Thomas & Friends is one of the longest running children's series in the UK (Over 60 odd years, counting the books when they were first printed)Main Article
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The Steam Team
The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt
The Controller of the railway, makes sure all of his engines are doing their best.
Surrounded by Idiots: He keeps giving Thomas and Percy important jobs, regardless of how much he yells at them for screwing up.
Thomas the Tank Engine
A tank engine, the main character and namesake of the series, and the first engine to be purchased for the Fat Controller's railway. Thomas spent his time shunting coaches for bigger engines, and he longed to see the world. After helping to rescue James after an accident, he was dubbed a "Really Useful Engine" and was given his own branch line, along with two coaches, Annie and Clarabel.
Breakout Character: In the original books, Thomas wasn't as heavily focused on; Awdry had plenty of other parts of Sodor to write about. However, Thomas connected with the younger audience, and when the television series was launched, he was cast as the main star. Expands into both the show and the books since the release of the former led for publishers to insist for more Thomas-centric stories from the latter to tie in.
Catch Phrase: "Fizzling Fireboxes!" "Cinders and ashes!"
Character Development (Started as a Bratty Half-Pint in season one. Then became a less bratty but more arrogant character in season 2. In season three he had matured into a really cool big brother type to Percy. Reset with season 8.)
Spotlight-Stealing Squad: From season 8 onwards the formula for dividing the episode focus goes Three episodes about Thomas to each episode about someone else.
Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonist: In his earlier stories. Later stories focused more on his altrustic qualities, though he can still be arrogant every now and then.
Edward The Blue Engine
The oldest engine on the Fat Controller's railway, and the first character developed by the Rev. W. Awdry. Edward is a mixed-traffic engine with his own branch line. He's kind but firm, serving as a mentor for younger engines, though he is often teased about his age.
A much larger mixed traffic engine, Henry started off as a poorly built engine bought by the Fat Controller when he was desperate for engines. He was once infamously stranded himself in a tunnel and was bricked up, until Gordon's express failed, when he came out and showed his worth. He required special Welsh coal to steam properly until his Flying Kipper accident, where he was completely rebuilt into a much more reliable engine.
Colour-Coded for Your Convenience: In the books, he was originally green until he got a blue coat of paint after staying in a tunnel for awhile. The reason he got his old color back is because the Rev Awdry was fed up of people confusing him with Gordon in the book illustrations, when he was painted blue.
Divergent Character Evolution: In early stories he mostly played the role of another arrogant tender engine similar to Gordon and James. Later stories gave him more pitiful qualities, while the show added Hidden Depths such as his love of nature.
A big, powerful express engine whose main job is to pull the railway's express. He thinks very highly of himself and is quick to criticize others, though his delusions of grandeur are often what land him into trouble.
A mixed traffic engine, James was riddled with issues when he first arrived, but later proved to be Really Useful by pulling the Express when Gordon failed. James can be called upon to perform virtually any duty, though he prefers coaches. Like Gordon's ego, James's vanity and admiration for his red paintwork often gets him in trouble.
The Rival: Had one with Gordon early on. Has a friendly rivalry with Thomas is the later seasons.
Percy The Small Engine
A small, cheeky green engine purchased by the Fat Controller while Gordon, James and Henry were on strike. Nobody knows where he really came from or who built him. Percy currently works on Thomas's branch line. Considered as a junior member of the Steam Team, Percy enjoys being given important jobs and is earnest and sincere.
Butt Monkey: He has the most accidents out of any other train in the series...and just about all of them involve getting covered in something sticky.
Cartoon Creature: While most other characters are based on real locomotive classes, Percy is a heavily hybridized mix of several other steam engine designs.
An elderly tram engine, Toby is unusual as his body's made of wood and he barely resembles a typical steam engine. He once worked on his own railway with his faithful coach Henrietta, until the line was closed down. Thankfully, the Fat Controller, who had visited the railway, brought him to his railway.
Power Trio: Originally was one with Thomas and Percy.
The Smart Guy: Before season 8. Although he did a pretty good Smart Guy job in the season 9 episode Emily Knows Best.
Emily The Beautiful Engine
A Stirling Single engine, and the only female of the Steam Team. When she first arrived on Sodor she mistakenly took Thomas's coaches, to the shock of the other Sodor engines. However, after Emily saved Thonas and Oliver from an accident and apologized, they became close friends, and she was given her own coaches.
