| For other uses, see Troublesome Trucks. |
- "Chase him! Bump him! Throw him off the rails!"
- ― Troublesome Trucks
Troublesome Trucks, also called Freight Cars, originally Foolish Freight Cars, in the US dub, are pieces of open wagons which transport goods and are nicknamed because they can be very troublesome and love to play tricks on the engines. Many different types of Troublesome Trucks have been seen on the Island of Sodor, the Mainland and abroad.
Notable Troublesome Trucks
The following Troublesome Trucks have their own separate pages:
Standard Gauge:
![Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Short Trucks (faceless)[1]](/wiki/File:MainL%26BRShortTrucksModel.png "MainL&BRShortTrucksModel.png (1.26 MB)")
![3-Plank Trucks (faceless)[2]](/wiki/File:Main3PlankTrucksModel.png "Main3PlankTrucksModel.png (1.56 MB)")
![GWR Open C Trucks (faceless)[3]](/wiki/File:UtilityTrucksType2.png "UtilityTrucksType2.png (1.2 MB)")
![TVR Macaw G Flatbeds (faceless)[3]](/wiki/File:TroublesomeTrucks(Flatbeds).png "TroublesomeTrucks(Flatbeds).png (2.38 MB)")
Narrow Gauge:
Standard Gauge
7-Plank Trucks
7-Plank Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck. They are by far the most common type of Troublesome Truck seen on the North Western Railway and abroad.
Technical Details
Basis
These trucks are based on real 7-plank open wagons.
Liveries
In the early television series, these trucks appeared in a variety of colours, predominantly black, brown and dark green. Since the seventeenth series, the trucks have been almost exclusively painted grey.
Under the Big World! Big Adventures! rebrand, Troublesome Trucks in other countries appeared in several different liveries. In Brazil, the trucks are painted purple-red. In China, the trucks are painted black with red bufferbeams and solebars. In India, trucks appear in several colours including orange, white, blue and light green.
Privately-owned trucks have their company's name, initials or logo painted or placed on both sides. They are also painted in their company's livery.
Appearances
Trivia
Rickety as seen in Wooden Railway merchandise range.
- Most trucks are unnamed, however some merchandise ranges give names to individual trucks:
- The Ertl character cards named two trucks, Naughty and Troublesome.
- The Wooden Railway range introduced a teal truck called Rickety.
- In the first series, the trucks had paper eyes and a paper mouth similar to how Annie and Clarabel's were made. No other emotions besides an angry expression were able to be used until the second series when they were given faces to present a greater variety of expressions, however, some first series-style trucks still occasionally appeared in the background during the second series.
Merchandise
|
Short Wheelbase Trucks
Short Wheelbase Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck seen on the North Western Railway.
Technical Details
Basis
The models used for these trucks were built from Tenmille kits of a freelance short wheelbase open wagon design. Although intended for narrow gauge 16mm scale, the models would be rescaled to Gauge 1 and regauged to standard gauge for use on the show. The kit is described as "a freelance design but typical of NG railway practice".
Types of truck design:
Liveries
These trucks are painted either dark brown or black.
Appearances
Books
Magazine StoriesVideo Games
|
Trivia
- In the second series episode, Percy's Predicament, a truck at Ffarquhar Quarry had the Spiteful Brake Van's unused angry face mask.
- In the German dub of the third series episode, Diesel Does It Again, the trucks that Diesel pushes into the sea are stated to have drowned, implying sentience despite them being faceless.
Merchandise
- Ertl Company (cancelled)
4-Plank Trucks
4-Plank Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck seen on the North Western Railway. A NBR Diagram 43 Tube Wagon was at Brendam Canal when Bill and Ben were shunting.
Technical Details
Basis
One truck is based on an North British Railway (NBR) Diagram 43 10-ton 4-plank tube wagon, while others are a freelance design and are not known to be based on any specific type of wagon.
Livery
The NBR Diagram 43 Tube Wagon is painted dark grey. It has the letters "N E" (standing for "North Eastern", a shortened abbreviation for the London and North Eastern Railway) as well as the words "TUBE WAGON" along the top plank and its weight (10 TONS) on the bottom plank, all written in white lettering.
Appearances
Trivia
- Only one model of the NBR Diagram 43 Tube Wagon was owned and used by the production crew, likely having been acquired second hand similar to the LMS 4-plank truck.
- The merchandise ranges of the 4-plank trucks are based on the LMS 4-plank trucks.
Merchandise
- Bachmann
- Motor Road and Rail (depicted as a 7-plank truck; discontinued)
- Wood (discontinued)
Slate Trucks
| This article is about 'standard gauge trucks'. You may be looking for 'the narrow gauge trucks'. |
- "Lucky you! All I can see is another truck's backside!"
