This page is for real world human characters with minor roles.
Bernard Holden
Bernard Holden, also known as Stepney's Controller is the controller of the Bluebell Railway and accompanied Stepney to the North Western Railway on his visit.
Appearances
The Railway Series
- Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine - Bluebells of England (mentioned), Stepney's Special (mentioned) and Bowled Out (does not speak)
Trivia
- He got an MBE in 1992.
- In Bowled Out he appears similarly dressed to the Fat Controller.
- In the television series, his role is filled by the Mid Sodor Manager.
John A. Coiley
John A. Coiley is the director of the National Railway Museum in York. After the Great Railway Show had finished, he made Thomas an honorary part of the museum with Sir Topham Hatt's blessing.
Appearances
The Railway Series
Trivia
- In the real world, he stepped down as director in 1992.
Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales (born as Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor) is a member of the Royal Family and the eldest son of Elizabeth II, who has visited the Island of Sodor several times. He was read the Railway Series when he was younger by his parents.
On 25th of November 1982, Prince Charles visited the Talyllyn Railway as part of a royal tour of Wales with his wife, Diana, the Princess of Wales. Sir Handel was also visiting the railway at the time and acted as a spare engine for the Royal Train, which was pulled by Dolgoch. The Prince and Princess were then presented with some of the Thin Clergyman's books about the Skarloey Railway. When Sir Handel returned to Sodor in 1984, he told the other engines about the visit, among other adventures.
He first visited the North Western Railway on the Golden Jubilee of the Railway Series in 1995. Pip and Emma were loaned to bring him to Tidmouth, where he was greeted by Sir Stephen Topham Hatt, who had masterminded the Royal Visit. He had visited Sodor again by 2005.
In 2011, Prince Charles was again brought to Tidmouth Station by Pip and Emma, this time to unveil the statue of the Thin Clergyman at Tidmouth in celebration of his 100th birthday. He made a short speech, where he remarked that there would never be another place like Sodor anywhere.
Appearances
The Railway Series
- Great Little Engines - Sir Handel Comes Home (mentioned)
- Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines - Golden Jubilee
- Thomas and his Friends - Centenary
Companion Volumes
- 1995 - The Thomas the Tank Engine Man
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)
Voice Actors
- Rachael Miller (UK/US)
- Maki Uchiyama (Japan)
- Carlos Siller (Latin America)
David Mitton
David Mitton appeared in the fourth series episode Thomas and Stepney. After Thomas had left with his last branch line train, David Mitton appeared and requested a special train for an important passenger, resulting in Thomas being shunted to a siding while Stepney took the special train.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
- Series 4 - Thomas and Stepney and Paint Pots and Queens (cameo)
- Series 5 - Lady Hatt's Birthday Party (cameo) and Make Someone Happy (cameo)
- Series 6 - Thomas the Jet Engine (cameo)
- Series 7 - Best Dressed Engine (cameo)
- Series 8 - Henry and the Wishing Tree (cameo), Gordon Takes Charge (cameo) and As Good as Gordon (cameo)
- Series 9 - Toby Feels Left Out (cameo)
Specials
- 2005 - Calling All Engines! (cameo)
- 2008 - The Great Discovery (cameo)
Voice Actors
- Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japan)
Trivia
- David Mitton was the director for Thomas & Friends from Series 1 to Series 7.
- His small scale body was reused from the fogman from Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure. From Series 6 onwards he reused the Mid Sodor Railway Manager's body.
- His large scale head was reused from the Vicar of Wellsworth.
- In the Hit Entertainment era, a new small scale figure was made which subsequently appeared in many episodes as a background character.
- His small scale head is now owned by Twitter user LewRaccoon.
Thomas & Friends
Promotional Material
Behind the Scenes
Other
Prince Philip
Prince Philip was the Duke of Edinburgh and Elizabeth II's husband. He accompanied his wife to the Island of Sodor.
Appearances
Television Series
- Series 4 - Train Stops Play (cameo), Paint Pots and Queens (cameo), Thomas and the Special Letter (cameo) and Special Attraction (cameo)
- Series 5 - A Better View for Gordon (cameo) and Toby and the Flood (cameo)
Trivia
- In the real world, Prince Philip passed away in 2021.
Gallery
Thomas and Friends
Behind the Scenes
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was Elizabeth II's mother and wife to King George VI. She accompanied her daughter to the Island of Sodor.
Appearances
Television Series
- Series 4 - Paint Pots and Queens (cameo), Thomas and the Special Letter (cameo) and Special Attraction (cameo)
Trivia
- In the real world, the Queen Mother passed away in 2002.
- In Series 5 her small scale figure head was combined with the Queen's body to make the first of the Storyteller's figures.
- Her figures in both large and small scale were reused for various passengers.
- During production of Series 5, her body was repainted slightly for Mrs. Kyndley in Happy Ever After.
Gallery
Thomas and Friends
Behind the Scenes
Sir Malcolm Campbell
Sir Malcolm Campbell was a British racing motorist who set the land speed record nine times.
Appearances
Television Series
- Series 10 - Seeing the Sights (deleted scene cameo)
Trivia
- He appeared in a blooper reel for the tenth series, depicted through a Schylling tinplate model of his 1933 Bluebird.
Gallery