The first diesel to visit the Island of Sodor, Diesel believes that diesels are better than steam engines, and wanted to "revolutionize" Sodor. He left and came back several times before becoming a permanent part of the railway.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: The newer series has played with this in "Diesel's Special Delivery". Christopher Awdry's stand alone novel "Thomas And The Evil Diesel" also gave him a redeeming moment helping a derailed Clarabel.
Manipulative Bastard: In his debut, he tells jokes about the big engines to the trucks, and tells them that Duck shared them with him. Once the trucks starts laughing at the other engines, they're convinced Duck had been spreading nasty jokes about them.
This returns in Day of the Diesels: when seeing Percy distressed about Thomas hanging out with Belle instead of him, he convinces Percy to meet Diesel's friends at the Dieselworks.
Diesel: "Your worthy Sir Topham Hatt thinks I need to learn. He is mistaken. We diesels don't need to learn, we know everything. We come to a yard and improve it. We are revolutionary!"
Mavis
The Smurfette Principle: Until the movie, she and Daisy were the only female engines, neither of whom appeared very often.
Team Mom: Was this occasionally with Bill and Ben, but now plays this role with most other engines.
'Arry and Bert
Affably Evil: Over the years they've become less evil, but remain bullies toward the steam engines.
Creepy Twins: Played this role in Stepney Gets Lost, but have been toned down later on.
The major antagonist of Thomas and the Magic Railroad. A large warship diesel with a mechanical claw on his roof, he was out to destroy Lady and Mr. Conductor, but was defeated thanks to Thomas. He has returned several times in the show's run, but only in the feature-length specials.
Disney Villain Death: Not a death per se, but his demise is brought around by falling off a viaduct.
Establishing Character Moment: In The Movie, he roars throgh as station, kciking up dust shouting "Get outta my way! I've unfinished business here I wanna finish it FAST!" He also leaves Gordon, of all engines, shaking in fear.
Silence, You Fool!: When his entourage are bickering in Day of the Diesels, he shouts them quiet. Also prominent in Thomas and The Magic Railroad.
Vile Villain, Saccharine Show: Compared to the actual series, where most of the bad guys were easily controlled by the Fat Controller, Diesel 10 in The Movie with his plans of destroying all steam engines can be seen as this.
Xanatos Roulette - His plans in Day of The Diesels can be considered as this, as they rely on circumstance he could have hardly picked out.
Different as Night and Day: Dennis and Norman. Norman wants to be Really Useful, but breaks down often. Meanwhile, Dennis works fine but is incredibly lazy. Dennis also has two eyebrows, while Norman has only one.
A Cuban narrow gauge engine, Victor transports parts all through the Steamworks, as well as giving orders and helping diagnose problems with engines who come in. As the only narrow gauge engine owned by the Fat Controller, Victor can sometimes leave the Steamworks to help the small engines.
A large tank engine with two water canons fitted on top of her tanks. Belle is the only girl of the rescue team, and the only steam engine.
Butch
A big, strong breakdown truck.
Ascended Extra: He was originally meant to be a major character in season 5, but due to poor planning, he ended up only as a background extra. In season 15 he finally got an episode, Stuck on You.
Why Do You Keep Changing Jobs?: Prior to his debut episode, he has been seen doing countless other jobs, including rebuilding Great Waterton and Tidmouth Sheds, delivering engine and windmill parts, pulling the Chinese Dragon, clearing rubble, rescuing stranded vehicles, lowering boats into the sea...
Captain
A life boat who came to Sodor during the construction of the Sa RC.
Demoted to Extra: He has done nothing of value since his introduction in Misty Island Rescue.
Flynn
A big, American red fire engine brought to Sodor based on Belle's suggestion. He has specialized wheels under his frame that allow him to travel on rails as well as the road.
Miles Gloriosus: His own insecurities have prevented him from doing his job properly on at least two occasions. Diesel has even called him out on not doing much rescuing.
Diesel: You're never busy. You just stand around looking fancy!
Flynn: ...I'm...I'm...waiting to be busy!
Harold the Helicopter
Harold is owned by the coastguard on Sodor and lived at Dryaw airfield by Thomas' Branch Line before becoming part of the Sa RC. When Harold first met Percy he stated that railways were "slow and out-of-date", but was proven wrong when Percy later beat him in a race.