- ― A slate truck
Slate Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck. Although they are designed to transport slate and slabs, they have also been seen transporting crates. Two of these were a part of the train Thomas took to the Mainland.
Technical Details
Basis
The slate trucks are based on the 2-bar wooden slate wagons of the Talyllyn Railway, scaled up accordingly. Two extra wooden planks are also present on one end to allow room for a face.
Livery
The slate trucks are painted white with dark grey beds and black frames.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
Specials
- 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor
- 2018 - Big World! Big Adventures! (role cut)
Music Videos
- Journey Beyond Sodor - Somebody Has to be the Favourite, Who's Thomas? and The Hottest Place in Town
Books
- 2015 - Thomas Goods Encyclopedia
Video Games
- 2000 - Unten Thomas Deluxe Set
- 2015 - Thomas & Friends: Talk to You
Trivia
- The slate trucks are the first trucks to have a completely different face design, compared to former trucks in the CGI series.
- They share this design with the Tankers and Mine Trolleys.
- The trucks were last seen in test preview footage for Big World! Big Adventures!, however they were absent in the finished product.
Mine Trolleys
Standard Gauge Mine Trolleys are a type of Troublesome Truck seen in the United States. A mine trolley was inside a mine tunnel in the Grand Canyon, before it was pushed out by Thomas.
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. They have been scaled to standard gauge accordingly.
Livery
The mine trolley is a rusty brown colour.
Appearances
Trivia
- The mine trolley is scaled up from one of its faceless narrow gauge equivalents with a slightly wider bucket.
8-Plank Trucks
8-Plank Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck seen on the North Western Railway.
Technical Details
Basis
These trucks are based on real 8-plank open wagons.
Liveries
The 8-plank trucks are painted various shades of grey.
Appearances
Annual Stories
BooksMy Thomas Story Library
Engine Adventures
|
Merchandise
- ERTL Gold Rail (discontinued)
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)
- Hornby (discontinued)
6-Plank Trucks
6-Plank Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck seen on the North Western Railway.
Technical Details
Basis
These trucks are based on real 6-plank open wagons.
Livery
The 6-plank trucks are painted various shades of grey.
Appearances
Books
My Thomas Story Library
Engine Adventures
Really Useful Stories
|
Merchandise
- Hornby (discontinued)
5-Plank Trucks
5-Plank Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck seen on the North Western Railway.
Technical Details
Basis
These trucks are based on real 5-plank open wagons.
Livery
The 5-plank trucks are painted various shades of grey.
Appearances
Annual Stories
Books
|
Mineral Wagons
Mineral Wagons are a type of Troublesome Truck seen on the North Western Railway.
Technical Details
Basis
The mineral wagons are based British Railways 16-ton mineral wagons. These wagons were often used to transport loose mineral goods such as coal and ore.
Livery
The mineral wagons are commonly painted in different shades of grey.
Appearances
Annual Stories
Books
Magazine Stories
|
Merchandise
- Minis (discontinued)
- Mega Bloks (discontinued)
Narrow Gauge
Slate Trucks
Slate Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck used on the Skarloey Railway.
Biography
The slate trucks took a dislike to Sir Handel and wanted a chance for revenge. Unfortunately, when Peter Sam visited the slate quarry, some trucks mistook him for Sir Handel. They snapped the incline winch's chain and ran into him, cracking his funnel and denting his boiler.[4]
During one particularly bad winter, some slate trucks also snapped the incline winch's chain and ran down the slope into the ravine, causing an avalanche which buried Skarloey.[5] Another time, some slate trucks broke away from Peter Sam and plummeted into the ravine under the Old Iron Bridge.[6]
Technical Details
Basis
These trucks are based on the 2-bar wooden slate wagons of the Talyllyn Railway, albeit much taller in height.
Livery
These trucks are painted white with brown frames and black corner bracing.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
- Series 4 - Trucks and Home at Last (cameo)
- Series 5 - Duncan Gets Spooked and Snow
- Series 6 - Dunkin Duncan (faceless)
3-Plank Trucks
3-Plank Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck used on the Skarloey Railway.
Technical Details
Basis
These trucks do not appear to have any specific basis and are likely freelance designs.
Livery
These trucks are painted brown with black frames.
Appearances
Trivia
- The chassis of these trucks were made from Cooper Craft O gauge GWR Match Trucks (3016) and were given modifications:[7]
- Their ends were cut off.
- Parts of the middle were cut out.
- Diagonal W irons were cut off.
- A piece of styrene was attached for stability.
- Some of these trucks are owned by Twitter users ThomasTankMerch and TomsProps.
5-Plank Trucks
5-Plank Trucks are a type of Troublesome Truck used on the Skarloey Railway.
Technical Details
Basis
These trucks do not appear to have any specific basis and are likely freelance designs.
