List of characters in The Railway Series

For the characters who appear in Thomas & Friends, see List of Thomas & Friends characters and List of Thomas & Friends film characters.

The Railway Series (1945-2011) is a series of British books by the Rev. Wilbert Awdry (Books 1-26) and Christopher Awdry (Books 27-42).

Unless otherwise stated on this page, the technical notes come from actual notes laid out by Wilbert Awdry when he was developing the characters and setting for his stories; these notes are cited in his publication The Island of Sodor: Its People, History, and Railways.

North Western Railway

The North Western Railway (NWR) is the main standard gauge rail network on the Island of Sodor. The railway's motto is "Nil Unquam Simile", which is Latin for "There's nothing quite like it". From nationalisation on January 1, 1948 until it privatised, the railway was the North Western Region of British Railways (BR). From 1925 onwards, it is managed by three Fat Controllers.

“Please tell everyone that whatever happens elsewhere, Steam will still be at work here. We shall be glad to welcome all who want to see and travel behind, real engines.”

― Sir Charles Topham Hatt II/The Fat Controller, Enterprising Engines

Steam engines

Thomas (NWR 1)

Main article: Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas is a small blue 0-6-0T ex-London, Brighton and South Coast Railway E2 class engine, and is the railway's #1 engine. When Thomas first arrived on Sodor, he initially worked as the station pilot at Vicarstown. After helping to rescue James from a nasty accident, Thomas was permanently assigned to the Ffarquhar Branch Line with his friends, Percy and Toby, and his two faithful coaches, Annie and Clarabel. In Tank Engine Thomas Again, Thomas is very proud of his own branch line and had many adventures during his first days on the line, where he forgets his guard by mistake, goes fishing, gets stuck in the snow, and meets two new friends, Terence and Bertie.

Edward (NWR 2)

Edward is a blue 4-4-0 ex-Furness Railway K2 class mixed-traffic engine and was the very first character to be created by the Rev. W. Awdry. He is the railway's #2 engine. With BoCo, Edward runs the Brendam Branch Line, which travels from Wellsworth to Brendam. Sometimes, the big engines would tease Edward of being old-fashioned and slow. In the story Edward's Exploit, during one rainy night, Edward was taking a passenger train full of enthusiasts home to Tidmouth, and his sanding gear failed. On a steep hill, his crack-pin snapped, damaging his side plating and forcing his driver and fireman to remove his side rods. However, Edward was able to pull his heavy train back, very late, but with triumph. BoCo looked after the branch line while Edward was sent to the Works again for repairs.

Henry (NWR 3)

Henry was originally a 4-6-2 designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. He was built secretly in 1919 by rival builders who had stolen the designs for a prototype. He arrived on Sodor in 1922 when the Fat Controller was swindled into buying the defective engine. There have been two Railway Series books devoted to Henry: Henry the Green Engine and Henry and the Express.

Awdry originally planned to write Henry out of the series, because C. Reginald Dalby's drawings made him look too similar to Gordon. After getting various letters from children about the character, Awdry changed his mind and in Henry the Green Engine, Henry was damaged in an accident while pulling the Flying Kipper, and was rebuilt offsite at Crewe Works to the design of the LMS Stanier "Black Five". Henry is painted green with red stripes, and can sometimes come across as arrogant and rude, but he does work hard and has even been called an "enterprising engine". Henry was the central character in a controversial Railway Series story. In the story Henry's Sneeze, the character blasts some troublemaking schoolboys with soot and they "ran away as black as niggers". In 1972, articles in the British press raised this as an example of racism. Awdry claimed that it was a case of oversensitivity on the part of the race relations board, but he apologized and changed the offending sentence to "as black as soot", which has been used in subsequent editions of the book.

Gordon (NWR 4)

Gordon is a big blue 4-6-2 ('Pacific') ex-London and North Eastern Railway Gresley Class A1 engine and is the railway's #4 engine. As of 1967, he is Flying Scotsman's only surviving brother. Gordon works on the Main Line and originally pulled the Wild Nor' Wester from London to Sodor, until he was superseded by Pip and Emma in 2011.

