| For other uses, see Oliver. |
- "This is an important day for the Island of Sodor!"
"Thanks to Oliver's careful digging!"
"It makes me proud to be an excavator." - ― Sir Topham Hatt, Jenny Packard and Alfie remark on Oliver's discovery of the dinosaur skeleton
Oliver is a big excavator who works for the Sodor Construction Company.
Biography
In his first appearance, Oliver was helping to clear room for new railway lines at the quarry. Later, the Foreman assigned Oliver to move some rocks, but Jack wanted to do it and instead toppled over a hill. Jack learned his lesson and after that he allowed Oliver to continue with his jobs. Once, Oliver uncovered a complete dinosaur skeleton while digging a swimming pool. The following day, Oliver was on the front page of the Sodor Times with the headline, "Digger Digs Dino!"
When Max and Monty carelessly crashed into the lightning tree, Alfie, Kelly and Oliver used their arms to prevent the tree from falling over until it was propped and saved. However, he proved to be unsuccessful after trying to demolish a building with a wrecking ball.
Oliver, along with the rest of the Pack, also helped with the restoration of Great Waterton.
Oliver later helped to construct the Harwick Branch Line with Jack, Alfie, Max and Monty. While he was heading to the site, he ended up blocking Bertie's way which made him very annoyed since he lost a race with Thomas. When Marion first met the excavator, she believed that Oliver the engine had made a wish to Rex, Bert and Mike (who Marion believed to be magical) to turn himself into an excavator. Oliver tried to explain, but Marion gave the excavator no chance to do so. It was not until the opening ceremony of the new branch line that Marion found out that there were two Olivers on Sodor.
Later on, when he, Jack, Alfie, Max and Monty were working on the Ffarquhar Branch Line, one of the dump truck twins knocked a rock into the hydraulics in Oliver's arm, causing him to become disabled. When he was repaired, Oliver helped clear the branch line after Max and Monty dumped their loads on the line.
After James' accident at Tidmouth Sheds when his brakes malfunctioned, Oliver helped with the shed's reconstruction.
Personality
Oliver is wise and kind and keeps an eye on the other members of the Pack. He is good-mannered and hard-working and never complains about his work or gets impatient. He has the power and precision capability of moving and digging tons of earth in a single day. He likes to be a leader and treats the younger members of the Pack with respect.
Technical Details
Basis
Oliver's exact basis is unknown and appears to be a freelance design.
Livery
Oliver is painted pale brown with a pale green panel on his back and his number painted on him in red. Oliver has the cap rim of a builder's hat between his forehead and cab windows.
Appearances
Books
My Thomas Story LibraryMagazine Stories
Video Games
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Official Description
From Official Media[1]
| “ | Oliver: Oliver is an excavator of considerable size, power and precision, capable of moving and digging tons of earth in a single day. Despite his size and weight, he is incredibly graceful and his manners are impeccable. Oliver can always be relied upon by Miss Jenny as the team leader when Kelly is not available. | ” |
From Official Website[2]
| “ | Oliver the Excavator: Oliver is a kind and wise old excavator who keeps an eye on the other members of the construction crew. He is capable of switching between different tools, including a bucket, a chisel for digging, a scissor claw and a wrecking ball for demolition. Oliver is good-mannered and hard-working, and never complains about his work. | ” |
From Official Website[3]
| “ | Oliver the Excavator: Oliver is a kind and wise old excavator who keeps an eye on the other members of the construction crew. Oliver is good-mannered and hard-working, and never complains about his work.
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” |
Audio Files
Horns
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Jack and the Sodor Construction Company | The Great Discovery | |
| Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure | Series 23 |
Trivia
- Oliver is capable of switching between different tools, including his usual bucket, a chisel for digging, a scissor claw and a wrecking ball for demolition. The twenty-third series would add a fifth tool, a pneumatic jackhammer.
- An early concept art design for Oliver reveals his name was originally meant to be Buster. That name would actually be given to another Pack member instead.
- Tim Whitnall gave Oliver an Irish accent.
- In the US dub, Michael Brandon would give Oliver a signature hum or grunt whenever Oliver would approve or be dissatisfied about something.
- Oliver is the first character to share his name with another major character in Thomas & Friends and the second to do so if both The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends are counted together.
- The first pair was Bert in The Railway Series (and later in Thomas & Friends) and Iron Bert in Thomas & Friends.
- The third pair was Bertram and Sir Topham Hatt (only from the thirteenth series to the fifteenth series) in Thomas & Friends.
- The fourth pair was Stephen Hatt and Stephen in Thomas & Friends (and The Railway Series for Stephen Hatt.
- Like the engine, his name is Olek in the Polish dub.
- In the mobile game, Express Delivery, Oliver's model was duplicated twice for unknown reasons.
- According to pre-production material, Oliver was meant to be paired with Ned as a comedic duo styled after Laurel and Hardy, with Oliver based on Oliver Hardy.
Merchandise
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail (discontinued; reintroduced)
- Wooden Railway (paired with Oliver the GWR engine; discontinued)
- Adventures (paired with Jack, Thomas and a Truck, sold only in Jack and the Pack 4-Pack; discontinued)
References
| Vehicles | Nelson | Jack | Alfie | Oliver | Max and Monty | Kelly | Byron | Ned | Isobella | Patrick | Brenda | Buster | Darcy | |
|---|---|
| People and Animals | Jenny Packard | Sodor Construction Company Staff | Mike |
| Locations | Sodor Construction Company Yard |