Heel Face Turn: Was something of an antagonist in his first episode, but would later help rescue Thomas in The Runaway and helped Percy in Percy's Promise, and has since been portrayed in a positive light.
Rocky
A large, red steam crane. Rocky was thought of as "new-fangled nonsense" by Edward when he first arrived, but proved his worth after lifting Gordon back onto the rails after a serious accident.
The Leader: Something of one to the Rescue Team. He has a radio built into his cab that lets him hear orders from the Rescue Center and give orders to the rest of the team.
Humiliation Conga: As if the trucks forcing him to crash into a barber shop wasn't enough, the angry owner decided to shave and lather him!
Misplaced Nationalism: Or at least something very like it. In his debut episode he's fond of claiming that there are two ways of doing things, "the Great Western way or the wrong way". Fortunately he got over it quite quickly.
Motor Mouth: The whole plotline of "Donald's Duck" kicked off after Donald told him to zip it.
Only Known by Their Nickname: His given name is 'Montague,' but most call him 'Duck,' after his tendency to waddle on the rails. Henry, Gordon, and James have quacked at him in the past.
Donald and Douglas, the Scottish Twins
Adaptation Dye Job: In the books, they were painted blue after arriving at Sodor. With three blue engines already, the TV producers wisely decided to keep their more distinctive black paint.
Bonnie Scotland: Their leitmotif even has bagpipes in the background.
Trickster Twins Notice that they are the almost the only characters labeled by name and number: Hatt specifically insisted on this after one too many Twin Switch gambits.
A purple and gold tank engine who only appears in Thomas and the Magic Railroad and in a dream sequence in Calling All Engines. She runs the Magic Railroad that connects Shining Time to Sodor, and is the source of the Gold Dust required to keep Mr. Conductor and Sodor alive.
Light is Not Good: Although when compared to diesels, the steam engines are portrayed as friendly and reliable, Spencer is always portrayed in a negative light; a big-headed showoff that likes making the Sodor engines miserable. He outright reached villain status in Hero of the Rails, when he not only pestered and annoyed the Sodor engines, but also attempted to send Hiro to the smelter's yard, with no solid reason except to make Thomas miserable.
An old, wise engine who came from Japan many years ago. He debuted in Hero of the Rails, where Thomas found him hidden away in an old forest and had his friends help repair him. He has since made several minor appearances.
Everything Is Big In Pennsylvania: Hank the American stereotype engine, who is massive, easily towering over the Sodor engines. Keep in mind that this is an example of Truth in Television, as American steam locomotives had to haul heavier cargoes over rougher terrain (often with less stops for fuel) then their smaller British counterparts.
Depending on the Writer: Is he young or old? Brave or timid? It varies, although it's worth mentioning that he started as an old engine and was depicted as young later.
Adaptation Dye Job: The show had keep his blue paint job from when he worked with Duke, while in the books he was repainted red to match Skarloey and Rheneas.
Break the Haughty
I Have Many Names: His name was Falcon before joining the Skarloey Railway.
Adaptation Dye Job: Was painted dark grey in the books, but is orange on the show.
Dark Is Not Evil: Despite being a diesel, he is quite friendly and helpful towards the steam engines.
She's a Man in Japan: In season 9, Rusty was accidentally referred to as a girl. To be fair, in The Railway Series books, his gender was only mentioned once, and was never mentioned prior in the television series.
Body Horror: Well, as close as you'll get with a children's show about talking trains. Being an articulated Fairlie-type locomotive, both of them share the same body with each having a face at either end. They seem fine with it, though.
An upcoming character from Blue Mountain Mystery. He's a small, green pannier tank engine who lives at the Blue Mountain Quarry.
Dark and Troubled Past: He's somehow connected to an incident of an engine falling into the sea, and thinks if he's ever found, he'll be sent away from Sodor forever.
Shrinking Violet: When other engines try to talk to him, he scurries away into tunnels and won't come out.
Non-rail Characters
Bertie the Bus
Bus Best Friend: Something of the vehicle equivelent of mixed race (or species) friendship at least.
Fantastic Racism: Briefly in "Trust Thomas" after the engines fail to get tar for his broken roads, he labels them unreliable. He takes it back completely when Thomas gets this fixed.
Friendly Rival: His races with Thomas (though to prove the worth of their respective vehicles) are rather playful and in good fun.
