Minor characters from Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
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This article lists and profiles the minor characters appearing in the children's television program Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. A minor character is one which has had few appearances in the series and is unlikely to return.
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[edit] Rail Characters
[edit] City of Truro
City of Truro featured in one Season 3 episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, 'Gordon and the Famous Visitor'. He was not mentioned by name, and indeed did not have a speaking role, but is referred to by Duck as a celebrity.
City of Truro is a real engine, and the first such engine to make an appearance in the series.
City of Truro also appears in The Railway Series books, in a rather more prominent role. In the episode happy ever after if you look closley you can see a old rusty version of City of Truro.
[edit] Flying Scotsman
Flying Scotsman, like City of Truro, featured in one Season 3 episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, 'Tender Engines'. Also like City of Truro, he is not mentioned by name, and indeed the only part of Flying Scotsman we see is its tenders, which cause a great deal of resentment on Henry’s part.
Contrastingly, in the Railway Series, Flying Scotsman is given a proper role in the 23rd book of the series, Enterprising Engines.
Like City of Truro, Flying Scotsman is also a real engine.
[edit] Smudger
Smudger is a tank engine who worked on the Mid Sodor Railway, where Duke, Sir Handel and Peter Sam used to work. He usually showed off, and would often ride roughly and derail. He ignored Duke's warnings, which prompted the Manager to scrap him and turn him into a generator at the back of the engine shed. He has the same body as Rheneas, but is coloured green.
Smudger was only seen in one Season 4 episode, 'Granpuff'. He has since been taken apart and his remains are usually seen at scrap yards.
In the Railway Series, he is known as Stanley, with bright red livery and the number 2, where he has been converted into a pumping engine for the mine.
[edit] The Diesel
The Diesel (also known as D261) came to Sodor to help out whilst Stepney was on the railway. He did not make a good impression on his arrival, as he told the engines that they should be scrapped and replaced by diesels like him. He soon got his comeuppance when he accidentally sucked in a Railway Inspector’s bowler hat during a maintenance check. He left soon afterwards, saying goodbye to no one.
The Diesel only appeared in one Season 4 episode, 'Bowled Out'. He was also seen in the Railway Series, with a yellow face and the (entirely fictitious) number D4711.
He is based on a Class 40 diesel locomotive.
[edit] Derek
Derek is a dark green Paxman Diesel, who was brought to Sodor to help Bill and Ben in the quarry. Because he was new, he suffered from 'Teething Troubles', which often resulted in his engine overheating and breaking down. He considered this a setback, especially when his engine failed whilst helping Bill and Ben pull a train. Luckily, Bill and Ben prevailed, and Derek was mended. Upon discovering Derek's friendliness, Bill and Ben were happy when he returned from the Works.
Derek was only featured in one Season 5 story 'Double Teething Troubles', in which his name wasn't even mentioned. He returned in Calling All Engines, however, but only as a cameo in a song.
Derek was originally going to be called 'Paxman', but the TV company thought it would be confused with celebrity Jeremy Paxman.
Derek is a British Rail Class 17 diesel.
[edit] Bertram
Bertram is an old tender engine who worked on a quarry on the far side on the Island of Sodor. He is known as the 'Old Warrior' because of his bravery. Toby found him whilst watching over the old mine, and has since then befriended him. He now works at the restored mines, taking passengers and children to the fairground within.
Bertram only appeared in the Season 5 episode 'Toby's Discovery' with no dialogue, and was built using Duke's body with Smudger's face. According to Britt Allcroft, Bertram is supposed to be a tank engine, and the model crew made a mistake.
[edit] Proteus
Proteus is a small bright yellow narrow-gauge tank engine. He is a very special engine with a magic lamp hung upon his funnel. Legend has it if someone finds the lamp, their wishes are granted. Skarloey tells this story to the other Skarloey Railway engines, which then led to Peter Sam going up and down the line looking for the magic lamp.
