Ruth

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This article is about the human character. You may be looking for the narrow gauge coach.

Ruth the Inventor
Background Information
First Appearance	A New Arrival (T&F)
Last Appearance	Cleo the Road Engine (T&F)
Creator(s)	Laura Beaumont Paul Larson
Voice Actors
UK/US Voice Actor	Dominique Moore
Character Overview
Name	Ruth
Gender	Female
Country of Origin	Island of Sodor United States (formerly)
Affiliation	Ffarquhar Branch Line Thomas Percy Toby Annie and Clarabel Henrietta North Western Railway Gordon James Rebecca Sonny Daisy Skiff Kenji Cleo Sir Topham Hatt Farmer McColl Sir Robert Norramby
Biographical Background
Occupation	Inventor

Ruth is an inventor who lives in her own Workshop on the Ffarquhar Branch Line. She moved from the United States to the Island of Sodor after The Technology Fair.

Biography

Thomas & Friends

When Ruth first arrived on the Island of Sodor, she brought with her the Road Plane. It was during one of its test flights that it first caught the attention of Thomas, Percy and Rebecca, who followed it to Ulfstead Castle, where they found out about the upcoming Technology Fair in which Ruth would be participating.

During the fair, Ruth acted as the announcer and helped Sir Robert Norramby organise and open the fair. When the Metal Men went rogue, she helped catch it with the aid of Thomas and The Mighty Magnet.

She later showed off one of her own inventions, her hover-car, at the fair, which caught the attention of the thieves, Baz and Bernie. When they stole the plans to the hover-car, she helped stop them from getting away alongside Thomas, Gordon, Rebecca, Sir Topham Hatt and Sir Robert Norramby, recovering the plans.

After the Technology Fair ended, she decided to permanently move to the Island of Sodor from the United States. After a day of searching the Island with Thomas for a new home, she eventually came upon a windmill, which she converted into her own workshop with an electromagnetic generator.

Later, when The Rickety Old Bridge on Toby's Branch Line collapsed, Sir Topham Hatt enlisted her help to find a solution, which came in the form of the Walking Bridge.

During Kenji's repairs at the Sodor Steamworks, Ruth helped to fix him up with an electric battery, allowing him to work on the un-electrified areas of the North Western Railway.

Ruth later created her own mode of transportation in the form of Cleo, who she would use to make deliveries and pick-ups. Cleo's love of snow would then inspire her to create a fake snow machine, allowing Cleo to enjoy the snow whenever she wanted.

Personality

Ruth is cheerful, chirpy, brave and energetic, and often reassures and comforts those at unease about new technology. Ruth stands for no nonsense from others, and strongly disapproves of those who misuse technology. She serves as a motherly figure to Cleo, and a playful sisterly figure at times as well.

Attire

Ruth wears a blue jumper under a white long-sleeved shirt and tan overalls, with a brown leather apron over top. A small array of tools can be seen holstered on her left hip, and she wears brown boots. Alternatively, she can be seen in a brown leather coat with a tan collar. When driving Cleo or her hover car, she wears a brown flight cap with silver goggles. She also wears another set of magnification goggles.

Inventions

Ruth has created numerous inventions; these include:

• The Road Plane
• The Hover-Car
• The Walking Bridge
• Cleo
• A fake snow machine
• The Whistle Clock

Appearances

• Television Series
• Other Media

Thomas & Friends Series 24 - A New Arrival, World of Tomorrow, Cleo's First Snow, Thomas and the Inventor's Workshop, The Inventor's Spectacular Bridge, Kenji on the Rails Again and Cleo the Road Engine Music Videos Series 24 - Party Train and How Does it Work? Videos 2020 - Meet Ruth of America!, Meet Kenji of Japan!, Meet Sonny of England! and Meet Marcio and Marcia of Brazil!

Books

• 2020 - Marvelous Machinery/The Royal Engine
• 2021 - Thomas and the Robot

Voice Actors

• Dominique Moore (UK/US)
• Himari Mochida (Japan)
• Maggie Vera (Latin America)
• Michelle Giudice (Brazil)
• Lilli Manzini (Italy)

Trivia

• Ruth shares her name with Hilary Fortnam's granddaughter. Fortnam was the youngest daughter of The Railway Series creator Wilbert Awdry.
• Ruth has the most appearances of any of the new characters introduced in the twenty-fourth series, appearing in seven episodes as opposed to 1-4.
• She was the last named human character introduced in the CGI series.

Video

Thomas & Friends™ Meet the Character - Ruth Season 24 - The Royal Engine Cartoons for Kids

US Narration

External Links

• The Royal Engine and Marvelous Machinery

Ffarquhar Branch Line

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* RWS only | ** T&F only

Locomotives	Steam	Thomas | Percy | Toby | Bloomer*
	Diesel	Daisy* | Mavis
	Former	Coffee Pots | Glynn**
Rolling Stock	Coaches	Annie and Clarabel | Henrietta | Victoria* | Thomas' Special Coach* | The Quarryman's Coach* | Observation Saloon Coaches*
	Trucks	Quarry Trucks | Elsie* | Old-King Coal*
Non-Rail Vehicles		Terence | Bertie | Caroline | The Orange Caterpillar Crane* | Cleo** | Harold | Tiger Moth** | Bulstrode
People		Mrs. Kyndley | Farmer Finney | Kevin Volley* | Farmer McColl** | Farmer Trotter** | Ruth**
Affiliates		Toby's Branch Line**
Locations		Knapford (Harbour, Airfield) | Dryaw (Goods Station, Airfield, Goods Yard**, Football Club**) | Toryreck (Lead Mines, Engine Shed**) | Crowe's Farm | Elsbridge (Dairy, Viaduct, Cricket Field, Trek and Leisure) | Hackenbeck (Bridge, Tunnel, Cottage) | Finney's Farm | Ffarquhar (Engine Sheds, Mountain**, Loop**) | Ffarquhar River Bridge | The Quarry Tramroad | Anopha Quarry | The Windmill** | McColl Farm** | Sports Field Halt** | The Watermill** | Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm** | Maithwaite** (Quarry Mine, Forest, Showground) | The Narrow Gorge** | Arlesdale End** (Engine Sheds)