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The Special Express Coaches are a set of red Pullman[1] coaches used for carrying and transporting special visitors across the Island of Sodor.

Biography[]

Gordon and James have used some of the coaches several times to transport people such as Dowager Hatt, Mrs. Kyndley and the Mayor. Thomas also borrowed one of these coaches (specifically one of Spencer's) when he took Sir Topham Hatt to London to receive an award from the Queen.

On the Mainland, Spencer has his own set of these coaches he uses primarily to transport the Duke and Duchess of Boxford to and from Sodor, though they have also been loaned to carry other important figures such as Sir Robert Norramby and the Deputy Minister. Duchess also has a set of these coaches which are used to carry the Royal Family.

Technical Details[]

Basis[]

In the model series, the coaches were based on GWR Collett and LMS Period III coaches, while in the CGI series they are loosely based on Pullman luxury coaches. They closely resemble the Pullman First Class Parlour Car "Topaz" of 1914, which is preserved at the National Railway Museum. Aubrey and Aiden are also based on this coach, as well as the ones used by Connor and Caitlin.

Livery[]

The coaches were painted maroon with silver buffers, grey roofs and red lining, bufferbeams and couplings.

After their redesign, the coaches are painted in the South Eastern and Chatham Railway red coach livery with gold lining and beige roofs. The buffers, bufferbeams and couplings all became black. The coaches also carry the Boxford crest on the doors, which is absent on Duchess' coaches.

Appearances[]

Trivia[]

  • Originally, Gordon's Special Coaches were created to be Spencer's coaches, however they were later replaced by the maroon coaches.[2]
  • In the sixteenth series episode Whiff's Wish, Spencer is seen with a third one of these coaches, as opposed to the usual one or two.

Merchandise[]

References[]



--- Dropped | * 1991-1994 maps only | ** 2014 map only
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