Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
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This article is about the magazine story character. You may be looking for the series.

“I shall always remember my time on Sodor, Because this is the place where my bad luck changed into good!”
― Thirteen[src]

Thirteen is a dark grey open-cab saddle tank engine from the Mainland.

Biography

Thirteen was a spare engine from the Mainland and was brought to help Donald and Douglas, who were feeling overworked. When he first arrived, he proved to be very unlucky. He caused delays for Donald and Douglas, got hit by a land-slide, and then damaged his firebox which got knocked out of place. Sir Topham Hatt sent him to the works, and Donald and Douglas thought that would be the end of him.

However, after his repairs he came back to Sodor with a bigger firebox which cured his unluckiness. He told Donald and Douglas that he came to Sodor as an unlucky engine, but returned to the Mainland as a very lucky one. He now works there happily, feeling a lot more confident about himself.

Personality

Thirteen was a rather unlucky engine. Despite his unluckiness, he did his best to help out Donald and Douglas although his bad luck soon gets the better of him and the twins. After his repairs, he had a bigger firebox which cured his unluckiness, and he returned to the Mainland as a very lucky engine.

Technical Details

Basis

Unlike most engines, Thirteen's basis is unknown, however he does bare a somewhat resemblance to the Caledonian Railway 264 and 611 class 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotives designed by Dugald Drummond and built by Neilson and Company from 1885-1908. These small shunters remained in long service under the LMS (who gave all Neilson saddle locomotives the power class 0F, shared by many other types) and British Railways, with the last of the class withdrawn in 1962 and all were scrapped in 1964. None have survived into preservation.

Livery

Thirteen is painted dark grey with red lining. He has a red and yellow numberplate with the number "13" he is named after painted on each side of his saddle tank. His running board is also painted red.

Appearance

Trivia

  • His name originates from the superstition that the number 13 is unlucky.

Gallery

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