James (NWR 5)

Main article: James the Red Engine

James is a modified red 2-6-0 ('Mogul') ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Class 28 mixed-traffic engine. He was built by the Horwich Works between 1912 and 1913. After the Grouping, James was sold to the North Western Railway in 1925, still painted black by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Following James' crash on his first day, he was sent to Crovan's Gate Works, where he was repaired and painted red with black (later blue) and gold stripes. James is the railway's #5 engine. In the Author's Note of James the Red Engine (where James first appeared properly), it states that the nationalisation of British Railways has just happened.

Percy (NWR 6)

Percy is a little green 0-4-0ST engine and Thomas's best friend. In Troublesome Engines, Percy was first brought to the North Western Railway to help out the work while Henry, Gordon and James went on strike and later became the station pilot at Tidmouth. Following the Knapford Harbour Improvement Scheme in 1955, Percy was moved permanently to the Ffarquhar Branch Line, where he now works as a general goods engine. He is the railway's #6 engine.

Toby (NWR 7/BR 68221/LNER 8221/7127)

Main article: Toby the Tram Engine

Toby is a square 0-6-0 GER Class C53 tram engine. Originally duller brown, Toby was repainted chocolate brown with blue side-plates. He used to work on a tramway in East Anglia with his coach Henrietta, delivering goods from the farms to the junction and other stations. In 1951, after the tramway closed down, Toby and Henrietta were brought to the North Western Railway to run the line to Ffarquhar Quarry, as it was found to be illegal for Thomas to go on the Quarry Tramroad without side-plates and cowcatchers. Toby is the railway's #7 engine.

Duck/Montague (NWR 8/GWR/BR 5741)

Duck (real name Montague) is a green 0-6-0PT ex-Great Western Railway 5700 Class engine. Because of his nickname, the other engines said that he waddles. Duck thinks that there are two ways of doing things: the Great Western way and the wrong way. He works on the Little Western with Oliver and his two autocoaches, Alice and Mirabel. Duck was allocated #8 on the North Western Railway, but was allowed to keep his GWR/BR number '5741'.

Donald and Douglas (NWR 9 and 10/BR 57646 and 57647)

Donald and Douglas, originally known by their old numbers, 57646 and 57647, are a pair of blue 0-6-0 ex-Caledonian Railway 812/652 Class engines (originally painted in BR black; whereas in the television series, they remained that colour) and has arrived on Sodor from Glasgow, Scotland in 1959. In The Twin Engines, knowing that one of them would have been scrapped if left behind, they made quiet arrangements with their crews to travel together minus visible numbers and hope for the best. Although the Fat Controller had only purchased one engine from British Railways and intended to send the other back, he changed his mind after hearing how hard they worked clearing lines of heavy snow, and decided to purchase both. Donald and Douglas are the railway's #9 and #10 engines, respectively.

Oliver (NWR 11/GWR/BR 1436)

Oliver is a dark green 0-4-2T ex-Great Western Railway 1400 Class engine who 'escaped' from the Other Railway, where he was expected to be scrapped. The 1400 Class engines were fitted with a connector system, allowing the driver to control the engine remotely from the cab of an 'autocoach', such as Isabel.

In Enterprising Engines, Oliver, Isabel and Toad were escaping to the North Western Railway, but unfortunately, Oliver ran out of coal at the goods yard in Barrow-in-Furness. Shortly afterwards, Douglas helped save the group and took them to the Works to be repaired. Oliver's daring escape made him popular with the other engines. He was allocated #11 on the North Western Railway, but was allowed to keep his GWR/BR number '1436'. Oliver was assigned to work with Duck on the Little Western, and has been happily based there ever since despite his initial trouble with ballast trucks.

Diesel engines

Daisy (NWR D1)

Daisy is a green diesel railcar and is based on the British Rail Class 101 in a unique single car configuration. She was built in 1960 and arrived on Sodor specially for service on the Ffarquhar Branch Line, after Thomas crashed into the Stationmaster's house. Daisy was highly opinionated about her functions at first, but after her humiliation from a stray bull named Champion, she made more effort to settle in.

BoCo (NWR D2/BR D5702)

BoCo is a green British Rail Class 28 diesel-electric engine who primarily works on the Brendam Branch Line, but can also be seen working on the Main Line. BoCo is manufactured by Metropolitan-Vickers, and is named after its wheel arrangement, which is known as "Co-Bo". In The Railway Series, BoCo carries his NWR number 'D2' (whereas in the television series, he carries the number D5702). He first appeared in Main Line Engines, was built in 1958 and arrived on Sodor in 1965. BoCo and Edward are mentors to Bill and Ben.

