NEW: Diesel Videos
About PERCY THE SMALL ENGINE!
Percy is my favorite train on the Island of Sodor. It seems that he's alway involved in the
best adventures. He had his gooey mix-up at Mr. Jollys Chocolate
Factory and his icy cold run in with scary Jack Frost and finally Percys mishap
with with the coal and no wash. No one, not even Sir Topham Hatt, knows where
Percy really came from. He's an 0-4-0 Avonside saddle-tank engine who has spent much of
his time on Sodor keeping Henry and Gordon in their places.
Percy arrived on Sodor in 1949 and did so well in his first assignment as Tidmouth Pilot that Sir Topham Hatt rewarded him by asking him to help with the building of the new harbour at Knapford. Now his job is to pull the mail car, but sometimes he helps Thomas with the on the branch line and in the yard at Ffarquhar. (or farquar as some spell it)
Other Sodor Favorites:
SIR TOPHAM HATT
Sir Topham Hatt (AKA The Fat Controller) went to work many years ago on the Island of Sodor as an engineer to the company which was building a railway there. He was eventually made a director of the line he helped to build.
When he became Chairman, the engines nicknamed him "The Fat Controller". He
knows they call him this and he doesn't mind because he also knows they wouldn't
do it to his face. In the early 2000's "The Fat Controller" was phased
out, likely because of concerned American parents.
THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE
Thomas, an 0-6-0 tank engine, first came to Sodor on loan from a line in the
South of England. Sir Topham Hatt took a special
interest in Thomas, and
once he had proved himself to be a really useful engine he gave him a branch
line of his own. Thomas has worked there happily ever since. His journey runs
from Tidmouth to Ffarquhar, where he lives. He has two coaches called Annie and
Clarabel.
DONALD AND DOUGLAS
Donald and his brother Douglas are Scottish twins who hate to be parted. Their
antics sometimes lead to trouble, but they are hard workers and particularly
good at plowing snow. When they first arrived on Sodor, Sir Topham Hatt was
Expecting a British Railway J15 Goods Engine No. 57646, what he found was that
Engine No. 57647 had also arrived with 57646, and they had both apparently lost
their numbers on the way to Sodor, Sir Topham Hatt knew that it had been
intentional and the twins wondered what would become of them. He sent them to
work with Duck in the yards and they began working easily, until Thomas arrived
with a special coach one day and Donald Lost it by accidentally shunting it with
the rest of the coaches in the yards. Sir Topham Hatt soon found out but the
twin engines proved too useful to send away.
TOBY THE TRAM ENGINE
Toby, an 0-6-0 tank engine was built for work in harbours and on roadside
tramways, which accounts for his unusual shape, his sideplates and cowcatchers.
He keeps the roadside tramway running properly and helps Percy with goods trains
too. He has a coach called Henrietta.
JAMES THE RED ENGINE
James is a 2-6-0 mixed traffic engine. He can pull trucks or coaches. He came
to the Island of Sodor as an 0-4-0, but Sir Topham Hatt had another pair of
wheels added in front and replaced his wooden brakeblocks which caught fire on
Gordon's Hill when James first arrived. James lives at Tidmouth. He is inclined
to grumble but has many times proved himself to be a valuable member of the
engine fleet.
GORDON THE BIG ENGINE
Gordon, a 4-6-2 engine, was built at Doncaster on the other railway
as a
test engine for a class of which The Flying Scotsman is the only one left.
Gordon is a boastful engine, but he works well and Sir Topham Hatt has been
heard to remark that he wishes he had two of him. But he is careful not to let
Gordon hear him say it!
EDWARD THE BLUE ENGINE
Edward, a 4-4-0 engine, has been on the island almost as long as Thomas. First he worked at Wellsworth and then at Vicarstown.
Sir Topham Hatt brought him back to Wellsworth and put him in charge of the
branch line from there to Brendam. Edward works this line with the help of the
other engines.
DIESEL
Diesel is a standard Class 08 shunter from the mainland. He came to the shed
"on trial" but he quickly upset the other engines and was sent away in disgrace.
Later on, when an emergency arose and Sir Topham Hatt sent for a spare engine,
he was not pleased when Diesel was the only one available. But Diesel's
behaviour improved slightly on this visit and the bad feeling against him is now
less strong than it was.
DUCK
Duck is an 0-6-0 pannier tank Western engine. Duck is his nickname his proper
name is Montague, but he prefers Duck. Sir Topham Hatt put him in charge of the
branch line to Arlsburgh, which he runs with Oliver, another Western engine.
