Rebecca is a large tender engine who originates from the Mainland. She helps Gordon pull the Express during busy periods.
Biography
Thomas & Friends
Rebecca first arrived on the Island of Sodor after Henry moved out of Tidmouth Sheds and Sir Topham Hatt wanted another engine to help with Gordon and the Express, though she arrived a day earlier than what Sir Topham Hatt expected and nearly bumped him and Winston off the rails when she tried to stop at Knapford. Her first job was to pull the express, though she caused a small mishap when she accidentally collected Flying Scotsman's passengers at Vicarstown early. After hearing how the other engines mentioned how fast and strong they were, Rebecca decided that she would leave the stations early to prove how she can get things done fast, but this caused a lot of confusion and the passengers got angry. Sir Topham Hatt scolded her at the end of her first day about what was happening and Rebecca apologised for what she did, making up for it and even surprising the Flying Scotsman.
Rebecca met Belle, Marion and Harvey and complimented them on their respective special features (Belle's water cannons, Marion's digger and Harvey's crane), only to feel as if she was not special due to not having one. After hearing Duck mention that the crew at the Sodor Steamworks "can do anything", Rebecca went there to get the features fitted on her, but to no avail. Thomas and Marion helped Rebecca realise that complimenting others and making them feel good about themselves is her special quality.
On one Christmas Eve, Rebecca is pulling the Express when she sees Thomas taking the animals from the Sodor Animal Park past her on the other line. He warns her of the blocked tunnel he encountered earlier, and she replies to be careful of deep snowdrifts ahead that he might not be able to punch through with his snowplough. She is back at Tidmouth Sheds that evening with the rest of the Steam Team when Thomas shows up with the animals, explaining that he was unable to reach the Sodor Steamworks as originally instructed by Sir Topham Hatt, so he brought the animals to the sheds to be kept warm by the Steam Team's boilers. While Rebecca is welcoming of the company of the animals alongside Percy, Emily, and Nia, Gordon and James are deeply shocked and embarrassed by it. When Sir Topham Hatt comes to the sheds the next morning, which is Christmas, he is startled to find the animals there, but once Thomas explains everything, Sir Topham Hatt in understanding, and then reveals that the new boiler for the Animal Park arrived that morning, so the animals can return home soon, before Rebecca and the rest of the Steam Team share a laugh when an ostrich snatches Sir Topham's top hat to wear itself, much to his annoyance.
When Sir Topham Hatt arrived asking for an engine to take the Troublesome Trucks, Thomas, James and Percy placed the special's responsibilities on Rebecca, leaving the entire Steam Team concerned about their tricks. Contrary to expectations, she pulled them just fine, leaving the trucks confused and Thomas, James and Percy in their own predicaments. She arrived back at Tidmouth Sheds almost bumping Sir Topham off the rails.
In an attempt to get the other diesels into trouble for a change, Diesel had Rebecca do their jobs improperly. Unfortunately, he didn't count on her honesty, and he was punished by Sir Topham Hatt.
Personality
Despite her large size, Rebecca is shy, but not afraid to stand up for herself and is not intimidated by the older engines. At times, she feels the need to be on the same level as the other engines, which can sometimes make her anxious or overhasty. But despite her insecurities, Rebecca loves to see the best in everyone and all her friends appreciate her kindness and enthusiasm. She also has the uncanny ability to work with Troublesome Trucks without trouble on the first try, something that confuses even the trucks themselves. Because Rebecca is so willing to see the good in others, she can occasionally be gullible, as shown when she fell for one of Diesel's tricks. She is also very honest, willing to tell the truth if needed.
Technical Details
Basis
Rebecca is based on the Southern Railway "West Country" and "Battle of Britain" class (also known as "Light Pacifics"), a class of 4-6-2 tender locomotives designed by Oliver Bulleid and built between 1945 and 1951. These engines were classified as mixed-traffic locomotives when introduced and used for a wide variety of passenger and goods trains, including famous expresses such as the 'Golden Arrow' and the 'Atlantic Coast Express'. The "West Country" and "Battle of Britain" class engines were smaller and lighter versions of Bulleid's earlier "Merchant Navy" class, originally built with 'air-smoothed' casing, chain-driven valve gear and tenders with tall streamlined sides. Ten unrebuilt members of the class have been preserved, one of them, Blackmoor Vale on the Bluebell Railway and another, Winston Churchill at the National Railway Museum. Another preserved member of the class, Swanage, appeared in Thomas and the U.K. Trip when Gacaphin and Mukku were visiting several heritage railways.
While Rebecca is modelled on the unrebuilt version of the locomotive, her tender design resembles the cut-down version used by rebuilt and unrebuilt members of the class in British Railways service. Additionally, she features several differences over her real-life basis, including an altered front end with a larger and lower bufferbeam, driving wheels which share the same design as Hiro's and plain disc wheels for her front bogie, trailing truck and tender, as opposed to the Bulleid Firth Brown disc wheels found on her prototype. Rebecca's cylinders and cab roof also have a significantly different shape compared to those on the real "Light Pacifics".
Livery
Rebecca is painted yellow and navy with white lining. Her wheel rims are painted white, her front end is painted red and she has red and orange stripes painted along her sides. Rebecca also carries two blue nameplates on her smoke deflectors, each with her name in white lettering. Her cabsides have the number “22” and her tender has the letters “N.W.R.”, both painted in white.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
She will appear in the twenty-fourth series. Music Videos
Videos
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Books
- 2018 - The 12 Engines of Christmas
- 2019 - The Steam Team, No.1 Sticker Scenes, Big Sticker Adventures, Engines Around the World and Ten Little Engines
Video Games
- 2018 - Go Go Thomas and Thomas and Friends: Adventures!
Audio Files
Whistle
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Series 22 | Active |
Trivia
- At one point during her creation, she was originally going to be called Miranda.
- According to a UK Magazine, Thomas was originally meant to meet Rebecca on the Mainland. This idea was most likely dropped during production.
- She is the third character numbered 22, the first two being Isobella and Luke. Her number is a reference to the series she was introduced in.
- Rebecca is the last known character created by Andrew Brenner before his departure in 2018.
- She is the newest, youngest and second-fastest member of the Steam Team, Gordon being the fastest and strongest.
- She uses Mighty's original whistle sound.
- As a running gag, she often crashes into others due to her faulty brakes.
Merchandise
- Wood
- TrackMaster
- Motor Road and Rail
- Adventures (cancelled)
- Minis
- TrackMaster Push Along
- Capsule Plarail (coming soon)
Video