Bear (NWR D3/BR D7101)

Bear (originally known as D7101) is a dark green (originally blue) British Rail Class 35. He first came to Sodor in 1967, and was accompanied by another diesel engine, D199, who talked about taking over the railway, which 7101 didn't like. After 7101 suffered from a leaked brake ejector and was helped by Henry along with 199 and their trains, he befriended him. After 199 was sent back home, the Fat Controller decided to give 7101 another chance to stay and work on the North Western Railway. 7101 was given another name "Bear", a new number 'D3', and a new coat of paint. Nowadays, Bear pulls the 'Limited', the semi-fast passenger train, and the Wild Nor' Wester whenever when Henry, Gordon and James are busy or unavailable.

Pip and Emma

Pip (short for Philippa) and Emma are two Class 43 diesel-electric engines which make up an InterCity 125 trainset. They had experienced problems with their cooling systems and came to Sodor in 1986 when Gordon was deputizing for an excursion train to Carlisie. Pip and Emma only appeared three times: Gordon the High-Speed Engine, Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines and Thomas and his Friends. In 2011, following Privatization, the Fat Controller purchased them in order to run a faster express service to London. They brought Prince Charles to Tidmouth to unveil a statue of the Thin Clergyman to celebrate his 100th birthday.

Rolling stock

Annie and Clarabel

Annie and Clarabel are Thomas' faithful regular coaches who work with him as a push-pull train on his branch line, enabling Thomas to stay at one end for his return journeys from Knapford. Annie only takes passengers, while Clarabel has a composite layout which she has a compartment for luggage and the guard. Thomas sometimes sing them songs to keep up a good rhythm as he travels along with them and they love to sing back. Annie and Clarabel are the first official female characters created by the Rev. W. Awdry.

Henrietta

Henrietta is Toby's faithful four-wheeled tram coach. In Toby the Tram Engine, Henrietta was depressed when lorries and buses replaced her work. When the tramway closed down, Toby and Henrietta were transferred to the North Western Railway because Toby couldn't bear to leave his coach behind. Henrietta was often used to transport workmen to and from Ffarquhar Quarry. In Thomas and Victoria, some workmen had to ride on Henrietta's balcony, but it was a by-law forbidding passengers to ride on balconies of coaches. Until then, the Fat Controller restored an old Furness Railway (FR) coach named Victoria to help out Toby and Henrietta. Together, they formed "Toby's Vintage Train".

Isabel, Dulcie, Alice and Mirabel

Isabel, Dulcie, Alice and Mirabel are four ex-Great Western Railway autocoaches who are paired with Oliver (Isabel and Dulcie) and Duck (Alice and Mirabel) on the Little Western. Isabel joined Oliver and Toad when they escaped from the Other Railway. Afterwards, the Fat Controller was able to rescue Dulcie, Alice and Mirabel in order to handle the passenger traffic.

Toad

Toad was Oliver's brake van who was saved when Douglas helped save him, Oliver and Isabel escape from scrap on the Other Railway. Toad requested to be Douglas' brake van in deep gratitude for the latter's actions, which he felt greatly humbled by.

Troublesome Trucks

The Troublesome Trucks are open wagons which they carry goods and materials on the North Western Railway. They are nicknamed because they can be very troublesome and play tricks on the engines.

Victoria

Victoria is a vintage four-wheeled coach originating from the Furness Railway. She was built in 1882 and worked on the Lakeside branch line with Albert and Helena. After being out of service, Victoria was moved to Sodor and was turned into a summer house in a garden close to Elsbridge. In Thomas and Victoria, after being discovered, it was a decision Victoria could be restored and used on the line to Ffarquhar Quarry to help out Toby and Henrietta.

Skarloey Railway

The Skarloey Railway (SR) is a 2'3" narrow gauge railway which runs from the North Western Railway's station at Crovan's Gate to Skarloey. The railway is owned by Sir Handel Brown, who serves as its chairman and is run by Mr. Roger Sam, son of the previous controller, Mr. Peter Sam. The locomotives are all based on their Talyllyn Railway counterparts.

