The Ballast Spreader

{{Infobox Character Vehicle
|title1 = The Ballast Spreader
|image1 = File:BallastRS1.png
|first_appearance = [[Small Railway Engines]] {{RWS}}
|last_appearance = Small Railway Engines {{RWS}}
|creator(s) = [[Wilbert Awdry|Rev. W. Awdry]]<br>[[Gunvor and Peter Edwards]]
|name = *The Ballast Spreader
*Sodor Railway Repair
|gender = Male
|country_of_origin = {{Flag|ios}} [[Island of Sodor]]
|gauge = {{Standard gauge}}
|power_type = Petrol-mechanical
|vehicle = Track maintenance vehicle
|type = Railway ballast regulator
|fuel_type = Petrol
|configuration = 0-4-0PM
|wheels = 4
|railway = [[North Western Railway]]
|owner(s) = [[Sir Topham Hatt]]
}}'''The Ballast Spreader''' is a specialized petrol-driven machine used for replacing ballast on the [[North Western Railway]]. The Ballast Spreader is painted yellow and unusually, is seen wearing goggles.

==Technical Details==
===Basis===
The Ballast Spreader's specific basis is unknown, however, he is based on a [[wikipedia:Ballast regulator|Ballast regulator]], a piece of rail transport maintenance of way equipment used to shape and distribute the gravel track ballast. They are often used in conjunction with ballast tampers when maintaining track. <gallery bordersize="none" captionalign="center" position="center">
File:Ballastregulator.jpg|A Ballast Regulator
</gallery>

===Livery===
The Ballast Spreader is painted yellow and carries the words "'''Sodor Chain Load Undercut'''" on his side.

==Appearances==
<tabber>
Railway Series=
===''[[The Railway Series]]''===
* '''[[Small Railway Engines]]''' - [[Small Railway Engines#Ballast|Ballast]] {{Cameo}}

====Companion Volumes====
* '''1996''' - [[Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection]] {{Cameo}}
</tabber>

==Trivia==
* He was the first and only non-human character in ''The Railway Series'' to wear glasses.
* In ''The Railway Series'', he was depicted with a black face, but his Wooden Railway toy is depicted with a normal grey face to match the other characters.
* In the Wooden Railway range, he is known as the "'''Sodor Railway Repair'''". However, this title is technically inaccurate, as he is not strictly used for repair.

==Merchandise==
* [[Wooden Railway]] {{Note|as "Sodor Railway Repair"; discontinued}}

==Gallery==
===Merchandise===
<gallery position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" bordersize="none">
File:WoodenRailwaySodorRailwayRepair.png|Wooden Railway prototype
File:WoodenSodorRailwayRepair.jpg|Wooden Railway
</gallery>

{{North Western Railway}}

[[es:El Esparcidor de Lastre]]
[[he:מווסת הרבד]]
[[ja:バラスト・スプレッダー]]
[[pl:Układarka Tłucznia]]
[[ru:Балластный укладчик]]