MAVIS
Mavis belongs to the Ffarquhar Quarry Company. She was bought to shunt in the
sidings and was unreliable at first but after she had helped to save Toby from
his tightrope, Sir Topham Hatt and Quarry Manager decided to give her a chance
and allowed her to go down the tramway to Ffarquhar Yard. Now she has become
quite useful and she and Toby work the tramway very efficiently between them.
BULGY THE DOUBLE DECKER BUS
Bulgy is a bad tempered and miserable double decker bus. He has no scruples
and has been known to tell lies. He gets along very well with Diesel. Bulgy is
currently in use as a hen house, but has hopes that one day someone might
restore him.
BILL AND BEN
Bill and Ben are identical twins. They are 0-4-0 saddle-tank engines and
belong to the Sodor China Clay Company. They work between the china clay pits
and the harbour at Brendam. Edward keeps them in order and Boco soon learned
their ways as well. Then he was able to help when Gordon was sent down the wrong
line by mistake!
HENRY THE GREEN ENGINE
Sir Topham Hatt was angry with Henry when he first arrived. It wasn't poor
Henry's fault - he couldn't make enough steam because his firebox was too small.
Then Henry had an accident when he was pulling The Flying Kipper, and Sir Topham
Hatt sent him to Crewe to be rebuilt. He came back with a bigger firebox and a
new shape and now enjoys his work. He is based at Tidmouth with Gordon. He is a
4-6-0 engine.
BERTIE
Bertie the bus came to the Island of Sodor soon after Thomas was given his
branch line. Like Thomas, he lives at Ffaquhar. Once he rescued Thomas's
passengers when he got stuck in a snowdrift. He also had a race with Thomas,
though Thomas won. Now they keep each other well supplied With passengers and
are the best of friends.
HAROLD
Harold is a helicopter who lives at Dryaw Airfield near Thomas's branch line. Percy was the first of Sir Topham Hatt's engines to meet him. Percy thought Harold was noisy and Harold kept boasting about how up-to-date he was. Percy challenged him to a race and won, but Harold proved just how useful he was later by parachuting hot drinks to Percy's passengers when he was stuck in a flood. Now they are firm friends. Harold is pretty cool because he talks like an RAF pilot from the movies in the 1940s and 50s, using words like "wizard" in conversation.
TREVOR
Trevor is a traction engine. He was sent to the scrapyard because he was
thought to be too old to work any more. This was where Edward met him. Edward
persuaded the Vicar of Wellsworth to buy Trevor and he now lives in the vicarage
orchard. He saws logs in winter and gives rides to children at garden fetes in
the summer.
TERENCE
Terence is a tractor with caterpillar tracks. He lives on a farm near Ffarquhar. His special tracks make him a useful friend to have around as Thomas found out soon after meeting him - just the thing for pulling a stuck engine out of a snowdrift.
BOCO
BoCo is a favorite character from the classic stories who is often rude and has run-ins with Bill and Ben (the busy bees). In spite of this, he's pretty good as far as the diesels go. For another picture, click here.
DIESEL 10
Good is always balanced with evil, and in the case of the movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Diesel 10 is a truly icky bad guy. Teamed with sidekicks Splatter and Dodge, Diesel 10 is a renegade engine on the Island of Sodor out to destroy the harmony of Sir Topham Hatt's Railway.
MOLLY
Molly is a large, powerful and bright yellow engine. She's proud of her strength, and is also sensitive. She's very aware of what the other engines think of her and wants them to think the best. Molly is distinct in her color and styling from any other engine on Sodor. She debuts in the "Tales from the Track" video that launches in Spring 2006.
ARTHUR
Arthur is a big new tank engine who shunts trucks and pulls freight. He is excited to work for Sir Topham Hatt as he is proud of his famous spotless record.
BIG CITY ENGINE
The Big City Engine has arrived from London! He typically pulls the circus train and pops in from time tio time. An argumentative engine, he travels from time to time for an overnight stay at the Big Station.
D199
D199 is a blue diesel with a bright yellow face. He believes that all important jobs should be left to diesels, and steam engines are only good for parts.
DUNCAN
A plain speaking engine, Duncan keeps busy and means well, often bouncy and occasionally rude, Duncan is famous for singing, swaying, and swiveling around. His driver calls it Rock and Roll.
I need details on the following. I particaularly would like to know about their personalities and how they interact with the other engines on the show. Please email me if you have something to add.
- Daisy - thomas the train
- Peter Sam
- Sir Handel
- Skarloey
- Stepney
- Hank
- Duke
- Rusty
- Caroline the Car
- Rheneas
- George the Steamroller
- Chinese Dragon