Steam engines

Skarloey (SR 1)

Skarloey is a red 0-4-2ST (originally an 0-4-0ST) engine, and is named after Skarloey Lake, the northernmost point for passengers. Skarloey's equivalent on the Talyllyn Railway is Talyllyn. He was built in 1864 and arrived on Sodor the following year. The story of Skarloey's early years was told in Very Old Engines, where it was revealed he was overly excitable and eager to make an impression before becoming a humbler and dedicated engine. Skarloey was laid to one side in 1943 when he was worn out, but was hastily reinstated during the events of Old Faithful. Between 1955 and 1957, Skarloey was overhauled in England and he returned to regular service in 1958.

Rheneas (SR 2)

Rheneas is a red 0-4-0WT (but also has a back tank) engine, and is named after the station and waterfall. He was built in 1865 by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. of Whitehaven, the same company that built Skarloey. They are the oldest working engines on Sodor. Rheneas is more cautious than Skarloey, and was nicknamed 'Gallant Old Engine', as he kept the railway running during the turbulent period when Skarloey was in poor mechanical shape. Rheneas' equivalent on the Talyllyn Railway is Dolgoch. In Four Little Engines, Rheneas was sent away for repairs, and later returned in Gallant Old Engine.

Sir Handel/Falcon (SR/MSR 3)

Sir Handel (originally known as Falcon) is a red 0-4-2ST (originally 0-4-0ST) engine, and is named after Sir Handel Brown, the first manager. He is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Sir Haydn. Sir Handel was built in 1904 at the Falcon Works in Loughborough for the Mid Sodor Railway, and was named Falcon and painted blue. In 1982, Sir Handel was invited to the Talyllyn Railway. The real railway had paid tribute to The Railway Series by repainting Sir Haydn to resemble his counterpart.

Peter Sam/Stuart (SR/MSR 4)

Peter Sam (originally known as Stuart) is a red 0-4-2ST engine, and is named after the previous controller. He is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Edward Thomas. Peter Sam was built in 1920 by Kerr Stuart and Co. in Stoke-on-Trent for the Mid Sodor Railway, and was named Stuart and painted green. Like Sir Handel, Peter Sam was later sold to the Sodor Aluminium Company, and then in 1951 to the Skarloey Railway. Following an accident with some slate trucks, Peter Sam lost his funnel and was fitted with a Giesl ejector. In the 1990s, he was sent to the Talyllyn Railway. As with Sir Handel, this was based on real-life events when the Talyllyn Railway repainted Edward Thomas as his counterpart.

Duncan (SR 6)

Duncan is a grumpy red 0-4-0WT engine, who was built by Andrew Barclay in Kilmarnock, and entered service on Sodor in 1958. He was purchased second-hand as a spare engine, when Peter Sam had an accident at the Skarloey Slate Quarry. Duncan is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Douglas, and first appeared in The Little Old Engine.

Ivo Hugh (SR 7)

Ivo Hugh is a young red 0-4-2T engine. He is named in honor of the former Chief Mechanical Engineer, Mr. Ivo Hugh. Ivo Hugh was built in 1996 at Crovan's Gate Works by the Engineering Department in New Little Engine. Ivo Hugh is unique in the engine roster due to being a side-tank engine, and he is powerful enough to handle the heaviest work.

Duke (SR 8/MSR 1)

Duke, named after the Duke of Sodor, is a orange-brown 0-4-0ST+T engine, who initially worked on the Mid Sodor Railway as its #1 engine. He is based on the Ffestiniog Railway locomotive Prince, one of four engines in the Ffestiniog Railway's 'Small England class'. Duke was built in 1879 and arrived for the opening of the Mid Sodor Railway the following year. When it closed down in 1947, Duke was left in the abandoned sheds for 22 years before being found and rescued in 1969, and was moved to be restored and put to work on the Skarloey Railway.

Diesel engines

Rusty (SR 5)

Rusty is a black 4wDM engine. He carries out maintenance work and odd jobs around, and was acquired direct from the manufacturers in 1957. Rusty is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Midlander, and first appeared in The Little Old Engine. Rusty is the second diesel engine to appear in The Railway Series and the first diesel engine ever to become a permanent resident on Sodor.

Fred (SR 9)

Fred is the railway's second diesel engine. He is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Alf. He is mentioned in New Little Engine. According to Sodor: Reading Between the Lines, Fred entered service in 1989, having been acquired from the National Coal Board (NCB).

Culdee Fell Railway

The Culdee Fell Railway (CFR) is Sodor's only rack railway. It climbs to the top of Sodor's highest mountain, which shares the railway's name. It is based on the Snowdon Mountain Railway in North Wales, was opened in 1900, and for many years was operated under the direction of Mr. Walter Richards, the General Manager. The railway was only featured in Mountain Engines. The locomotives on the line are all 0-4-2RTs.

