Utility Vans

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There are at least three types of Utility Vans seen in the Railway Series and the television series.

They are also simply known as vans or trucks in the UK narration or cars in the US narration.

General Utility Vans

General Utility Vans
Background Information
First appearance	Really Useful Engines (RWS)
Last appearance	Really Useful Engines (RWS)
Creator(s)	Christopher Awdry
Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England (formerly for some)
Technical Details
Basis	General utility vans (GUV)
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Closed wagons
Wheels	8 each
Designer(s)	British Railways
Builder(s)	York, Glasgow, Doncaster Works or Pressed Steel Company
Year built	Between 1956 and 1960
Railway	North Western Railway
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

These vans are rolling stock primarily used for transporting letters and parcels throughout various railways.

Biography

The Railway Series

These vans are a frequent sight on the Ffarquhar Branch Line and are usually pulled by Percy. Tom Tipper, the postman, used to help load and unload letters and parcels into the vans at Ffarquhar.

Technical Details

Basis

These vans are BR Mk 1 GUV.

A real general utility van

Livery

These vans are painted light brown.

Appearances

• Railway Series

The Railway Series

• Really Useful Engines - Mind that Bike

Merchandise

• Hornby (discontinued)

SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV (4 wheels)

SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV
Background Information
First appearance	Thomas and Gordon (T&F)
Last appearance	Gordon Takes a Tumble (T&F)
Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England (formerly for some)
Technical Details
Basis	SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Closed wagons
Wheels	4 each
Designer(s)	Richard Maunsell
Builder(s)	Ashford, Eastleigh, Brighton or Nine Elms Works
Year built	Between 1919 and 1951
Railway	North Western Railway
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

These vans are rolling stock used for transporting goods and merchandise throughout various railways. They have four wheels.

These vans were slowly phased out by the fifth series and replaced with bogie variants, as they ran easier on tighter turns.

Biography

Thomas & Friends

A utility van was used for carrying passenger's luggage, which was a part of Henry's express..

Most of these vans have often been used for the Flying Kipper and have been involved in many accidents and adventures of Henry, Duck or Thomas whilst being a part of the train. Various accidents include derailing into a stationary goods train and being completely submerged underwater after travelling on a line eroded by high tides.

Henry once used these vans to transport letters and parcels from the Mainland to Percy's Post Train.

Personality

Sentient vans fall into the category of Troublesome Trucks.

Technical Details

Basis

The utility vans are based on the South Eastern & Chatham Railway Diagram 960 Parcels and Miscellaneous Vans (PMV), introduced in 1919.

This type of van was designated the standard for the Southern Railway and remained in production, updated as the Diagram 3103, until 1951, remaining in regular service until 1986, with a few surviving on departmental duties into the 1990s. These vans were used primarily for the transportation of letters and parcels.

A 4-wheel SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV

Livery

These vans were originally painted dark brown with light brown vents. They were repainted in a faded black in the third series.

A dark brown van

A black van with a face

Trivia

• The model for this type of van was constructed out of a Tenmille kit. The light brown model used for the bogie variants was sometimes used for the 4-wheel variants.
• Though they are usually faceless, a utility van with a Troublesome Truck face was once briefly seen in the third series episode Oliver Owns Up, although the face was crooked.

Merchandise

• TrackMaster (discontinued)
• Wooden Railway (4 wheels, as Baggage Cars; discontinued)

SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV (bogie wheels)

SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV
Background Information
First appearance	Thomas and Gordon (T&F)
Last appearance	Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (T&F)
Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England (Built)
Technical Details
Basis	SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Type	Goods Van
Wheels	8
Designer(s)	Richard Maunsell
Builder(s)	SR Ashford, Eastleigh, Brighton or Nine Elms Works
Year built	Sometime between 1919 and 1951
Railway	North Western Railway

These vans are rolling stock used for transporting goods and merchandise throughout various railways. They are quite common.

These vans replaced the four wheel variants, as their bogies allowed them to run easier on tighter turns.

The Mail Train and the Flying Kipper primarily consist of these type of vans.

Biography

Thomas & Friends

One of these vans was part of Thomas' long goods train. The trucks grew cross with Thomas and pushed him down Gordon's Hill.

Henry once used one of these vans to transport letters and parcels from the Mainland to Percy's Post Train. .

