Wilfred is a narrow gauge mountain-climbing engine who works on the Culdee Fell Railway. Like the other mountain engines, he has his own coach used for passenger services.
Biography
Wilfred was built at the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur, Switzerland, in 1900. Soon afterwards, he arrived on Sodor during the opening of the Culdee Fell Railway alongside the other four engines in time for the railway's inspection and opening.
Following Godred's accident shortly after opening, Wilfred and the three other engines worked the line successfully for 60 years. They were carefully maintained and sent back, in rotation, to the builders in Switzerland for overhaul.[1]
When Culdee returned from his 1963 overhaul, Wilfred and Ernest informed him about changes that happened to the railway. Wilfred and his coach were later delayed at the Summit after Lord Harry derailed on the points. Culdee and Wilfred teased him for being a "wreck". Wilfred was later present when Lord Harry was renamed Patrick.[2]
Wilfred and Ernest were eventually superseded by the more modern Nos. 6-8 in 1964.[3]
Personality
Wilfred is a kind old mountain engine. A hard worker, he is very cautious and gets upset at the carelessness of the other engines. He is known as the musical engine by the other mountain engines because he loves to whistle as he ascends and descends the steep hills.
Technical Details
Basis
Wilfred is based on No. 3 Wyddfa, an engine who works on the Snowdon Mountain Railway.
Livery
Wilfred is painted in the Culdee Fell Railway's livery of purple with orange lining. His number (3) is painted on the sides and back of his cab in yellow and he has a red nameplate with a gold boarder on the sides of his tanks with his name (Wilfred) on them, also in gold. His buffer beams are painted red.
Appearances
The Railway Series
Companion volumes
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Annual Stories
Books
Documentaries |
Official Description
The Railway Series
From Official Media:[1]
| “ | Wilfred (No.3): Godred, Ernest, Wilfred, Culdee and Shane Dooiney were the first batch of engines built in Switzerland, and delivered in time for the Inspection of the line before its opening in 1900. A few weeks later, however, Godred was derailed, scrapped and never replaced. The four remaining engines were carefully maintained and sent back, in rotation, to the builders in Switzerland for overhaul, but by 1960/61 these four were ageing and fresh and more powerful stock was needed to tackle the ever increasing traffic. Accordingly three superheated engines of the latest design were ordered. These were delivered at two-monthly intervals during 1962. | ” |
From Official Media:[3]
| “ | Ernest (2) and Wilfred (3): Numbers 1-5 were built at Winterthur in Switzerland in 1900, and work on the Abt rack system, pinion wheels below the engine engaging with a fixed 'rack' of teeth set between the rails. These two engines were delivered in 1900 but by the time of Mountain Engines had been superseded by Numbers 6, 7 and 8, and do not appear in the stories. | ” |
Thomas & Friends
From Official Media:[1]
| “ | Wilfred: Wilfred is a kind old mountain engine who often criticizes the carelessness of the younger mountain engines, but is always willing to help out if they get into trouble. He is a hard worker and never complains about working the steep cliffs of the mountainside, for which the stationmaster is extremely grateful.
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” |
Trivia
Wilfred with his rear face removed in the Korean version.
- Like the other engines of the Culdee Fell Railway, Wilfred has a face at each end.
- In the Korean version of Mountain Engines, the rear faces on the mountain engines were removed for unknown reasons.
- In Sodor: Reading Between the Lines, it is incorrectly stated that Ernest and Wilfred do not appear in the stories of Mountain Engines.
Merchandise
| Range | Released | Discontinued | Photo | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Gallery
The Railway Series
Main Series
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Miscellaneous
Others
Merchandise
References
| Locomotives | Godred | Ernest | Wilfred | Culdee | Shane Dooiney | Patrick | Alaric | Eric |
|---|---|
| Rolling Stock | Coaches | Catherine | The "Trucks" |
| People | Lord Peter Barrane | Lord Harry Barrane | Walter Richards |
| Locations | Kirk Machan (Engine Sheds) | Shiloh | Poll-ny-Chrink | Skarloey Road (Viaduct) | Devil's Back | Culdee Fell Summit |