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The following is a page for all new characters who were intended to be introduced in The Adventures of Thomas.[1]
Puffing Billy
Puffing Billy is the oldest engine on the Island of Sodor and is an ally to the Steam Team. Johnny first meets Puffing Billy when Edward takes him to Tidmouth Sheds.
Technical Details
Basis
It is highly likely that Puffing Billy was intended to be based upon the real locomotive of the same name. Built in 1813, the locomotive was completed a year later for Christopher Blackett of the Wylam Colliery to replace horses from the tramways. The engine remained in service until 1862 when Edward Blackett lent it to the National Railway Museum in York. It is now the oldest surviving steam locomotive in the world, which likely inspired its role as Sodor's oldest engine in The Adventures of Thomas.
Unlike his basis - which was built to 5' (1,520 mm) gauge - Puffing Billy in The Adventures of Thomas would have likely been regauged to standard gauge to match the rest of the Steam Team. Coincidentally, there is a standard gauge replica of the real Puffing Billy built in 2006 to work on the Pockerley Waggonway at Beamish Museum.
Livery
It is currently unknown what livery Puffing Billy would have carried.
Personality
Little is currently known about Puffing Billy's personality, though it is likely he would have been a wise and experienced character, having been on Sodor longer than anyone else.
Bertha
Bertha is a steam-powered rotary snowplough who lives in the mountains of Sodor. Thomas and Johnny meet Bertha while travelling across Sodor during the diesels' takeover.
Technical Details
Basis
Though Bertha likely had no specific basis planned, it is known that she would have been a rotary snowplough powered by steam, of which several examples exist around the world. Dustin and Marshall are other examples of this type of machine.
Livery
It is currently unknown what livery Bertha would have carried.
Personality
In the first draft of The Adventures of Thomas, Bertha is described as being "a cross between a mountain woman and a female trucker". From this, it can be deduced that Bertha would have been a tough, strong and rugged sort of character.
Smoke
Smoke is a large, black diesel engine who lives in a large, grimy, industrial city with the other diesels in the far east of Sodor. He is the leader of the diesels and the instigator of their takeover of the Island.
Technical Details
Basis
Though Smoke likely never had a specific basis planned, it is known that he would have been a large diesel locomotive of some kind.
Livery
Smoke is described as being painted black.
Personality
Smoke is a villainous character, with a strong dislike of steam engines. He is also shown to be very callous and menacing, as exemplified by his plan to take over Sodor and smelt all of the steam engines.
Squeak
Squeak is a small pump trolley who lives on the Island of Sodor and is an ally to the Steam Team. Johnny first meets Squeak when Edward takes him to Tidmouth Sheds.
Technical Details
Basis
Squeak is based on real pump trolleys, which were often used for maintenance of way. Several examples of pump trolleys are preserved around the world.
Livery
It is currently unknown what livery Squeak would have carried.
Personality
Nothing is currently known of Squeak's personality.
The French Mine Carts
The French Mine Carts are a group of three mine carts who lead a resistance against the diesels using underground tunnels. Thomas and Johnny meet the mine carts while travelling across Sodor during the diesels' takeover.
Technical Details
Basis
Mine trolleys can be found on various mine railways, used for moving ore and materials procured in the process of traditional mining.
Liveries
It is currently unknown what liveries the mine carts would have carried.
The Military Boats
The Military Boats are a group of four boats, two of which are a husband and wife duo. Thomas and Johnny meet the boats while travelling across Sodor during the diesels' takeover.
Technical Details
Basis
Though the military boats likely had no specific basis planned, it is probable that they would have been based on real boats used for military purposes.
Liveries
It is currently unknown what liveries the military boats would have carried.
Trivia
- Had The Adventures of Thomas been produced, the husband and wife duo would have been the first vehicle characters in the Thomas & Friends franchise explicitly shown in a romantic relationship.
Johnny
Johnny is a young boy from London who is evacuated with his father during the Blitz.
Biography
During the Second World War, Johnny evacuated his home in London with his father during the Blitz, to live in a cottage beside a railway station. During the move, he discovered some of his father's old drawings of steam engines with faces.
While unable to sleep one night, Johnny ventured down to the station, where he met Edward and helped remove a sign caught in one of his wheels. As a sign of gratitude, Edward took him on a journey to Sodor, where he met James, Percy, Emily, Puffing Billy and Squeak at Tidmouth Sheds. While there, he also came across Thomas, and helped to re-light his fire. Johnny later returned to the cottage and told his father of Sodor, only to be dismissed.
During Smoke's attempted takeover of Sodor, Thomas and Johnny travelled the Island in order to try and stop him, meeting Bertha, the French mine carts and the military boats along the way. Near the end of the film, Johnny manages to convince his father to revisit Sodor, reminding him of his childhood memories of the Island.
Personality
Johnny appears to be an optimistic and helpful character, who is always willing to help the engines who he befriends.
Johnny's Father
Johnny's Father is a man who lives in London and evacuates with his son during the Blitz.
Biography
In his youth, Johnny's Father lived in a cottage beside a railway station. He frequently visited the Island of Sodor, where he befriended Thomas and drew pictures of the engines. As he grew up, he forgot about Sodor and later moved to London.
During the Second World War, he evacuated London with his son during the Blitz, returning to his old house. He is initially dismissive when Johnny begins telling him stories of his adventures on Sodor, until he reunites with Thomas at the end of the film and realises his childhood memories were real.
Personality
Little is currently known about the personality of Johnny's Father, though he appears to be somewhat dismissive or skeptical.