List of characters in The Railway Series

Thomas is a blue 0-6-0T ex-London, Brighton and South Coast Railway E2 class locomotive who works on the North Western Railway and is the railway's #1 engine. He is the fourth character to appear in the Railway Series. When Thomas first arrived on Sodor, he worked as the station pilot at Vicarstown. After helping to rescue James from a nasty accident, he was rewarded with running the Ffarquhar Branch Line and two faithful coaches, Annie and Clarabel, much to his delight.

Edward is a 4-4-0 ex-Furness Railway K2 class locomotive. He is the first character to appear in the Railway Series. He works on the North Western Railway and is the railway's #2 engine. With BoCo he runs the Brendam Branch Line, which travels from Wellsworth to Brendam. At the Brendam terminus he often sees Bill & Ben who work in the china clay quarry.

Henry was originally a 4-6-2 designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. He was built circa 1919 and arrived on Sodor in 1922 when Sir Topham Hatt was swindled into buying him.[2] There have been two Railway Series books devoted to him: Henry the Green Engine and Henry and the Express. He is the railway's #3 engine.

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 the sixth book, Henry the Green Engine, Henry is damaged in an accident and rebuilt offsite at Crewe Works to the design of the Stanier "Black Five".[3] 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 '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.[4]

Gordon is a big blue 4-6-2 ('Pacific') ex-London and North Eastern Railway Gresley Class A1 locomotive, who works on the Main Line and his main task was to pull the Wild Nor' Wester from London to Sodor, before his retirement for Pip and Emma to take his place in 2011. He is the railway's #4 engine.

James is a modified red 2-6-0 ('Mogul') ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Class 28 mixed-traffic locomotive. Built in 1912-13, he was sold to the NWR still painted in L&YR black livery by the London Midland & Scottish Railway in 1925. Following James' crash on his first day, he was repaired at the works at Crovan's Gate and painted red with black (later blue) and gold stripes. He 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 is a green 0-4-0ST engine and Thomas' best friend.[5] He was brought to Sodor to work on the North Western Railway during Henry, Gordon and James' strike between 1925 and 1935. Following the construction of Knapford Harbour, Percy was moved to the Ffarquhar Branch Line ever since, which he works as a general goods engine. He is the railway's #6 engine. Percy was the only engine to be named by the Fat Controller when he first met him at an engine workshop on the Mainland.

Toby is a 0-6-0 tram engine, of the Great Eastern Railway's class C53. Originally brown, Toby was repainted in chocolate and blue.[6] He originally worked on the East Anglia tramway with his coach Henrietta. In 1951, Toby and Henrietta were brought to the North Western Railway to run the tramroad to Ffarquhar Quarry after their tramway in East Anglia closed down, as it was found to be illegal for Thomas to go on the Quarry Tramroad without side-plates or cowcatchers. Toby is the railway's #7 engine.

Duck (real name Montague) is an 0-6-0PT ex-Great Western Railway 5700 Class locomotive. He 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 number '5741'.

Donald and Douglas are identical black 0-6-0 ex-Caledonian Railway locomotives of the 652 Class (formerly #57646 and #57647) who arrived on Sodor from Glasgow, Scotland in 1959. 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 and intended to send the other back to Scotland, he changed his mind after hearing how hard they worked clearing the lines of heavy snow, and decided to keep both engines. Donald and Douglas are the railway's #9 and #10 engines respectively.

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

He first appears in the book Enterprising Engines, where he, Isabel and his brake van Toad was caught in a tough spot so close to reaching Sodor and was rescued by Douglas. His escape made him popular with the other engines. He was built in 1934 and arrived on Sodor in 1967 where he was restored, painted GWR green. He was allocated #11 on the North Western Railway, but was allowed to keep his GWR number '1436'. He 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.

Daisy is a green diesel railcar based on the British Rail Class 101 in a unique single car configuration. She was built in 1960 and arrived on Sodor specially for use on the Ffarquhar Branch Line (Thomas' Branch Line) after Thomas crashed into the Ffarquhar stationmaster's house. She was highly opinionated about her functions at first, but after her humiliation from a stray bull, she made more effort to settle in. She first appeared in the book Branch Line Engines.[7]

BoCo is a green Co-Bo mixed-traffic diesel locomotive, who works mainly on Edward's Branch Line (the Brendam Branch Line), but can also be seen working on the Main Line. BoCo is based on a Metropolitan-Vickers Type 2 Class 28 diesel-electric locomotive, named after its wheel arrangement, which is known as "Co-Bo". In the Railway Series, BoCo carries his North Western Railway number 'D2', whereas in the television series he carries the number D5702. He first appeared in the book Main Line Engines. He was built in 1958 and arrived on Sodor in 1965.

