Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
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“Everyone agreed that there was nothing Old or Slow about Coach, and she will always be Really Useful indeed!”
― The Narrator[src]

Old Slow Coach, sometimes simply known as Coach, is a Great Western Railway clerestory brake coach who was known for her luxurious interior.

Biography

Before coming to the Island of Sodor, Old Slow Coach was originally part of The Cornishman, taking passengers to Falmouth to catch the Transatlantic Liners. Impressed by her grand and luxurious interior, Sir Topham Hatt brought her to Sodor.[1]

Old Slow Coach was a luxurious coach when she was first brought to Sodor, but was eventually replaced by modern rolling stock. She was sent to the scrapyards and was long overdue for scrapping when Thomas and Percy met her. The two tank engines promised to try and find a way to save her and their chance came sooner than expected when the workmen's hut was destroyed by a fire. Percy suggested that Old Slow Coach could house the workmen until a new hut could be made. Old Slow Coach was cleaned and restored and taken to the beach to be used as the hut for the workmen.

After the workmen's hut was rebuilt, Old Slow Coach was brought back onto the rails to be used as a coach again. When Percy was looking for something "old" for Mrs. Kyndley's daughter's good luck package at her wedding, she became the "old" item.

Old Slow Coach has not been seen since the fifth series, however according to the writers' bible for the eighth series, she is now only used for special occasions.

Personality

After being saved from the scrapyard, Old Slow Coach was delighted to have a second chance in life and she never took it for granted. She is a happy railway coach with a polite spirit to all the engines especially Thomas and Percy. Whether she is a hut for the workmen or a coach for passengers, Old Slow Coach is just delighted to be Really Useful indeed.

Technical Details

Basis

Old Slow Coach is based on a Diagram E39 Falmouth Coupe TRI brake coach, built in 1893 for the Great Western Railway.

Livery

Old Slow Coach is painted in the Great Western Railway's chocolate and cream coach livery.

Appearances

Official Description

From Official Website:[1]

Old Slow Coach: Old Slow Coach was originally part of The Cornishman, taking passengers to Falmouth to catch the Translantic liners. Impressed by her very grand and luxurious interior, she was brought to the Island of Sodor by Sir Topham Hatt, The Fat Controller but was eventually replaced by modern rolling stock. Sent to the scrap yards, Old Slow Coach was luckily found and saved by Thomas and Percy, so she is once again very useful indeed.


Historical Note: Old Slow Coach is based upon a Falmouth Coupe TRI Composite coach, built in 1893 for the Great Western Railway.

From Official Website:[2]

Old Slow Coach: Old Slow Coach was originally used as a luxury coach to carry special passengers around the Island. Age however has worn her grand interior down, and she was sent to the scrap yards to be broken down.


Fun Fact: Right before she was to be scrapped, Percy and Thomas found Old Slow Coach, and she serves as a home for the Firemen on the Island.

Trivia

  • Old Slow Coach was the first rolling-stock character not created by the Awdrys to be introduced in the television series.
  • Old Slow Coach is the first coach with moving eyes and a moulded face like the engines, the second being Henrietta, starting from the eighteenth series.
  • Old Slow Coach is the last sentient coach created in the television series until the Slip Coaches in the eighteenth series.
  • In the Dutch dub, Old Slow Coach is referred to as 'Oldie the Coach'.
  • In the Spanish, Czech, Polish, Russian, German and Finnish dubs, Old Slow Coach is portrayed as a male.
  • Old Slow Coach was the last rolling stock character introduced in the Britt Allcroft era and the last one introduced until Rocky in the tenth series.
  • Old Slow Coach's television series model is currently on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park.
  • A similar looking coach appears in the 2003 magazine story, Fast Food.
  • Old Slow Coach's Wooden Railway toy was among the toys that were part of the Lead Paint Crisis in 2007.

Merchandise

References

  1. The Official Website, 1998 character biography



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

* 1991 map only | ** 2014 map only
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