry Winter Wish, Thomas' Crazy Day, Thomas and Scruff and Henry's Magic Box Series 15 - Emily and Dash, Henry's Happy Coal, Let it Snow, Surprise, Surprise, Stuck on You, Kevin the Steamie, Percy the Snowman, Tree Trouble and Fiery Flynn Series 16 - Express Coming Through, Percy and the Monster of Brendam, Ho Ho Snowman, Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Thomas Toots the Crows, Bust My Buffers!, Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor, Salty's Surprise, Sodor Surprise Day, Emily's Winter Party Special, Muddy Matters, Whiff's Wish and The Christmas Tree Express Series 17 - No Snow for Thomas and Away From the Sea Series 18 - Disappearing Diesels, Signals Crossed, Toad's Adventure, Duck in the Water, Emily Saves the World, Timothy and the Rainbow Truck and Samson at Your Service Series 19 - Who's Geoffrey?, Lost Property, Henry Spots Trouble, A Cranky Christmas, The Beast of Sodor, Toad and the Whale, Very Important Sheep, Salty All at Sea, Two Wheels Good, Reds vs. Blues, Best Engine Ever, The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead, Philip to the Rescue, Diesel's Ghostly Christmas, Thomas the Babysitter, The Other Side of the Mountain and Goodbye Fat Controller Series 20 - Toby's New Friend, Henry Gets the Express, Diesel and the Ducklings, Bradford the Brake Van, Saving Time, Pouty James, Letters to Santa, The Railcar and the Coaches, All in Vain, Tit for Tat, Henry in the Dark and The Missing Breakdown Train Series 21 - P.A. Problems, Cranky at the End of the Line, Philip's Number, The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor, A Shed for Edward, The Big Freeze and Confused Coaches Series 22 - Number One Engine, An Engine of Many Colours, Outback Thomas, School of Duck, Apology Impossible, Thomas' Animal Ark, The Case of the Puzzling Parts, Counting on Nia and Hunt the Truck Series 23 - Free the Roads, Crowning Around, Chucklesome Trucks, Gordon Gets the Giggles, Diesel Do Right, Steam Team to the Rescue and Panicky Percy Series 24 - Thomas and the Royal Engine, Emily's Best Friend, World of Tomorrow, Sonny's Second Chance, Thomas and the Inventor's Workshop, Gordon and Rebecca, Coming Through!, Kenji on the Rails Again, Cleo the Road Engine and Thomas' Animal Friends Specials 2005 - Calling All Engines! 2008 - The Great Discovery 2009 - Hero of the Rails 2010 - Misty Island Rescue 2011 - Day of the Diesels 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery 2015 - The Adventure Begins 2016 - The Great Race 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor 2018 - Big World! Big Adventures! Music Videos Series 7 - Five New Engines in the Shed Series 9 - Day and Night Learning Segments Series 8 - Steamies and Diesels Sounds, Truck Trouble, Helping One Another and What Makes Percy Feel Better? Videos 2015 - Welcome to the Island of Sodor Sam! and A New Friend on Sodor 2016 - Thomas & Friends in 4-D: Bubbling Boilers