Steam engines

Godred (CFR 1)

Godred was the original engine on the railway, and is named after one of Sodor's historical rulers. Culdee tells a made-up story about Godred in Mountain Engines: Shortly after the railway opened, he lost contact with the rack rail at a loosened rail joint and plunged sideways over a cliff. Fortunately, no one was injured. Godred, however, was so badly damaged that he was scrapped, with his parts being used to repair the other engines. This incident is based directly upon the Snowdon Mountain Railway's opening day accident when their No. 1 L.A.D.A.S suffered a similar accident.

Culdee (CFR 4)

Culdee is the principal engine on the Mountain Railway. He is based on No. 4 Snowdon. When introduced in Mountain Engines, he had been overhauled in Switzerland in 1962-63 and was on the last stage of his journey home. Culdee has great respect for dangers found on the line and relies on his coach, Catherine, to help him travel safety.

Lord Harry/Patrick (CFR 6)

Lord Harry/Patrick arrived in 1962 and was named after the manager. He is based on No. 6 Padarn. When he was new, Lord Harry was reckless and scared his coaches by taking risks. After he derailed and disgraced himself, Lord Harry got punished by having his name taken away. He asked for a second chance, and was given a job of doing lowly shunting. But he was fittingly renamed "Patrick" in honor of the climber who risked his life to help the others.

Other engines

Ernest (CFR 2), Wilfred (CFR 3), and Shane Dooiney (CFR 5) arrived on Sodor with Godred and Culdee in time in March 1900. Following Godred's accident shortly after opening, the engines worked the line successfully for 60 years. They were gently maintained and sent back, in rotation, to the builders in Switzerland for overhaul.

Rolling stock

Catherine

Catherine is a mountain coach who mainly works with Culdee, transporting passengers and supplies up to the Summit. Unlike most coaches, Catherine is actually coupled in front of Culdee, and is responsible for warning him of dangers that lie ahead.

Arlesdale Railway

The Arlesdale Railway is Sodor's smallest railway. It is based on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway in Cumbria. The railway is run by Fergus Duncan (The Small Controller). Five engines appear in the books. The diesel locomotives are mentioned in the companion books: Sigrid of Arlesdale, Blister I and Blister II.

Steam engines

Rex

Rex is a green 2-8-2 tender engine who is based on Ravenglass & Eskdale's River Esk and was built in 1923. He enjoys nothing more than teasing Mike. Rex is a hardworking engine, but can sometimes has problems with traction.

Mike

Mike is a grumpy red 2-8-2 tender engine who prefers goods trains to passengers. Once in the story Mike's Whistle, when a stray cow steps onto the line, Mike crossly tries to "shoo" her away by whistling so hard, which causes his whistle cap to blow off completely and land in an adjacent field by the side of the line, and nobody can look for it anywhere. So they have to make whistling sounds for Mike as well.

Bert

Bert is a quiet blue 0-8-2 tender engine. He is based on the Ravenglass & Eskdale's River Irt. In the story Tit for Tat, Bert is splashed by some photographing visitors to the Arlesdale Railway and is determined to get back at them.

Jock

Jock is a yellow 2-6-2 built by the Arlesburgh Works between 1972 and 1976 to cover a shortage of power. He is based on the Ravenglass & Eskdale's Northern Rock. Jock was built in the workshop at Ravenglass in 1976, then to the design of chief engineer, Ian Smith.

Diesel engine(s)

Frank

Frank is a 0-4-4DH engine. He has a tendency to get uptight and moody which gets him into trouble by causing minor bumps and accidents. Frank is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's Perkins. Unlike Perkins, Frank has added round buffers.

Privately owned/Other Sudrian railways

Neil (S&M 2)

Neil is a dark green 0-4-0 box tank engine with a heavy Scottish accent, originating from the Sodor and Mainland Railway (S&M). He first appears in the book Very Old Engines and was close friends with Skarloey. It is mentioned by Christopher Awdry in Sodor: Reading Between the Lines that Neil is still around but is not known where.

