Victor

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This article is about the narrow gauge engine. You may be looking for the standard gauge engine, the Story Library book or the Engine Adventures book.

Victor
Background Information
First appearance	Hero of the Rails (T&F)
Last appearance	Kenji on the Rails Again (T&F)
Creator(s)	Sharon Miller John Lee
Voice Actors
UK voice actor	Matt Wilkinson (2009-2012)
UK/US voice actor	David Bedella (US: 2009-2020; UK: 2012-2020)
Character Overview
Name	Victor
Title	Victor the Busy Engine
Nicknames	Boss (by Rocky and Kevin) The Yellow Engine (by Luke)
Gender	Male
Country	Island of Sodor Cuba (formerly) United States (built)
Affiliation	North Western Railway Thomas Edward Henry Gordon James Percy Toby Emily Annie and Clarabel Henrietta Skarloey Railway Peter Sam Luke Sodor Steamworks Kevin
Technical Details
Basis	Minaz No. 1173
Gauge	2'3" (686 mm, narrow gauge)
Power type	Steam
Vehicle	Locomotive
Type	Saddle/pannier tank engine
Fuel type	Oil
Configuration	0-4-0ST+PT
Wheels	4
Top speed	30 mph (48 kph)
Designer(s)	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Builder(s)	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Year built	1915
Number	1173 (formerly)
Railway	North Western Railway
Company	Sodor Steamworks
Owner(s)	Sir Topham Hatt

Victor is a dark red narrow gauge tank engine from Cuba who works at the Sodor Steamworks with his assistant, Kevin.

Biography

Thomas & Friends

Victor used to work at the Manuel de Céspedes Sugar Mill in Cuba, until he was transferred to Sodor by boat. During his journey, the chains holding him down snapped. Upon arriving at Brendam Docks, Victor tried to tell the workmen about his problem, but they could not understand him as he only spoke Spanish (Greek in the Spanish, Brazilian and French versions). Luke, an engine they had picked up during the journey, was lifted off of the ship first and accidentally bumped into Victor, causing him to roll off the deck and into the sea. Fortunately, Victor landed on a jetty, but due to the bad weather, he was left there for a very long time. When the bad weather was cleared out, Victor was finally lifted out of the water, and was sent to the Sodor Steamworks. During that time, he decided to learn English and his first word of English was "red," as that was the colour he chose to be repainted in.

Victor now works at the Sodor Steamworks and is always busy finding, delivering or collecting parts and supervising activities around the yard. He works closely with Kevin, whose clumsiness often annoys Victor. He is a wise and friendly engine who is always ready to help his friends, however, he does not tolerate any nonsense.

In his first appearance, Victor helped Thomas restore Hiro with the help of Kevin. Victor would leave flatbeds of old engine parts for Thomas and the other engines to bring to Hiro. After the Fat Controller found out Hiro, he had Victor oversee Hiro's restoration.

Victor has helped to repair many engines, but such work can sometimes overwhelm him. Once he had seven engines awaiting their turn for repairs when he and Kevin were trying to fix some trucks. Victor quickly rearranged the workload and told the other engines to come back later whilst he attended to Gordon.

Until recently, Luke believed that Victor had been scrapped as a result of the damage he had sustanted after Luke had accidentally knocked the Cuban engine off the boat. Years later, when the truth about this came out, Victor told Luke that he was not to blame.

Victor visits the Skarloey Railway once a week to examine the narrow gauge engines. Once Peter Sam did not want to bother him prior to his visit, even when Skarloey, Sir Handel and Duncan needed repairs. However, when Peter Sam ran out of coal, he asked Rheneas to get Victor. Victor informed Peter Sam that it is his job to fix engines, so it would not be a bother to ask for his assistance.

In the seventeenth series, Victor allowed Kevin to work at the docks, gave Scruff a makeover and allowed Edward and Henry to sleep at the Steamworks when the turntable at Tidmouth Sheds was frozen.

In the eighteenth series, when Duncan became exceedingly grumpy during the holidays, Victor and Mr. Percival made him a bet: if the Scottish engine could go a whole day without complaining, Victor would give him a new coat of paint before the other engines.