Bear, originally known as D7101, is based on the British Rail Class 35. He first came to Sodor on trial for the Fat Controller in 1967. He 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 him a second chance to stay and work on his railway. 7101 was given a new name "Bear", a new number 'D3', and a new coat of paint. Nowadays, Bear pulls the semi-fast passenger train, the 'Limited', and the Wild Nor' Wester when Gordon, Henry and James are busy elsewhere or unavailable. He also did Henry's duties while Henry is at Crovan's Gate Works.

Pip (short for Philippa) and Emma are two Class 43 power cars which makes up an InterCity 125 trainset. They had experienced problems with their cooling system and came to the railway when Gordon was deputizing for an excursion train on the Other Railway.

They appeared three times, in Gordon the High-Speed Engine, Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines and Thomas and his Friends. In 2011, following Privatization, the Fat Controller decided to purchase them in order to run a faster service to London,[8] when time was being wasted exchanging engines at Barrow.

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 in which she also has a compartment for luggage and the guard, and a drivers' cabin at her rear end. Thomas sometimes sings them songs to keep up a good rhythm as he travels along with them, and they love to sing back.

Henrietta is Toby's faithful, four-wheeled Great Eastern Railway coach. In Toby the Tram Engine, Henrietta was depressed when lorries and buses replaced her work. When the tramway closed down, Toby brought Henrietta with him to Sodor because he couldn't bear to leave her behind as well. Henrietta is often used to transport quarry workmen to/from Ffarquhar Quarry Co. Once 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 FR coach named Victoria to help Toby and Henrietta. Together they've formed "Toby's Vintage Train".

Isabel, Dulcie, Alice and Mirabel are Great Western Railway autocoaches who work with Oliver (Isabel and Dulcie) and Duck (Alice and Mirabel), on the Little Western.

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

The Spiteful Brake Van is a brake van that was smashed to pieces when Douglas helped James up Gordon's Hill.

S.C. Ruffey is a Troublesome Truck that was pulled apart by Oliver and scrapped.

Skarloey is named after Skarloey Lake, the northernmost point for passengers on the Skarloey Railway. He's an 0-4-2ST (originally an 0-4-0ST). Skarloey's equivalent on the Talyllyn Railway is Talyllyn. He was built in 1864 and arrived on Sodor the following year. He first appeared in Four Little Engines. The story of his 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 1955-57 Skarloey was overhauled in England and he returned to regular service in 1958.

Rheneas is named after Rheneas station on the Skarloey Railway. He is an 0-4-0WT (but also has a back tank). He was built in 1865 by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. of Whitehaven, the same company that built Skarloey. They are the oldest working engines on the Island of Sodor. Rheneas is more cautious than Skarloey, and is known as the "Gallant Old Engine", as he kept the railway running during the turbulent period when Skarloey was in poor mechanical shape. His equivalent engine on the Talyllyn Railway is Dolgoch. In Four Little Engines, he was sent away to be overhauled and did not return until Gallant Old Engine.

Sir Handel (originally Falcon) is named after Sir Handel Brown, the owner of the Skarloey Railway. He is an 0-4-2ST (originally an 0-4-0ST), who worked on the Mid Sodor Railway. He is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Sir Haydn. In the 1980s, he was invited to the Talyllyn Railway. The real Talyllyn Railway had paid tribute to The Railway Series by repainting their locomotive Sir Haydn to resemble Sir Handel. Sir Handel first appeared in Four Little Engines.

Peter Sam (originally Stuart) is named after The Thin Controller Peter Sam, the manager of the Skarloey Railway. He is an 0-4-2ST. Peter Sam is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Edward Thomas. He was built in 1920 by Kerr Stuart and Co. in Stoke-on-Trent, for the Mid Sodor Railway and was given the name Stuart and painted green. Like Sir Handel, he was later sold to the Sodor Aluminium Company and then in 1951 to the Skarloey Railway. Following an accident with some slate trucks, he 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 Peter Sam. He first appeared in Four Little Engines.

Rusty is named after his builders, Ruston & Hornsby. He is a black 4wDM, acquired direct from the manufacturers in 1957.[9] He is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Midlander. He first appeared in the book The Little Old Engine.

Duncan is an 0-4-0WT, built by Andrew Barclay in Kilmarnock, who entered service on Sodor in 1958.[9] He was purchased second-hand, as a spare engine when Peter Sam had an accident at the quarry. He is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Douglas. He first appeared in the book The Little Old Engine.

Ivo Hugh is named after Ivo Hugh, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Skarloey Railway and Rusty's driver. He is an 0-4-2T, and is the Skarloey Railway's newest engine. He is based on the Talyllyn Railway locomotive Tom Rolt. He was built in the mid-1990s in the Skarloey Railway's workshops, at Crovan's Gate. He first appeared in New Little Engine.