Bill and Ben (SCC 1 and 2)

Bill and Ben are orange-yellow 0-4-0ST engines who work for the Sodor China Clay Co (SCC). They both have saddle tanks which cover their smokeboxes, but not their fireboxes. They have the initials 'SCC' painted yellow on their saddle tanks, and underneath are their names on brown nameplates; their numbers are painted on their smokeboxes under the words 'Brendam Bay'. Apart from their numbers and nameplates, they are absolutely identical from the outset — which can be confusing for the other engines. Bill and Ben are based on Alfred and Judy, two engines built by Bagnall's of Stafford who worked at Par, Cornwall. They are unusually low, allowing them to fit under a narrow rail bridge that taller engines could not access without being heavily cut down in size. Bill and Ben first appeared in Main Line Engines and played a major role in Thomas and the Twins.

Mavis (FQC 1)

Mavis is a 0-6-0DM shunting engine who works for the Ffarquhar Quarry Co (FQC). She sometimes brings Toby's trucks down the line when he is busy. Mavis is based on a British Rail Class 04, some of which were fitted with side-plates and cowcatchers for use on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. She was built by the Drewry Car Company, and arrived on Sodor in 1962. Mavis first appeared in Tramway Engines and was named after the Rev. W. Awdry's neighbor in Rodborough, Stroud.

British Railways/Visitors

Various engines from British Railways (BR; also known as "the Other Railway"), and some from preserved/private railways and museums have visited the North Western Railway, both on regular trains to-and-from the Mainland, or for special events.

The 'Other Railway' Engines

The Big City Engine

The Big City Engine is a 4-6-0 ex-LMS "Patriot" Class engine who visited Sodor sometime in 1956. Once, he had gotten into an argument with Gordon and Duck about what was the name of the big station in London: King's Cross, Euston, Paddington, and St. Pancras.

Jinty and Pug

Jinty and Pug are two ex-LMS tank engines who visited Sodor on loan (along with five other engines) to help out on the North Western Railway, while the Fat Controller's engines went to be on display in London in the book The Eight Famous Engines. They are best friends of Percy. Jinty is based on an 0-6-0T LMS Fowler Class 3F, and Pug is based on an 0-4-0ST LMS Kitson 0F.

Diesel

Diesel is a black British Rail Class 08 diesel shunter who visited Sodor on trial in 1957. He first appeared in the book Duck and the Diesel Engine, where he employs his devious scheming to frame Duck after being humiliated by him. He played a non-speaking role in Thomas and the Great Railway Show. Diesel is the first known standard gauge diesel engine to ever visit Sodor, and also, the first diesel locomotive to be created by the Rev. W. Awdry.

City of Truro (GWR 3440/3717)

The City of Truro is a famous tender engine from the Great Western Railway. He also once visited Sodor in 1957 on a railtour and stayed for one night. City of Truro befriended Duck, as the two were both Great Western engines and talked all night, much to Gordon's annoyance. Gordon tried to beat City of Truro's speed record, but only to have his dome blown off on the Viaduct. City of Truro normally resides at the STEAM Museum in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Stepney (LBSCR 55)

Stepney is a real-life "Bluebell" 0-6-0T LB&SCR A1X class engine, who was featured in Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine. In 1960, he became the first steam engine to be preserved by the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex. Stepney and his controller paid a visit to Sodor in 1962, when he was on loan. During his visit, Stepney caught a cricket ball in one of his trucks, helped Caroline, and double-headed the Wild Nor' Wester with Duck after Class 40 had failed.

Class 40 (BR D4711)

Class 40 is a green and yellow British Rail Class 40 engine who also visited Sodor on loan in 1962. He insulted the other engines and bragged about his modernity. Class 40 got his comeuppance when an inspector's bowler hat got sucked into his air intake, causing him to break down and leaving Stepney and Duck to pull the Wild Nor' Wester for him. Afterwards, Class 40 was sent away in disgrace while everyone was bidding Stepney and his controller farewell.

Flying Scotsman (LNER 4472/BR 60103)

The Flying Scotsman is a world-famous engine, and has been described as the 'world's most famous steam locomotive'. He holds the record for being the first engine to officially run at over 100 mph. He is also named after the service that runs from King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley. Flying Scotsman visited Sodor in 1967 to cheer up his only surviving brother, Gordon, when he was in the ownership of Alan Pegler. Flying Scotsman's two tenders (one for coal and water and one for water) were a key feature for the plot of the story Tenders for Henry.