Books 2004 - James and the Queen of Sodor and Thomas and the Jet Engine 2005 - Calling All Engines! Colouring and Activity Book, Story Treasury and Thomas the Tank Engine Encyclopedia 2006 - Edward, the Very Useful Engine and Gordon Takes a Tumble 2007 - Thomas and the Jet Engine 2008 - Thomas, Emily and the Special Coaches 2009 - A Little Rest for Murdoch, Dirty Whiff, Emily's New Route, Percy and the Spirit of the Island of Sodor, Thomas' Busy Day, Thomas and the Lighthouse and You Can Do It, Toby! 2010 - 10 Books Special Collection, Thomas and Diesel, Emily's Special Surprise, James the Jealous Engine, Thomas and his Best Friend, Thomas, Emily and the Special Coaches, Thomas, James and the Dirty Work and Thomas the Tank Engine: Through the Years 2011 - Edward is the Best, Day of the Diesels: The Movie Storybook, Thomas Bedtime Stories and Train Hide and Seek 2012 - Bad! The Special Compartment is Gone, Fire Engine Flynn, Flynn, the Fire Engine, Henry's Magic Box, Oh no! Hat Has Flown Away, Snowy Tracks and Buzzy Bees 2013 - Christmas Surprise for Salty, Do Not Refuse Me and Find the Christmas Tree 2014 - Don't Say I Can't 2015 - The Adventure Begins and Thomas Goods Encyclopedia 2016 - Race to Callan Castle/The Best Engines Ever and Thomas and Fire Engine Flynn 2017 - Thomas and the Buzzy Bees and Thomas and the Snowy Tracks 2020 - Thomas and the Royal Engine 2021 - Thomas Hits the Rails! 2022 - Nia Learns Numbers Annual Stories 2011 - A Blooming Mess!, Percy's Parcel, Snow Tracks 2012 - The Biggest Present 2013 - The Best Present of All Magazine Stories 1990 - Too Hot 2004 - Double Trouble!, Edward to the Rescue!, Engine Trouble, Really Useful Edward, Rocket Power, Spic and Span, and Too Big for his Buffers! 2005 - Scrapyard Scare, Spick and Span, Thomas' Hallowe'en and You Can Do It, Toby! 2006 - A Fishy Tale, Emily Knows Best and Thomas and the Statue 2007 - A Job for James 2008 - Thomas and the Lighthouse! and Toby's Triumph 2010 - Henry Gets It Wrong!, Magpie Mavis, Percy's Parcel, Snow Tracks and The Best Present of All 2011 - Snow Tracks, Victor Says Yes and Winter Wish 2012 - Thomas Toots the Crows 2013 - Christmas Tree Express 2015 - The Perfect Present 2016 - Thomas Toots the Crows 2017 - Emily's Winter Party Special 2020 - Diesel Do Right, Free the Roads!, Gordon and Rebecca, Coming Through! and The Royal Engine 2022 - Chucklesome Trucks and Kenji on the Rails Again 2024 - Emily's Best Friend Video Games 2006 - TeleStory: Thomas Visits the Toy Shop and Thomas' Milkshake Mix

Official Description

• 2006-2012

From Official Media:

“

Oil Tanker: Engines on Sodor need oil to ensure a smooth ride on the rails and to take care of squeaky wheels![2] Historical Note: Like the Tar and Milk wagons, the Sodor Oil Trucks are similar to rolling stock developed in the 1940's and 1950's. They remained in service throughout Britain for several years.[3]

”

Trivia

• Some oil/diesel tankers gain faces in Journey Beyond Sodor. Faceless ones are still seen regularly though.
• One oil tanker model is currently on display at the Hara Model Railway Museum. Another oil tanker model and its face is owned by Twitter user TomsProps. A third oil tanker with its face is owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch. Two other oil tankers with faces used to be on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park.
• Their models were repainted from the Tar Tankers and the standard tankers dating back to the second series when the latter was painted silver.
• Their models are almost identical to tar tankers except the tar lettering is replaced by oil.
• These tankers were originally referred to as "Oil Tankers" between the sixth to seventeenth series and merchandise ranges. It wasn't until the eighteenth series episode, Disappearing Diesels, which they were used to refuel Diesel and Paxton. In the twenty-third series episode, Steam Team to the Rescue, they were officially referred to "Diesel Tankers" by Sir Topham Hatt.
• In the Lionel Trains merchandise range, they are North American unibody tank cars with bogies.

Merchandise

• Bachmann (HO, G and N scale)
• Lionel Trains
• Mega Bloks (discontinued)
• Motor Road and Rail
• Tomica
• TrackMaster (discontinued)
• Hornby (discontinued)
• Take Along (discontinued)
• Take-n-Play (discontinued)
• Wooden Railway (discontinued)
• ERTL Gold Rail (discontinued)
• Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)

North Western Railway

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--- Dropped | * 1991-1994 maps only | ** 2014 map only

United Kingdom

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