When Kevin got lost in the snow, Victor feared the worst and set out to find him, in spite of his dislike for the snow. He refused to give up the search until he was eventually informed that Kevin was safe and sound back at the Steamworks.

When the Great Railway Show was being held on the Mainland, Victor assisted in preparing the Sudrian contenders for the competitions. He insisted that Gordon wait for the workmen to complete their safety checks after his streamlining, but the big engine refused, eager to compete and see his brother. When Thomas was left behind to be repaired, Victor tried to cheer him up, only for Kevin to reveal that Gordon's safety valve mechanism was not properly reassembled. Knowing the potentially catastrophic results of Gordon racing without a safety valve, Victor insisted that Thomas head to the Show and give it to him. Unfortunately, he was not successful.

Personality

Victor is a narrow gauge engine that keeps the Sodor Steamworks operating. He is a busy engine with a winning sense of humour and a heart of gold. He is highly respected among all of the Sodor engines for helping to sort their repairs and see to their needs. He is very friendly, can often put a smile on an engine's smokebox, and will often help guide an engine where he feels it may be to their benefit. Victor also has a firm manner when something needs to be sorted and stands no nonsense from naughty steam engines or lurking diesel engines. He takes his work very seriously and takes great pride in helping to maintain the service of the Steamworks. In his time, Victor has helped restore, repair and repaint many of Sodor's locomotives and he keeps the Steamworks a welcoming, bustling, hospitable environment. He keeps a keen, watchful eye over Kevin the crane, who assists him in the works' operations. Kevin's clumsiness and antics may cause Victor bother and disturbance, but Victor is fond of Kevin and glad to have him as part of the team. Due to coming from a warm country, he has a deep hatred of snow, but he was able to overcome this when Kevin was in danger.

Technical Details

Basis

Victor is based on Minaz No. 1173, an 0-4-0ST+PT locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works that worked at the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Sugar Mill in Cuba. The engine carried water in its saddle tank and oil in its side tanks. It was in poor condition and withdrawn after 1993. 1173 was rescued from Céspedes on 3 August 2012. From there it was transferred to the Patria Sugar Mill Museum where it was repainted and put on display with other engines rescued from Céspedes and other sugar mills.

As the Sodor Steamworks is based on high profile locomotive works (such as Crewe, Doncaster, and Darlington), Victor is also based on the narrow gauge locomotives that lived there, delivering parts to different departments. So, while Victor's prototype is standard gauge, he - like the high profile works locos - is narrow gauge.

Victor's basis, the real 1173

Livery

Originally, Victor was painted in bright yellow with green lining and was numbered 1173 when he first arrived on Sodor. When he learned to speak English, his first word was "red", so he was currently painted dark red with yellow lining and black and yellow hazard stripes on his front buffer beam; the black and yellow hazard stripes on the rear of his cab are above his rear buffer beam. The Sodor Steamworks logo is painted on the sides of his cab.