One of these vans helped form part of the Circus Train. James was given the honour of pulling the train, much to the dismay of Gordon and Henry.

Percy used one of these vans to carry Flynn's special hose. Den and Dart offered to deliver the van but dumped the hose in the garage instead as ordered by Diesel 10.

Personality

Though faceless one of these vans once pushed Thomas down Gordon's hill, thus making them troublesome trucks.

Technical Details

Basis

The utility vans are based on the South Eastern & Chatham Railway Diagram 960 Parcels and Miscellaneous Vans (PMV) with added bogies. The mail vans share the same basis.

A 4-wheel SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV

A bogie variant of the wagon, which may have served as the inspiration for adding bogies to the 4-wheel version

Types of designs

4 vents (raised)

2 vents (lowered)

Livery

These vans are painted maroon, cream, dark grey and blue.

A maroon van

A cream van with red stripes

A dark grey van

A brown van

A light blue van with white stripes

There have also been vans with special liveries depicted with logos for various businesses and companies.

A "Topham Circus" van

The mail vans

Appearances

• Television Series

Thomas & Friends Series 1 - Thomas and Gordon, Edward and Gordon (deleted scene), Thomas' Train, Thomas and the Trucks, James and the Coaches, Troublesome Trucks, James and the Express, Thomas, Terence and the Snow (deleted scene), Tenders and Turntables (deleted scene), Trouble in the Shed, Percy Runs Away, The Flying Kipper, Whistles and Sneezes, and Thomas in Trouble Series 2 - Percy and Harold, Pop Goes the Diesel, Dirty Work, The Deputation, Daisy, Percy's Predicament and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree Series 3 - A Scarf for Percy, Time for Trouble, Gordon and the Famous Visitor, Donald's Duck, Thomas Gets Bumped, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon, Henry's Forest, The Trouble with Mud, No Joke for James, Thomas, Percy and the Post Train, One Good Turn, Oliver Owns Up, Percy, James and the Fruitful Day and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure Series 4 - Rock 'n' Roll, Steam Roller, Rusty to the Rescue, Bowled Out, Henry and the Elephant, Toad Stands By and Fish Series 5 - Cranky Bugs, Bye George!, Something in the Air and Busy Going Backwards Series 6 - Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry, Twin Trouble, The World's Strongest Engine, Middle Engine and Gordon Takes a Tumble Series 14 - Pop Goes Thomas, Thomas in Charge, Thomas and the Snowman Party, Thomas' Crazy Day and Thomas and Scruff Series 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand, Percy's New Friends, Edward the Hero, Happy Hiro, Up, Up and Away!, Henry's Happy Coal, Surprise, Surprise, Stop That Bus!, Stuck on You, Kevin the Steamie, Tree Trouble and Fiery Flynn Series 16 - Race to the Rescue, Ol' Wheezy Wobbles, Express Coming Through, Ho Ho Snowman, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Thomas Toots the Crows, Bust My Buffers!, Percy and the Calliope, Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor, Sodor Surprise Day, Emily's Winter Party Special, Whiff's Wish, Happy Birthday Sir! and The Christmas Tree Express Series 17 - Scruff's Makeover, Calm Down Caitlin, Not Now, Charlie!, Bill or Ben?, Away From the Sea and The Smelly Kipper Series 18 - Duck in the Water, Missing Gator and Toad's Bright Idea Series 19 - Salty All at Sea and Slow Stephen Specials 2000 - Thomas and the Magic Railroad (deleted scene) 2011 - Day of the Diesels 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery 2014 - Tale of the Brave 2015 - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure

Trivia

• In the CGI series, the amount of vents on the front and back of utility vans were reduced.
• From the third to fifth series, the mail vans were made out of Tenmille gauge 1 Utility van kits. From Thomas and the Magic Railroad to Series 12, they were scratch built. This explains why their appearance was altered from the original utility vans they were based on.

Merchandise

• TrackMaster (discontinued)
• Hornby (discontinued)
• Bachmann (live lobster refrigerator, Mail Van)
• Capsule Plarail (ice cream vans)
• Wooden Railway (4 wheels, as Baggage Cars; discontinued)

References

North Western Railway

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* RWS only | ** T&F only | --- Dropped