Duke is named after The Duke of Sodor. He is an 0-4-0ST+T, who originally worked on the Mid Sodor Railway. He is based on the Ffestiniog Railway locomotive Prince, one of the four engines in the Ffestiniog Railway's 'Small England class'. He was built in 1879 for the opening of the Mid Sodor Railway the following year. He was named 'The Duke', after the Duke of Sodor. This name was later shortened to "Duke". He first appeared in Duke the Lost Engine.

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

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:[10] Shortly after the railway opened, he lost contact with the rack rail at a loosened rail-joint and plunged over a cliff. Godred 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 is the principal engine on the mountain railway. He is based on No. 4 Snowdon. When introduced in Mountain Engine, he had been overhauled in Switzerland in 1962-63 and was on the last stage of his journey home. Culdee mainly works with his own coach named Catherine.

Lord Harry/Patrick arrived in 1962 and was named after the manager. He is based on No. 6 Padarn.

No. 2 Ernest, No. 3 Wilfred and No. 5 Shane Dooiney arrived alongside Godred and Culdee for the railway's opening. No. 7 Alaric and No. 8 Eric arrived with Lord Harry in 1962-63.

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. He is a hard worker, but can sometimes has problems with traction.

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 noises for Mike as well.

Bert is a blue 0-8-2 who works with Mike and Rex. 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 is a yellow 2-6-2 built by the Arlesdale Railway in 1976 to cover a shortage of power. He first appeared in Jock the New Engine. He is based on the Ravenglass & Eskdale's Northern Rock. Built in the workshops at Ravenglass in 1976 to the design of the then chief engineer, Ian Smith.

Frank is a 0-4-4DH who appeared in Jock The New Engine. He is based on Perkins.

Various engines from British Railways, also known as 'the Other Railway' - or 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 Big City Engine is a LMS "Patriot" Class 4-6-0 who visited Sodor sometime in 1956. Once, he had gotten into an argument with Gordon and Duck about what name of the station at London was: King's Cross, Euston, Paddington, and St. Pancras.
• Jinty, an LMS Fowler Class 3F, and Pug, an LMS Kitson 0-4-0ST, came to Sodor on loan to relieve Thomas and Percy on the North Western Railway, in The Eight Famous Engines in 1956. They were best friends of Percy as well.
• Diesel is a black British Rail Class 08 diesel shunter who was on trial for a short time in the spring of 1957. He first appeared in the book Duck and the Diesel Engine and 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.
• The City of Truro is a famous tender engine from the Great Western Railway. He also visited Sodor in 1957 on a railtour from the Mainland and stayed for one night. He befriended Duck, as the two were both Great Western engines and talked all night. Much to Gordon's annoyance, Gordon tried to beat his speed record, but only to have his dome blown off on the Viaduct.
• Stepney (No. 55) is a real-life LB&SCR A1X class 0-6-0T who featured in the book Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine. He was the first preserved engine of the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex. Stepney and his controller visited Sodor in 1962, when he was on loan. During his visit, Stepney caught a cricket ball in one of his trucks while working on the Ffarquhar Branch Line, helped Caroline, and double-headed the Wild Nor' Wester with Duck after Class 40 had failed.
• Class 40/D4711 is a green and yellow British Rail Class 40 who also visited Sodor 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, he was sent away in disgrace while everyone was saying good-bye to Stepney and his controller.
• The Flying Scotsman (No. 4472) was the world’s most famous steam locomotive. He holds the record for being the first steam engine to officially run at over 100 mph. Flying Scotsman visited Sodor in mid-1967 to cheer up his only surviving brother, Gordon, when he was in the ownership of Alan Pegler. His two tenders (one for coal and the other for water) were a key feature of the plot of "Tenders for Henry".
• Spamcan/D199 is a blue British Rail Class 46 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. 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 admired with 199 and soon sent him back home for offending the steam engines on the NWR.
• Wilbert, formerly named "G.B. Keeling", is a real-life Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST from the Dean Forest Railway. He is named after the Rev. W. Awdry, who was once a president of the DFR. 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 is a red J1 tank engine who worked on the Furness Railway with his two coaches, Victoria and Helena. He was once buried at a tunnel by an avalanche caused when he let off too much steam starting from the station.

Sir Topham Hatt, better known as The Fat Controller, is the owner of the North Western Railway on Sodor. His son Charles Topham Hatt II succeeded him in 1954, and his grandson Stephen Topham Hatt III became the Fat Controller in 1984. His son Richard will be the next Fat Controller.

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

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, known as The Small Controller, is the owner 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 are two clergymen with a strong interest in the railways on the Island of Sodor. The Thin Clergyman is an author and is strongly hinted to be the Rev. Wilbert Awdry. The Fat Clergyman, who records moving pictures, is implied to be the Rev. Wilbert Awdry's real-life friend, the Rev. Teddy Boston.