View source for Rex (RWS)

{{Character Tabber|tab1 = [[Rex (RWS)|The Railway Series]]|tab2 = [[Rex (T&F)|Thomas & Friends]]}}
{{Tab|tab1 = Main Page|tab2 = Gallery}}
{{Infobox Character Vehicle
|title1 = Rex the Miniature Engine 
|image1 = File:MainRexRWS.png
|first_appearance = [[Small Railway Engines]] {{Note|1967}}
|last_appearance = [[Jock the New Engine]] {{Note|1990}}
|creator(s) = [[Wilbert Awdry|Rev. W. Awdry]]
|name = Rex
|gender = Male
|country_of_origin = {{Flag|ios}} [[Island of Sodor (RWS)|Island of Sodor]]<br>{{Flag|en}} [[The Mainland (RWS)|England]] {{Formerly}}
|relative(s) = [[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Locomotives#River Esk|River Esk]]
|basis = [[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Locomotives#River Esk|R&ER No. 7 ''River Esk'']]
|gauge = [[Wikipedia:Fifteen-inch gauge railway|{{Miniature gauge}}]]
|power_type = Steam
|vehicle = Locomotive
|type = Tender engine
|fuel_type = Coal
|configuration = 2-8-2
|wheels = 20
|designer(s) = [[Wikipedia:Henry Greenly|Henry Greenly]]
|builder(s) = * [[Wikipedia:Paxman (engines)|Davey, Paxman & Co.]] {{Note|originally}}
* [[Wikipedia:Yorkshire Engine Company|Yorkshire Engine Co.]] {{Note|rebuild}}
|year_built = 1923
|year_rebuilt = 1928
|arrived_on_sodor = 1967
|railway = [[Arlesdale Railway (RWS)|Arlesdale Railway]]
|title=Rex the Miniature Engine}}'''Rex''' is a green miniature tender engine who works on the [[Arlesdale Railway (RWS)|Arlesdale Railway]]. He enjoys nothing more than teasing [[Mike (RWS)|Mike]]. He is a hard worker, but sometimes has problems with traction.

==Biography==
Rex is based on a design by Henry Greenly, and was built by Davey, Paxman & Co. of Colchester in 1923 at the same time as River Esk was for the Ravenglass and Eskdale. He was found to be powerful but erratic and was sent to the Yorkshire Engine Co. for rebuilding in 1928 at the same time as River Esk, and for the same reasons. Walschaerts valve gear, substituted for the poppet gear originally fitted, gave beneficial results.

After Rex's old line in England closed down in 1967, he, Mike, and [[Bert (RWS)|Bert]] were bought by [[Sir Charles Topham Hatt II|Sir Topham Hatt]] and transferred to the Arlesdale Railway for mining and tourist traffic. Since coming to [[Arlesburgh (RWS)|Arlesburgh]], Rex has been found reliable and free steaming, but needs careful handling with any but the lightest loads, having an unfortunate tendency to slip. After the railway secured a deal to transport wool to Arlesburgh, Rex was chosen to pull the first train. But after [[Willie (RWS)|Willie]], a negligent farmhand spilled some wool bales on the rails, Rex hit them and derailed. His train was rescued, but Rex had to remain there for several days until he could be lifted out.

Rex, along with the other small engines were offered to be in the Reverend's next book if they behaved, when [[Fergus Duncan (RWS)|a rescue team]] went on a mission to look for [[Duke (RWS)|Duke]].

Rex later broke down when his steampipe was leaking, but when his [[Drivers (RWS)|driver]] used his radio telephone to contact for help, [[Frank]] was available, and took his train while Rex backed into a [[Passing Loops (RWS)|passing loop]] at [[Arlesdale Green (RWS)|Arlesdale Green]] and went back home for his driver to mend his steampipe. The Small Controller then suggested for a new engine to be constructed at [[Arlesburgh Works (RWS)|Arlesburgh Works]], which would be [[Jock]].

==Personality==
Rex is a playful green miniature engine with a strong sense of humour. He is a hard worker, and is the natural leader of the little railway engines (in spite of the fact that Mike prefers to think he’s the leader). Rex is very proud of his railway and a great friend to the other engines, but he can’t help teasing Mike to stop him getting too full of himself. Most of the time Mike manages to return the banter, but sometimes he gets a little wound up. Luckily Rex is very good at helping Mike see the funny side again, and is generally kindhearted and friendly.

==Technical Details==
===Basis===
Rex is based on the [[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway]]'s [[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Locomotives#River Esk|River Esk]].
<gallery position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" bordersize="none">
File:RiverEskProfile.jpeg|Rex's basis, River Esk
File:RiverEsk.png
File:RiverEskasRex.png|River Esk disguised as Rex
</gallery>

===Livery===
Rex is painted in the standard green livery used by the [[North Western Railway (RWS)|North Western Railway]], with red and yellow lining. The word "'''ARLESDALE'''" is painted on his tender in yellow with a red outline. He has a black running board with red bufferbeams and valences. He also has a brass dome and brass nameplates with red backing. His wheels are painted black.

