Plank Trucks

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Plank trucks are open-topped wooden trucks used to transport goods and other things. Ones with faces may be Troublesome Trucks.

Short Wheelbase Plank Trucks

Short Wheelbase Plank Trucks
Background Information
First appearance	Thomas and Trevor (T&F)
Last appearance	A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter (T&F)
Character Overview
Country	Island of Sodor
Technical Details
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Truck
Wheels	4
Railway	North Western Railway
Company	Sodor China Clay Company Ffarquhar Quarry Company
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

In the television series, these trucks are derived from Tenmille's NG (16mm scale) short wheelbase open wagon kit. The kit is described as "a freelance design but typical of NG railway practice".

Personalities

They are often depicted as Troublesome Trucks.

Types of sentient trucks in the television series

Troublesome Trucks (small square faces)

Troublesome Trucks (rectangular faces)

Technical Details

Basis

These trucks are a freelance narrow gauge wagon designed by Tenmille, rescaled and regauged to standard gauge. Despite this they are influenced by BR china clay wagons.

Their influence

Types of truck design

A standard type of truck

A truck with raised buffers

Technical Details

Livery

These trucks have mostly been painted black, brown or grey.

Appearances

• Television Series
• Other Media

Thomas & Friends Series 2 - Thomas and Trevor, Duck Takes Charge, Percy and Harold, Percy Takes the Plunge, Pop Goes the Diesel, The Deputation, Percy's Predicament, The Diseasel, Edward's Exploit and Ghost Train Series 3 - Donald's Duck, Thomas Gets Bumped, Diesel Does it Again, Trust Thomas, Mavis, Toby's Tightrope, One Good Turn and Heroes Series 4 - Sleeping Beauty Series 5 - Horrid Lorry, James and the Trouble with Trees, Put Upon Percy, Double Teething Troubles, Stepney Gets Lost, A Surprise for Percy and Busy Going Backwards Series 6 - Salty's Secret and A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter

Magazine Stories

• 1988 - James and the Troublesome Trucks

Trivia

• In the second series episode, Percy's Predicament, one specific truck has the Spiteful Brake Van's unused angry face mask.
• One of these trucks had raised buffers to match the engines and other rolling stock.

NBR Diagram 43 Tube Wagons

NBR Diagram 43 tube wagon
Background Information
First appearance	Thomas and Gordon (T&F)
Last appearance	Salty's Secret (T&F)
Character Overview
Country	Island of Sodor Scotland (Built)
Technical Details
Basis	NBR Diagram 43/LNER Diagram 77B 10-tons tube wagon
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Open Plank Wagons
Wheels	4
Designer(s)	Cowlairs Works
Builder(s)	Cowlairs Works
Year built	Sometime between 1903 and 1920
Railway	North Western Railway North British Railway
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

NBR Diagram 43 tube wagons are a type of open wagon used to transport pipes and other long loads and they have also been used to carry stone and maintenance supplies. These trucks only appeared in the first three series (Series 1 through 3), one of which was used (as seen in the first series episode Thomas' Train) to carry equipment when Henry was too ill to take the early morning passenger train. A pipe truck with a face was seen in the third series episode Heroes, as well as an extended scene from the third series episode, Oliver Owns Up.

Personalities

Sentient trucks fall under the category of Troublesome Trucks.

Technical Details

Basis

These trucks were made by Milbro, who modelled them on LNER 20-ton tube wagons. Only one model of this type of wagon was acquired and used for production of the first series, this being slightly modified by the modelling crew.

Upon closer inspection, this one truck appears to be based on a North British Railway Diagram 43/LNER Diag 77B, 10-tons, four-plank tube wagon. It was a scratch-built model from a second-hand source, just like the "L M S" 4 plank wagon.

Livery

These trucks are dark grey with the letters "N E", with "TUBE WAGON" written in small letters above, and weight code "10 Tons" on the sides in white.

Appearances

• Television Series

Thomas & Friends

• Series 1 - Thomas and Gordon, Edward and Gordon, Edward, Gordon and Henry, Thomas' Train, James and the Coaches, James and the Express, Thomas, Terence and the Snow (deleted scene), Trouble in the Shed and Down the Mine
• Series 2 - Cows
• Series 3 - Gordon and the Famous Visitor, Diesel Does it Again, No Joke for James, Oliver Owns Up (deleted scene) and Heroes
• Series 6 - Salty's Secret

Henry's Lucky Trucks

Henry's Lucky Trucks
Background Information
First appearance	Henry's Lucky Day (T&F)
Last appearance	Henry's Lucky Day (T&F)
Creator(s)	Paul Larson
Character Overview
Country	Island of Sodor
Affiliation	Henry
Technical Details
Basis	RCH 7-plank wagons
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Truck
Wheels	4
Designer(s)	Railway Clearing House
Builder(s)	Railway Clearing House
Year built	1923
Railway	North Western Railway
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

One icy winter, Henry was the only engine to make his deliveries on time. Thomas attributes this to the big green engine having lucky trucks. However, one day Edward took them and when Henry finally caught up with him, he ran into the trucks, destroying them. Henry realised that his trucks were not lucky after all.

They only appeared in the eleventh series episode, Henry's Lucky Day.

Technical Details

Basis

Henry's Lucky Trucks are based on 7-plank mineral wagons often found on the eastern and midland regions.

Livery

These trucks were painted black.

North Western Railway

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

United Kingdom

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* RWS only | ** T&F only