Diesel 199/Spamcan (BR D199)

Diesel 199 is a blue British Rail Class 46 engine who came on trial to Sodor with D7101. He soon made himself an enemy of the steam engines. The next day, 199 failed while pulling a train of fuel and oil tankers at a signal box in Kellsthorpe Road. After Henry came to help, the signalman called 199 "Spamcan" as an insult. After 7101 fails with the Limited, Henry helps both diesels and their trains to the next station. The Fat Controller wasn't pleased with 199 and soon sent him back for offending the steam engines.

Wilbert (DFR 3806)

Wilbert (originally named "G.B. Keeling") is a real-life Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST engine from the Dean Forest Railway. He is named after the Rev. W. Awdry, who was once a president of the heritage railway. In Wilbert the Forest Engine, the Fat Controller arranged for Wilbert to come help on his railway. During his visit, Wilbert tells Thomas and Toby the story of his brother, Sixteen, accidentally filled up with milk instead of water, and used a coil of wire to couple it up to his damaged ballast truck.

Albert

Albert is a red J1 tank engine who originally worked on the Furness Railway with his two coaches, Victoria and Helena. Albert was once buried at a tunnel by an avalanche when he lets off too much steam starting from the station, one day after boasting about the snow.

Non-rail vehicles

Terence

Terence is an orange caterpillar tractor who works on a small field on the Ffarquhar branch line, and is owned by Farmer Finney. In the book Tank Engine Thomas Again, when Thomas first met Terence, he insulted him for having 'ugly' caterpillar tracks, but later regretted it and befriended Terence after he pulled him out of a snowdrift. Terence is based on a Caterpillar Model 70.

Bertie

Bertie is a little red bus who works alongside the Ffarquhar Branch Line. In the story Thomas and Bertie, Bertie had a race with Thomas to Ffarquhar after claiming he was the faster of the two, but lost after having to stop at a traffic light. Bertie is based on the Leyland Tiger.

Trevor

Trevor is an old traction engine who resides at the Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard. He was due to be broken up before saved by Vicar. Trevor is based on the William Foster & Co. Traction Engine No. 14593.

Harold

Harold is a white and red helicopter who patrols the skies of Sodor, searching for help and disasters. When Harold first met Percy, he insulted that the railways are "slow and old-fashioned". Percy, who is cross at this, is taking some trucks and decides to race Harold to Knapford Harbour. Harold is based on the Sikorsky S-55.

George

George is a grumpy green steamroller whose interactions with engines generally lead to trouble. Whenever he is flattening a road, he is seen rebelling by saying "Railways are no good! Pull 'em up! Turn 'em into roads!"

Caroline

Caroline is an elderly car owned by a cricketer and only appears in the story Train Stops Play. In 1962, the cricketers give chase in Caroline all the way to Ffarquhar. Caroline is exhausted, so Stepney helps her and the cricketers back to Elsbridge and he and his crew watch the match.

Bulgy

Bulgy is a bad-tempered double-decker bus with an ideological opposition to railways. His catchphrase is "Free the roads!" Bulgy is based on the AEC Regent III that served many of London's bus routes in the 1940s and 1950s.

People

Sir Topham Hatt

Main article: The Fat Controller

Sir Topham Hatt, better known as The Fat Controller, is the manager of the North Western Railway. His son, Charles, succeeded him in 1954, and his grandson, Stephen, became the third controller in 1984. His son, Richard, would be the next Fat Controller.

Sir Handel Brown

Sir Handel Brown is the manager of the Skarloey Railway. He often had other business to attend to, and was never seen in the books.

Peter Sam

Peter Sam (known as The Thin Controller) is the vice president of the Skarloey Railway. He succeeded his father, Mr. Robert Sam in 1951, and was hired by the new owner, Sir Handel Lloyd Brown. Like his father, he spent his entire working life on the Skarloey Railway.

Fergus Duncan

Fergus Duncan (known as The Small Controller) is the manager of the Arlesdale Railway. Despite being known as the Small Controller, he is taller than both the Fat Controller and the Thin Controller.

The Fat and Thin Clergymen

The Fat and Thin Clergymen are two clergymen with a strong interest in the railways on Sodor. The Thin Clergyman is an author and is strongly hinted to be the Rev. W. Awdry. The Fat Clergyman, who records taking pictures, is implied to be the Rev. Wilbert Awdry's real-life friend, the Rev. Teddy Boston.