==Appearances==
<tabber>
Railway Series=
{{Scroll box|
===''[[The Railway Series]]''===
* '''[[Small Railway Engines]]''' - [[Small Railway Engines#Ballast|Ballast]], [[Small Railway Engines#Tit for Tat|Tit for Tat]] {{Does not speak}}, [[Small Railway Engines#Mike's Whistle|Mike's Whistle]] and [[Small Railway Engines#Useful Railway|Useful Railway]]
* '''[[Oliver the Western Engine]]''' - [[Oliver the Western Engine#Donald's Duck|Donald's Duck]] {{Note|indirectly mentioned}} and [[Oliver the Western Engine#Bulgy|Bulgy]] {{Cameo}}
* '''[[Duke the Lost Engine]]''' - [[Duke the Lost Engine#Sleeping Beauty|Sleeping Beauty]] {{Not named}}
* '''[[Jock the New Engine]]''' - [[Jock the New Engine#We Need Another Engine|We Need Another Engine]], [[Jock the New Engine#Sticking Power|Sticking Power]], [[Jock the New Engine#Jock|Jock]] and [[Jock the New Engine#Teamwork|Teamwork]] {{Cameo}}
* '''[[Wilbert the Forest Engine]]''' - [[Wilbert the Forest Engine#Wired-Up|Wired-Up]] {{Mentioned}}

====Companion Volumes====
* '''1970''' - [[Twelve Happy Engines]] {{Mentioned}}
* '''1972''' - [[The Railway Series: Surprise Packet]]
* '''1976''' - [[Famous Engines]] and [[Railway Map of the Island of Sodor]]
* '''1979''' - [[Annuals#1979|Annual]]
* '''1980''' - [[Annuals#1980|Annual]]
* '''1987''' - [[The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways]] {{Mentioned}}
* '''2005''' - [[Sodor: Reading Between the Lines]] {{Mentioned}}
}}|-|Other Media=
{{Scroll box|
===[[Annuals|Annual Stories]]===
* '''1985''' - [[Oliver Gets the Bird (1985)|Oliver Gets the Bird]] {{Mentioned}}

===Books===
* '''2007''' - [[Thomas' Giant Coloring Book]]
* '''2008''' - [[Thomas' Sticker Express]]

====[[My Thomas Story Library]]====
* '''2003''' - [[Duck (Story Library Book)|Duck]] {{Note|indirectly mentioned}}
}}</tabber>

==Official Description==
<tabber>
1987=
'''From Official Media:'''{{Ref|[[The Railway Series|RWS]] "[[The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways]]" (''1987'')}}

{{Quote2|'''Rex''': A 2-8-2 tender engine based on a design by Mr. [[Wikipedia:Henry Greenly|Henry Greenly]], and built by [[Wikipedia:Paxman (engines)|Davey, Paxman & Co.|Davey Paxman]] of [[Wikipedia:Colchester|Colchester]] in 1923 at the same time as [[River Esk]] for the [[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway|Ravenglass & Eskdale]]. The engine was found to be powerful but erratic and was sent to the [[Wikipedia:Yorkshire Engine Company|Yorkshire Engine Co.]] for rebuilding at the same time as River Esk, and for the same reasons. [[Wikipedia:Walschaerts valve gear|Walschaerts valve gear]], substituted for the poppet gear originally fitted, gave beneficial results. 
<br>
Since coming to [[Arlesburgh (RWS)|Arlesburgh]], Rex has been found reliable and free steaming, but needs careful handling with any but the lightest loads, having an unfortunate tendency to slip.}}
|-|2005=
'''From Official Media:'''{{Ref|[[The Railway Series|RWS]] "[[Sodor: Reading Between the Lines]]" (''2005'')}}

{{Quote2|'''Rex''': Rex is a 2-8-2 tender engine. He is based on a Henry Greenly design and was built by Davey Paxman in Colchester in 1923, at the same time as ''River Esk'' was being built for the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway. The engines' lives seem to have run in parallel, for by a remarkable coincidence he went to the Yorkshire Engine Company for a rebuild at the same time as ''River Esk''. The fitting of Walschaert's valve gear solved the problems of both, and although Rex has a penchant for slipping except on light loads he has proved himself, in [[The Fat Controller]]'s phrase, a Really Useful Engine. He has a green livery with red lining.}}
</tabber>

==Whistle==
[[File:Rex’s Whistle.ogg]]
==Trivia==
* In Rex's trading card promo, he is incorrectly depicted as a 4-8-2 along with Mike and Bert.

==Merchandise==
===[[Trading Cards]]===
{{Merchandise Toy
|name1=Rex
|released1=2002
|discontinued1=2009
|highlights1=
|photo1=RexTradingCard.png
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Arlesdale Railway (RWS)}}
[[Category:Steam locomotives]]
[[Category:Tender engines]]
[[Category:Arlesdale Railway]]
[[Category:2-8-2]]
[[Category:Awdry-created characters]]
[[Category:The Railway Series characters]]
[[Category:Male characters]]
[[Category:Minimum gauge]]
[[Category:1960s]]
[[Category:1967]]