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- “My name is Ryan!”
- ― Ryan
Ryan is a purple tank engine who works as a goods engine on the Harwick Branch Line.
Biography
Ryan was brought to help run Thomas' Branch Line while Thomas was sent to help out at the construction yard during the building of the Harwick Branch Line. After Thomas fell into a deep cavern, Ryan was once again brought to do his job while he was being repaired. After taking bad coal, he accidentally set fire to some dynamite, which Thomas managed to dispose of quickly - however, the incident also landed Thomas in trouble with Sir Topham Hatt, when he thought Thomas was trying to cause chaos, confusion and delay. Ryan later helped stop Captain Calles' Pirate Ship, which was being used by Sailor John to escape with the treasure. When Thomas was fished out of the water, Sir Topham Hatt told Thomas that Ryan told him everything that had happened, and that he was proud of him. Soon afterward, Ryan started work on the Harwick Branch Line as the goods engine, with Daisy as the passenger engine.[1]
Ryan had to help Toby take stone from Ffarquhar Quarry to Harwick, but ended up doing Daisy's extra jobs too. This led to him being so over-worked that he took his passengers to the quarry instead of Knapford Station.[2] Later, Ryan found Judy and Jerome at Knapford. They had grown tired of sitting there for ages, so Ryan took them to Arlesburgh Harbour. He then went looking for Judy and Jerome when Daisy derailed near a signal box. Ryan looked everywhere for the breakdown cranes and finally found them at the Blue Mountain Quarry.[3]
When Diesel tricked Harvey into making tension between him and Daisy, she told Ryan that Harvey was saying that he was more useful than her. Ryan later told Daisy this, making her cross.[4] At Christmas time, Daisy complained to Ryan, Judy and Jerome about how Christmas was not the same as previous years. In response, Ryan reminded her that both he and Daisy did not share a shed a few years ago, nor were Judy and Jerome stationed at Arlesburgh.[5]
When Percy created rumours of a railway show for little engines at Ulfstead Castle, Ryan was informed and carried a flatbed with Rex on it.[6]
Personality
Ryan is an affable engine, who goes out of his way to be kind and is concerned when he sees others in trouble. Ryan would like to be a hero, but he is not actually as brave as he wishes he was and has a tendency to panic a little in the face of danger. It does not put him off trying though. Ryan is direct and sincere, but he has a good sense of humour too and is not above making a joke at his own expense. Ryan also appears to be somewhat of a pushover, as evidenced by how easily Daisy was able to make him do her work.
Technical Details
Basis
Ryan is based on a Great Northern Railway (GNR) Class N2, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as an improvement of Henry Ivatt's Class N1. These locomotives were built between 1920 and 1929, and the first batch, known as the N2/1 subclass, was fitted with condensing apparatus. This apparatus, taking the form of large, distinctive pipes on the sides of the boiler, was meant to reduce the exhaust emissions of the engines, as they were used for inter-city work in the Metropolitan areas of London, England, which had many tunnels. Later batches of the class could additionally be seen around Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland.
One member of this class, No. 1744, has been preserved and operates on the North Norfolk Railway in Norfolk. In addition to being the sole survivor of its class, 1744 is also the sole surviving example of a Gresley designed tank engine. Ryan's design sheet shows he was specifically modelled after 1744.[7]
The international white tank engine is also based on a GNR Class N2.
Livery
Ryan is painted purple with white and beige lining. The initials "GNR" and his number (1014) are painted on the sides of his tanks and bunker respectively in gold with a red drop shadow. He also has brass nameplates with his name in capitals on the sides of his boiler. He has black valences, a white running board and red buffer beams.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
Specials
Music Videos
Learning SegmentsVideos
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Books
Video Games
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Official Description
From Official Website[1]
| “ | Ryan: Ryan is an affable engine, who goes out of his way to be kind and is concerned when he sees others in trouble. Ryan would like to be a hero, but he’s not actually as brave as he wishes he was and has a tendency to panic a little in the face of danger. It doesn’t put him off trying though. Ryan is direct and sincere, but he has a good sense of humour too and is not above making a joke at his own expense.
|
” |
Audio Files
Whistle
Since his first appearance, Ryan reuses Smudger's whistle.
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure | Series 24 |
Trivia
- Ryan's TrackMaster prototype shows him with the correct purple wheels. But when the final product came out, his wheels were black. However, this was corrected with the TrackMaster pack, 'Ryan and Jerome'.
- Ryan is the only engine introduced in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure to not be created by the Rev. W. Awdry.
- In the original script of Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, Ryan was portrayed as being "overconfident and dismissive", compared to his final portrayal. All merchandise descriptions of him still mention this personality.
- Before he was introduced, his whistle sound was used for Smudger. It was also used for Stepney in most of the US dub of Thomas and Stepney, Falcon in Bulldog, Stuart in the US dub of Sleeping Beauty, and James in Bowled Out.
- In real life, Ryan's number (1014) was carried by a Class C2 (LNER Class C12) 4-4-2T rather than an N2 on the GNR.
- Ryan is the first 0-6-2 tank engine in the television series.
- It was Sam Wilkinson's idea to base Ryan on a GNR N2 tank engine when given four options.[8]
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (normal and muddy two-pack version with Jerome; both discontinued)
- Motorized Railway
- Capsule Plarail
- Motor Road and Rail (two-pack with Skiff)
- Adventures (discontinued)
- Wood (two-pack with S.C. Ruffey; discontinued)
- Bachmann
References
- ↑ T&F "Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure"
- ↑ T&F S20 #7 "Ryan and Daisy"
- ↑ T&F S20 #25 "The Missing Breakdown Train"
- ↑ T&F S21 #2 "A Most Singular Engine"
- ↑ T&F S21 #17 "Daisy's Perfect Christmas"
- ↑ T&F S24 #3 "The Great Little Railway Show"
- ↑ Ryan's character design sheet
- ↑ Sam Wilkinson - Sodor Island Fansite
| Locomotives | Ryan | Daisy |
|---|---|
| Rolling Stock | Judy and Jerome |
| Other | Skiff |
| People | Captain Joe | The Museum Manager |
| Stations | Arlesburgh West | Arlesburgh Maritime Museum | Harwick |