Appearances

• Television Series
• Other Media

Thomas & Friends Series 13 - Creaky Cranky, The Lion of Sodor (mentioned), Slippy Sodor, The Early Bird, Play Time, Time for a Story, Percy's Parcel, Toby's New Whistle, Steamy Sodor and The Biggest Present of All Series 14 - James in the Dark, Charlie and Eddie (mentioned), Henry's Health and Safety, Victor Says Yes, Thomas in Charge, Thomas' Crazy Day, Thomas and Scruff (cameo) and O the Indignity Series 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand, Henry's Happy Coal, Surprise, Surprise, Stop That Bus! (does not speak), Stuck on You, Kevin the Steamie, Wonky Whistle and Tree Trouble (does not speak) Series 16 - Race to the Rescue, Percy and the Calliope (does not speak), Salty's Surprise, Emily's Winter Party Special, Muddy Matters (portrait cameo), Welcome Stafford!, Don't Bother Victor!, Happy Birthday Sir! (mentioned) and The Christmas Tree Express (cameo) Series 17 - Kevin's Cranky Friend, Scruff's Makeover, Gordon Runs Dry (cameo), The Lost Puff, Bill or Ben?, Santa's Little Engine (does not speak) and The Frozen Turntable Series 18 - Thomas and the Emergency Cable, Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger (mentioned), Long Lost Friend, Duncan the Humbug (does not speak), Emily Saves the World (mentioned) and Samson Sent for Scrap Series 19 - Who's Geoffrey?, Snow Place Like Home, Best Engine Ever and The Other Side of the Mountain (does not speak) Series 20 - Henry in the Dark, Cautious Connor, All in Vain and Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks (portrait cameo) Series 21 - Dowager Hatt's Busy Day (portrait cameo), Stuck in Gear (does not speak), Hasty Hannah, Philip's Number, The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor and A Shed for Edward Series 22 - What Rebecca Does and An Engine of Many Colours Series 23 - Gordon Gets the Giggles and Steam Team to the Rescue (portrait cameo; fantasy) Series 24 - Kenji on the Rails Again Specials 2009 - Hero of the Rails 2010 - Misty Island Rescue 2011 - Day of the Diesels 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery 2013 - King of the Railway 2015 - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure 2016 - The Great Race 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor 2018 - Big World! Big Adventures! (portrait cameo) Music Videos Hero of the Rails - Go, Go Thomas Series 13 - Roll Along, Thomas, You're the Leader and Sounds Series 14 - All You Need and Sir Topham Hatt Day of the Diesels - Day of the Diesels Blue Mountain Mystery - Blue Mountain Mystery Series 16 - Go, Go Thomas King of the Railway - Working Together Again Series 17 - Hey, Hey Thomas! Thomas' YouTube World Tour - The Whistle Song Series 19 - Engine Roll Call Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure - We Make a Team Together Series 20 - Accidents Will Happen The Great Race - Streamlining (not named; does not speak) Journey Beyond Sodor - The Most Important Thing is Being Friends (cameo) Series 21 - Set Friendship in Motion Series 22 - Engine Roll Call Storytime Series 1 - The Story of Gordon the Big Engine (does not speak) and Who's Geoffrey?

Magazine Stories 2010 - Percy's Parcel (does not speak) and The Best Present of All (does not speak) 2011 - Victor Says Yes, Steamy Sodor (does not speak), Gordon and Ferdinand (cameo), and Henry's Health and Safety (cameo) 2012 - Stuck on You, Blue Mountain Mystery, The Best Present of All (does not speak), Where's That Bus? (cameo), and The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 651) 2013 - Henry's Ghost, Surprise, Surprise!, and Early Bird! (mentioned) 2014 - Bill or Ben (cameo), Frozen Turntable and Steamy Sodor (does not speak) 2015 - The Perfect Present (does not speak) 2016 - Who's Geoffrey?, Victor Says Yes and Thomas in Charge! 2017 - Steamy Sodor (does not speak) Annual Stories 2013 - The Biggest Present of All (does not speak)

Audio Files

Whistles

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Series 15	Active

In the early version of the Guess Who? Puzzles segment and the mobile game app, Race On! Victor was formerly portrayed with the Rainbow Sun's whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Guess Who? Puzzles	Race On!

In the mobile game apps Magical Tracks, Thomas & Friends: MINIS, and the 2018 update for Go Go Thomas!, Victor has Peter Sam's Series 4 and Rheneas' Series 6-12 whistle sound at four steps lower in pitch, which sounds very similar to his own whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Magical Tracks	Go Go Thomas! (2018 version)

In Blue Mountain Mystery in the mobile app, Read and Play!, Victor is incorrectly portrayed with Edward's whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Blue Mountain Mystery (Read and Play!)	Blue Mountain Mystery (Read and Play!)

From Thomas Game Pack to Quarry Find, Victor has an alternate whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Thomas Game Pack	Quarry Find

In Don't Bother Victor! in the mobile app, Read and Play!, Victor is incorrectly portrayed with Gordon's whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Don't Bother Victor! (Read and Play!)	Don't Bother Victor! (Read and Play!)