Livery
These trucks are painted dark green with black frames.
Appearances
Personalities
Troublesome Trucks delight in mischief and any wise engine knows that they are not to be trusted. If an engine is having a bad day, makes a mistake, or is naive and easily played upon, the trucks begin their tricks. Common antics of the trucks include singing, name-calling, holding back, bumping and teasing the engines. The trucks are not known for common sense, and will cause trouble regardless of the consequences. They are also shown to be somewhat manipulative and can take advantage of other engines that do not know much about them.
Trucks most often play tricks on engines based on how they are treated; many accidents involving them come as a form of revenge due to mistreatment. Trucks can also be described as territorial. When they get used to certain engines pulling them, another engine in the yard may cause confusion or anger for the trucks. When it comes to playing tricks, however, one engine is as good as another and they will carry out their plans regardless of who is pulling them.
It is very rare that the trucks will behave and few engines are known to be able to handle them. The only engines the trucks are known not to play tricks on are Edward, Stepney, Hiro and Salty, who are experienced with handling trucks and know how to properly discipline them when they misbehave. Salty in particular handles them by singing musical tunes, which the trucks like to sing along to. The trucks are also fearful of Oliver after he pulled a privately owned truck called S.C. Ruffey - who was also their leader - apart. Although this was an accident, the trucks were never told that and since then, they always keep in mind never to play tricks on Oliver out of fear of being pulled to pieces. Rebecca was also unintentionally able to handle them by unknowingly playing along with their tricks.
South American trucks in Big World! Big Adventures!
In Big World! Big Adventures, trucks in other countries are shown to act very differently than the ones on Sodor, being very polite and even helpful to the engines instead of causing trouble. Like their Sodor counterparts, these trucks sing songs for their enjoyment but do so for the engines that pull them to enjoy rather than to tease them.
Official Description
From Official Website:[1]
| “ | Troublesome Trucks: Troublesome Trucks are the rascals of Sir Topham Hatt's railway who take great delight in causing trouble for whichever engine has to pull them. Noisy and silly, they talk a lot and do not attend to what they are doing.
|
” |
From Official Website:[2][3][4] [5]
| “ | Troublesome Trucks: The Troublesome Trucks are the rascals of Sir Topham Hatt's railway who take great delight in causing trouble for whichever engine has to pull them. Noisy and silly, they talk a lot and do not attend to what they are doing.
|
” |
Audio Files
Themes
| First used | Last used | Composers | Theme | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percy Runs Away | Surprise Adventures | Mike O'Donnell Junior Campbell |
||
| Thomas and the Breakdown Train | Dirty Objects | |||
| Series 2 | ||||
| Series 5 | ||||
| Busy Going Backwards | The Runaway Elephant | Mixed with Gordon's Series 5-7 theme. The version heard in Busy Going Backwards uses an early version that's not mixed with Gordon's Series 5-7 theme. | ||
Laugh
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Series 2 | Series 7 |
Trivia
The Troublesome Trucks as seen in Capsule Plarail merchandise range.
- The Capsule Plarail toys of the Troublesome Trucks are repainted from JNR Tora55000-type's toys.
- The audio of the trucks' high-pitched giggling from the second through seventh series is actually a pitched-up recording of Junior Campbell and Mike O'Donnell laughing, as is the clip of the trucks singing their songs, "Pop Goes the Diesel" and "Pop Goes Old Ollie". However, Junior did both their laughing and singing voices while Mike only did their laughing voices.
- From the sixth series onwards in the US, the term "truck" is used more often. In more recent series, however, the US has been more consistent in using the term "car", unless referring to the Troublesome Trucks in particular.
- Despite their prominence during the show's earliest series, the trucks were, for unknown reasons, largely absent for several years following the show's conversion to CGI; while sporadically present in background shots or brief non-speaking roles, they played no major speaking roles in any productions between the twelfth series episode James Works It Out and King of the Railway.
- According to the Thomas and Friends Writers' Bible, the open trucks are the ringleaders, and the vans follow.
See Also
References
| Locomotives | Steam | City of Truro | Flying Scotsman | Spencer | Stephen's Competitors | Connor | Caitlin | Samson | Logan | Theo | Lexi | Hurricane | Merlin | Duchess | Flying Thistle | Thirteen |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Class 40 | The Mainland Diesels | Frankie | |
| Rolling Stock | Connor's Coaches | Caitlin's Coaches | Bradford | |
| Non-Rail Vehicles | 040 BMC | Beresford | Tony | Mitchell | The Hawker Hurricane | |
| People | Elizabeth II | The Duke and Duchess of Boxford | The Thin Clergyman | The Fat Clergyman | Baz and Bernie | |
| Stations | Barrow-in-Furness | Bournemouth | Brighton | Crewe | Doncaster | Victoria | |