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S.C. Ruffey (affectionately known as and pronounced "Scruffey") is a cruel Troublesome Truck who is the ringleader of the other Troublesome Trucks.
Biography
The Railway Series
S.C. Ruffey was a "Private Owner" wagon and like many such wagons was not kept in the best state of maintenance. When Oliver returned from the Works after falling in a turntable well, S.C. Ruffey and the trucks sang rude songs about the event. Toad, worried by the lack of respect for the engines, consulted with Oliver and Duck and made a plan. Oliver then shunted S.C. Ruffey and his lieutenants and prepared to pull them. S.C. Ruffey rallied the trucks into holding back, but this only resulted in S.C. Ruffey being pulled apart. The Fat Controller attributed the incident to the wagon's poor condition, but told Oliver not to disclose the fact, saying it was "bad for discipline". After receiving his comeuppance, S.C. Ruffey's remains were scrapped.
After the incident, Oliver became well-respected by the trucks, out of fear they will be pulled apart too.
Thomas & Friends
S.C. Ruffey reprises his role from the Railway Series. However, after his incident with Oliver, he was rebuilt and wisely did not disclose the real reason for his damage.
The Official Website stated that S.C. Ruffey is an old and experienced ring-leader. It also stated that he still works in Oliver's yard and that prior to his incident, he helped push Oliver down the turntable well.
Personality
S.C. Ruffey was known to be an insufferable and ruthless advocate for bad behaviour of the trucks to the engines of The Little Western. However, his antics would eventually lead to his comeuppance of being pulled apart by Oliver. After being rebuilt he has learned his lesson and says little or nothing at all at least when it came to his accident.
Technical Details
Basis
S.C. Ruffey is based on a 7-plank open wagon.
Livery
S.C. Ruffey is painted dark brown with the words "S.C. RUFFEY & Co. BALLAST CONTRACTORS TIDMOUTH SODOR" painted on his sides in white lettering. In real life, Private Owner wagons carried a wide variety of liveries. In the television series, he was shown as being very rusty and worn out prior to his rebuild.
Appearances
The Railway SeriesCompanion Volumes
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Thomas & Friends
Music Videos
His face mask also appears on a few standard trucks in the fifth series episodes, Put Upon Percy and Double Teething Troubles. |
Books
S.C. Ruffey's facemask also appears on a standard truck in the book, The Cranky Day and other Thomas the Tank Engine stories. Magazine Stories
S.C. Ruffey also appeared in the magazine stories, Bedtime Rhyme, S.C. Ruffey's Robin, Think Pink and Tunnel Trouble. Video Games
Videos |
Trivia
- According to Spencer in a magazine story, S.C. stands for 'Special Carriage'.
- Some TrackMaster toys of Duck were seen with a plain grey truck with a brown-orange chassis. This seems to represent S.C. Ruffey, but it may also have been a prototype.
- S.C. Ruffey's television series model was made out of a modified Tenmille vacuformed gauge 1 7-plank open wagon. It was actually recycled from another truck model.
- He is the only known Troublesome Truck to have been rebuilt although this only applies to the television series.
- During the model series era, S.C. Ruffey had a total of six facial expressions, one of which a yawning face was not used on-screen.[1] However, his unused yawning face was used for his Bachmann HO, large scale, and N scale models.[1]
- Capsule Plarail has produced S.C. Ruffey so he can be either fully intact or split apart like in the fourth series episode, Toad Stands By.
- Motor Road and Rail is the only merchandise range to make S.C. Ruffey in his post-rebuild livery alongside his original colour scheme.
- The Bluebell Railway owns a Southern Railway 5-plank wagon that is currently disguised as S.C. Ruffey.
- In the fifth series episode, Put Upon Percy, the front truck of the train in the mine has S.C. Ruffey's happy face, and later his scared face. His face was also seen on another truck in the fifth series episode, Double Teething Troubles.
- Concept art for A Surprise for Percy also depicted the lead truck with S.C.Ruffey's face, but in the final episode a standard truck face was used.
- He is one of the few trucks to be named, along with Fred Pelhay and Old Bennett.
Merchandise
- ERTL (regular and Christmas editions; both discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (3 versions, discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (discontinued outside Asia)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Tomix
- Wood (with Ryan)
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)
- Mini Die Cast Collection (discontinued)
- Bachmann (HO. large scale, and N Scale (coming soon))
- Hornby (discontinued)
- Lionel Trains (discontinued)
- Trading Cards (discontinued)
- Nakayoshi (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail
- Puka-Q (discontinued)
- IR Thomas (discontinued)
- Boss (discontinued)
- Brio (discontinued)
References
Locomotives | Duck | Donald and Douglas | Oliver |
---|---|
Rolling Stock | Alice and Mirabel* | Isabel and Dulcie* | Branch Line Coaches** | Express Coaches** | Old Slow Coach** | Slip Coaches** | Toad | S.C. Ruffey | Fred Pelhay* | Quarry Trucks* | Judy and Jerome** |
Vehicles | Bulgy | Bulgy's Friend | Algy*** | Skiff** |
People | Captain Joe** |
Locations | Tidmouth (Beach, Tunnel, Beach Village**, Harbour, Hault**, Hault Sheds**, Town Square**, Town Square Library**) | Dilly's Pond | Haultraugh (Bulgy's Bridge, Bulgy's Field) | Bluff's Cove** | Arlesburgh (West, Engine Sheds*, Harbour**, Maritime Museum**) | Callan ** |