Thomas and Friends: Characters and DVDs
This is our second stop in my three-part series of articles on the "Thomas and Friends" books, TV show, and successful line of DVDs. Here we look at the characters and places in the series, and list the extensive collection of DVDs released by Anchor Bay Entertainment..
A family of at least forty-four characters have emerged on the Island of Sodor; this number doesn't even include seven major named human characters, farm animals, or each of the engine's operators.
The Four Original Engines
Thomas, a "cheeky", mischievous blue engine, with a "1" on his
side, publicly introduced in 1946. His coaches are Annie and Clarabel.
Edward, publicly introduced in 1945
Gordon, the fastest engine on the island, publicly introduced
in 1945
Henry, publicly introduced in 1945
Other Very Useful Engines
James, who calls himself "Really Splendid"
Percy, who sometimes takes on jobs too large for him
Arthur, who boasted a "spotless record", until Thomas interfered,
has the letters LMS on his side, introduced in 2004
Bill and Bob
Bloco
Daisy, a high-strung diesel passenger train engine, who feels
that she's above moving anything but people. She claims to be afraid of
nothing, but Champion, a farmer's bull, scared her so much that she had
to return back to the station, backing up all the way.
Diesel
Donald and Douglas, Scottish twin engines that like to play
jokes on the other engines. When they first came they would confuse everybody
by switching places; Sir Topham Hatt had their names painted on their sides.
Duck, a smaller steam engine from the Great Western Railroad.
When trying to prove smaller engines could do as much as full-sized ones,
he ended up flying off the end of a side rail line, crashing into a barber
shop. Miraculously, neither the barber, nor his three customers were hurt.
Elizabeth, introduced in 2002
Emily, a sleek green engine with a beautiful brass dome, introduced
in 2004
Harold
Harvey, a crane engine that works at the Sodor Engine Works,
and can get engines "back on track", introduced in 2002
Mavis
Murdoch, who has 10 drive wheels, introduced in 2004
Salty, introduced in 2002
Sir Handel
Skarloey
Spencer, the shiniest, sleekest engine on the island, introduced
in 2004
Stepney
Terence
Toby, who's old but still Really Useful
Trevor
Off the tracks
Bertie the Bus
Bulgy, a double-decker bus who has a nasty habit of telling
lies, to get out of scrapes. His lies never work though, and always backfired
on him. Now, Bulgy sits uncommissioned on a side-road, as a double-decker
hen house.
Bulstroad, a barge who took his fun in mocking the engines.
Now, he's decommissioned on the beach, and serves as a playground for the
kids on the Island of Sodor.
Caroline is a mild-mannered antique automobile, who prefers
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