Proteus was only featured in one Season 9 story, 'The Magic Lamp'. He appears to have the same body as Sir Handel, which many believe is what led to the latter's return in the show's 10th series.
[edit] Non-Rail Vehicles
[edit] Bulgy
Bulgy is a big red [later green] and cream double-decker bus who works on the Island of Sodor. He hated railways, and believed that some day they would all be replaced by roads. He even carried a poster on his side telling people to "JOIN THE ANTI-RAIL LEAGUE". His favourite phrase is "Free the roads!"
When he first arrived, he tried to steal Duck’s and Oliver's passengers by pretending to be a railway bus. Bulgy was determined to get the passengers to the Big Station before Duck, but was stopped when he became stuck under a low bridge. His lies were exposed, and soon nobody would believe his destination boards. Eventually he was turned into a henhouse.
Many years later, he was brought back to the road to help with passengers, but the chickens caused trouble. He was then turned into a green mobile vegetable stand, where he enjoys his work delivering fruit and vegetables around the Island.
Bulgy was only featured in two episodes, 'Bulgy' in Season 3 and 'Bulgy Rides Again' in Season 7. He also made a cameo in Seasons 4 , 7 and 10.
[edit] George
George is a grumpy old steamroller who hates the engines. He can often be heard chanting, "Railways are no good; turn 'em into roads! Pull 'em up! Turn 'em into roads!" However, he rarely comes out on top, as his enthusiasm for beating the railways can make him careless.
George made his first appearance in the Season 4 episode 'Steam Roller' and also appeared in the season 5 episode "Bye George" as well as the special feature Calling All Engines. He has made a number of cameo and background appearances.
George first appeared in The Railway Series - see: George the Steamroller (Railway Series)
[edit] Caroline
Caroline is an elderly car used by the Cricketers on the Island of Sodor. She does not like high speeds as these wear her out, overheating her motor. However, she does have a softer side, and she appreciates the engines after Stepney helped her back to the field in the Season 4 episode 'Train Stops Play'. This episode was the first to feature Caroline, and she has appeared in several episodes since.
[edit] Bulstrode
Bulstrode is a barge who worked at the harbour on the Island of Sodor. He was used to carry cargo like coal and stone, but always complained about not being loaded fast enough. This annoyed the trucks, but Bulstrode ended up getting what he deserved, when Percy accidentally pushed trucks off a dock and into his hull, causing damage to him and the trucks. He was then towed to Knapford Beach, where he was turned into a children's playground. He remains there today, still grumbling.
Bulstrode was only featured in the Season 4 story 'Special Attraction', which was originally written by Christopher Awdry for the Railway Series. In the books he had a light yellow face and two holds, and was never featured again.
However His model was dismantled, although the cabin may be seen in the episode 'Happy Ever After' in Season 5.
[edit] Horrid Lorries
These three were, as their name suggests, unpleasant characters. They came to Sodor to replace the engines, but were sent away following a series of accidents.
All three are painted red, and the only way of differentiating between them is by their numberplates, which read "LOR 1", "LOR 2" and "LOR 3". They do not have names as such, and are simply known as Lorry 1, Lorry 2 and Lorry 3, though Thomas christened them The Brothers Grim: "Smashed", "Broken" & "Sunk" after their accidents. According to the official series website, they consider themselves brothers and were all built at the same time for the Sodor Construction Company.
They appeared in one Season 5 episode, 'Horrid Lorry' and have not returned since. However, their models have been reused as background props in several episodes. One horrid Lorry also appeared in the computer game "Trouble On The Tracks".
[edit] Butch
Butch is a yellow and blue breakdown vehicle who works on the Island of Sodor. He keeps busy on the Island helping clear rubble and haul broken down cars and lorries. He also helps out on accident scenes, and pulls his low loader trailer to help out stranded vehicles.
Butch was only mentioned in the Season 5 story 'Horrid Lorry', in which he doesn't have a face. He has made many cameos since then, but with no dialogue at all. His number plate is 'BRK 03', and is also known as the 'Sodor Heavy Recovery Unit'.