In Victor the Shiny Red Engine and Don't Bother Victor! (Little Engines Easy Reading), Victor is incorrectly portrayed with Duck's whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Victor the Shiny Red Engine (Read and Play!)	Don't Bother Victor! (Little Engines Easy Reading: Read and Play!)

In one page of Victor the Shiny Red Engine, Victor is incorrectly portrayed with Donald's original whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Victor the Shiny Red Engine (Read and Play!)	Victor the Shiny Red Engine (Read and Play!)

In Blue Mountain Mystery (Little Engines Easy Reading) in the mobile app, Read and Play!, Victor is incorrectly portrayed with Douglas' original whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Blue Mountain Mystery (Little Engines Easy Reading: Read and Play!)	Blue Mountain Mystery (Little Engines Easy Reading: Read and Play!)

In Kevin Meets Cranky! in the mobile app, Read and Play!, Victor is incorrectly portrayed with James' whistle.

First used	Last used	Sound Effect
Kevin Meets Cranky (Read and Play!)	Kevin Meets Cranky (Read and Play!)

Trivia

• Victor is one of the very few steam engines in the series to be an oil burner.
• In the UK dub of the thirteenth to sixteenth series, Victor and Kevin had the same voice actor. However, Victor also had a Spaniard sound-a-like accent before his voice was changed to his US actor in "Blue Mountain Mystery" so that it could reflect his basis' origin.
• Victor is the only narrow gauge engine owned by the North Western Railway and the only one to be seen using a snowplough.
• Victor is the first engine to speak a language other than English (said language being Spanish). Other engines who are also shown to speak different languages, include Millie, Daisy (at least somewhat), Axel, Etienne and Carlos.
  • His voice actor David Bedella is fluent in Spanish in real life.
• In his original yellow livery, Victor has the same number (1173) as his basis.
• In the nineteenth series, Victor gained a tail lamp.
• Victor is the first narrow gauge engine to appear in the CGI series.
• Victor is a narrow gauge engine, but his basis is a standard gauge engine. This was done to make it easier for him to go a round tight turns and through small spaces at the Steamworks.
• As he has been scaled down to narrow gauge, Victor's cab is smaller than his basis, and when standing, his crew's eye level is higher than the top of his windows. As a result, Victor has rarely been seen with his crew entering or exiting his cab.
• Victor currently has the most merchandise of any narrow gauge engine.
• Victor was the last engine to be released in the My First Thomas range.
• Victor's whistle is based on the Norfolk And Western 1218 A Class 2-6-6-4 locomotive.

Quotes

“Hello, I'm Victor. At the Sodor Steamworks, we'll have you repaired in no time, to keep the Island of Sodor steaming along.”

―Victor's website audio

Merchandise

• Wooden Railway (normal, sea soaked, and flashback versions; discontinued)
• Motor Road and Rail (normal and flashback; Asia only)
• TrackMaster (normal, talking, flashback, and sea-soaked versions; all discontinued)
• Take-n-Play (normal, flashback, sea-soaked, partially repainted versions, and push 'n' puff; discontinued)
• Push Along
• My First Thomas (discontinued)
• My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)
• Mega Bloks (discontinued)
• Capsule Plarail (normal and flashback; Japan only)
• Boss (discontinued)
• Collectible Railway
• Minis
  • Classic Minis
  • Heroes Minis
  • DC Super Friends Minis (as Hawkman and Superboy)
  • Graffiti Minis
  • Core Moments Minis (Yellow Victor)
  • Construction Minis
  • Night Time Minis
  • Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Minis (as Goldar)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Minis (as Kraang)
  • Slime Minis
  • Camo Minis
  • X-ray Minis
  • Holiday Minis
  • New Look Minis (Blue Mountain Mystery)
• Motorized Railway
• Adventures (discontinued)
• Engine Adventures
• Wood

References

North Western Railway

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

International Characters

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* RWS only | ** T&F only | ✦ Changed location