Emily (Thomas & Friends)

File:Emily the Engine.jpg

Emily as seen in Emily's New Coaches

Emily is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from the television series Thomas and Friends. She was the first female steam engine to be featured in the television series, and is the only female member of the "Steam Team", the eight core characters of the series. She is painted dark green, and has large driving wheels and a shiny brass safety valve cover.

When she first arrived on the Island of Sodor, she took Thomas's coaches Annie and Clarabel by mistake, much to Thomas' dismay. However after she rescued Thomas and Oliver from an accident, Thomas forgave her. Sir Topham Hatt (the "Fat Controller") rewarded her with two coaches of her own. From Season 8 onwards she has been depicted as a rather bossy character, which can make her difficult to work with at times. She is sometimes a "big sister" figure to the smaller engines like Thomas and Percy. She speaks with a Scottish accent in the UK version.

Emily is the only member of the Steam Team who does not appear in the Railway Series, the books that form the basis of the television series. She was a relatively late addition to the TV series, arriving in Season 7.

In the more recent (CGI) stories, from Hero of the Rails onwards, Emily is voiced by Teresa Gallagher (UK) and Jules de Jongh (US).

Personality

Emily had been a kind-hearted engine when she first arrived. But soon she gained a more bossy attitude. She bossed Thomas once, which made him cross. She has been good friends with Thomas ever since her first arrival.

Model

Emily is based on a Stirling 4-2-2 of the Great Northern Railway. These locomotives were used on high-speed express services from York to London in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Great Northern Railway used a dark emerald green livery on their locomotives similar to that carried by Emily.

Whilst the Stirling 4-2-2 is in fact tender engine, Emily is incorrectly described as a tank engine in some of the Thomas and Friends books.

Spotlight episodes

Since arriving on Sodor, Emily has appeared in many stories. The following is a list of the episodes in which Emily is the main character:

• "Emily's New Coaches" (Season 7, episode 1) – Emily's arrival on the railway
• "Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough" (Season 8, episode 8)
• "Emily's New Route" (Season 8, episode 10)
• "As Good As Gordon" (Season 8, episode 18)
• "Emily's Adventure" (Season 8, episode 19)
• "Emily Knows Best" (Season 9, episode 17)
• "Emily and the Special Coaches"/"Emily and the Special Cars" (Season 10, episode 21)
• "Emily's Rubbish"/"Emily And The Garbage" (Season 11, episode 2)
• "Excellent Emily" (Season 12, episode 8)
• "A Blooming Mess" (Season 13, episode 12)