[edit] Tiger Moth
A yellow and red biplane who enjoys daring stunts in the skies over Sodor. Sometimes these stunts verge on the dangerous, and Tiger Moth was once grounded for this.
Tiger Moth was once seen in a magazine with a face when he raced Harold.
[edit] Thumper
Thumper is a red quarry machine, who was bought for loosening rocks. He was designed to "thump" rock faces. He proved useful, but often went out of control, which caused a huge boulder to run loose and chase the narrow-gauge engines down the line. These days he is mainly used for slate mining.
Thumper has had no real personality, although he has been said to act as a 'cool man'. He only featured in one Season 5 story, 'Rusty and the Boulder', with no dialogue.
He is not based upon any particular type of quarry machine - indeed, a machine of that sort would be positively dangerous to those around.
[edit] People
[edit] Jeremiah Jobling
Jeremiah Jobling was featured in the Railway Series story "James and the Bootlace". James makes a hole in his coach that must be repaired using leather bootlace and newspaper. Jeremiah Jobling is the only passenger with leather bootlace, and after an argument with other passengers, reluctantly hands it over.
In the television series adaptation ("James and the Coaches"), Jeremiah Jobling's name is not mentioned.
[edit] Mrs. Kyndley
Mrs. Kyndley is an elderly lady who lives on the Island of Sodor in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends TV Series. She lives in an old cottage near Hackenback, and is best friends with Thomas and Toby. Everyday she sees Thomas, and she brightens up his day. One day, a landslide blocked the line, and she rescued Thomas from running into it by waving her red dressing gown out of her window. As a thank you, all the engines threw her a party. Mrs. Kyndley also has a sister, and a daughter who was married in Season 5.
[edit] Railway Inspectors
There are many Railway Inspectors in the series. The first appeared in Season 1's Thomas Goes Fishing, in which the Inspector is called to see if he knows what is causing Thomas' troubles (the cause was fish in Thomas' boiler).
Other Inspectors have featured in later episodes, such as the Season 4 episode 'Bowled Out', where his hat was sucked into the Diesel’s air intake, Season 6’s 'Harvey to the Rescue', where they watch a demonstration by Harvey before deciding if he is to stay on the railway, and Season 8’s 'Spic and Span', where they judge the cleanest engine on the Island.
[edit] Injured Sailor
The injured sailor appeared in one Season 3 episode, 'All At Sea'. He injured his hand during the regatta, and Duck brought him to Bertie who took him to the hospital. The sailor's name is never mentioned.
[edit] Important Passenger
The Important Passenger appeared in the Season 4 episode 'Thomas and Stepney'. After Thomas had left with his last Branch Line train, the Passenger appeared and requested a special train for himself, resulting in Thomas being shunted to a siding while Stepney took the Special Train.
[edit] The Cricketers
The Cricketers feature in one Season 4 episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, 'Train Stops Play'. While Stepney is waiting at a signal, their ball is hit into one of his trucks, and they chase him down the line using Caroline in an attempt to retrieve it.
[edit] Rolling Stock
[edit] Spiteful Brakevan
The Spiteful Brakevan appeared in one episode of Season 2, "Brake Van". He had taken a dislike to Douglas and delayed his trains until Donald told him off. Later, he held James’ train back and Douglas had to help the train up the hill. However, Douglas crushed the brake van, which was not rebuilt.
[edit] S.C.Ruffey
S.C.Ruffey (pronounced ‘Scruffy’) was a Private-Owner ballast truck, and was regarded as one of the leaders of the Troublesome Trucks. After Oliver had been pushed down a well, S.C.Ruffey, led the trucks in singing rude songs about the accident. However, Oliver was able to pull S.C.Ruffey apart, effectively quelling his bad behaviour. S.C.Ruffey was rebuilt with a new body in the TV Series, but remained broken in the Railway Series.
S.C.Ruffey appeared in one episode in Season 4, 'Toad Stands By'.
