This article lists and describes the characters that have appeared in the British children's books The Railway Series, in the television adaptation of the books Thomas & Friends (which ran from 1984 to 2021), and in other media in the franchise based on the television series.
The Railway Series is a series of 42 books written by Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher Awdry. Wilbert wrote the first 26 books from 1945 to 1972 beginning with The Three Railway Engines, while Christopher wrote the remaining 16 books from 1983 to 2011, concluding with Thomas and His Friends.
Unless otherwise stated, the technical notes come from Wilbert Awdry's notes when he was developing the characters and setting for his stories. These notes are cited in his publication The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways.
Introduced in The Railway Series Standard gauge Steam engines Name Number Railway Description First appearanceBased on Voiced by (UK) Voiced by (US)Thomas1North Western Railway A blue tank engine who works on the North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor. He initially worked as the station pilot at Vicarstown, later Wellsworth. In the TV series, he was the station pilot at Knapford, since the "big station" was changed from Vicarstown, and later Tidmouth, to Knapford. After helping to rescue James from an accident, Thomas was rewarded by being promoted to run the Ffarquhar branch line with his two coaches, Annie and Clarabel.Thomas the Tank Engine (1946)LB&SCR E2 class (with extended side tanks)Ben Small (2009-2015)John Hasler (2015-2021)Aaron Barashi (2021-2023)Shaun Jemmett (2023-2025)Harry Sparkes (2026-)Martin Sherman (2009-2015)Joseph May (2014-2021)Meesha Contreras (2021-2023)David Kohlsmith (2023)Kai Harris (2023-2025)Harry Sparkes (2026-)Edward2North Western Railway A blue mixed-traffic tender engine who works on the North Western Railway. He runs the Brendam branch line and is one of the oldest engines on Sodor. The Three Railway Engines (1945)Furness Railway K2 ClassKeith WickhamWilliam Hope3North Western Railway A green mixed-traffic tender engine who works on the North Western Railway. He was originally built as a prototype Gresley engine and had a smaller firebox. He needed special Welsh coal to operate properly. Following his accident when pulling the Flying Kipper Henry underwent an extensive rebuild, giving him a new shape and a better performance. The Three Railway Engines (1945)Built from a "stolen Gresley design" (old shape; Henry I)LMS Stanier "Black Five" (new shape; Henry II)Keith Wickham (2009-2021)Chris Woodworth (2026-)Kerry Shale (2009-2021)Chris Woodworth (2026-)4North Western Railway A big blue tender engine who works on the North Western Railway. He is assigned to the Wild Nor' Wester express passenger train that runs from Tidmouth to London but occasionally hauls goods trains, much to his dislike, as he believes that these are below him. He and the Flying Scotsman are the only surviving Class A1/A3 engines. In the Railway Series Gordon was retired from the Wild Nor' Wester following the purchase of Pip and Emma and was relegated to stopping passenger trains. In the TV series he remains the express engine, is Spencer's cousin, and shares the express with Rebecca from the 22nd series to the 24th series.The Three Railway Engines (1945)LNER Class A1Keith Wickham (2009-2021)Will-Harrison Wallace (2021-2025)Django Bevan (2026-)Kerry Shale (2009-2020)Neil Crone (2021-2025)Django Bevan (2026-)James5North Western Railway A red mixed-traffic tender engine who works on the North Western Railway. He is proud of his splendid red paintwork but tends to be vain, boastful, and overconfident. He does not like getting dirty. Despite being a mixed-traffic engine he does not like pulling coaches and trucks, and with the exception of the big engines feels superior to the others. James is an experimental 2-6-0 version of his class and was initially painted black. He was built with wooden brake blocks that caught fire easily, resulting in a crash on his first day and prompting Thomas to come and rescue him with the Breakdown Train. He was given a red livery to cheer him up and currently works on the main line as a special utility mixed-traffic engine, hauling passengers, goods, and occasionally the Wild Nor' Wester express.Thomas the Tank Engine (1946)Based on an unbuilt prototype experimental L&YR Class 28 with a front pony-truck and extended front running board.Keith Wickham (2009-2017)Rob Rackstraw (2017-2021)Luke Marty (2021-2022)Tom Dussek (2022-2025)Nigel Pilkington (2026-)Kerry Shale (2009-2015)Rob Rackstraw (2015-2021)Luke Marty (2021-2025)Nigel Pilkington (2026-)6North Western Railway A little green saddle tank engine who works on the North Western Railway. He was first brought to Sodor to help run the railway while Gordon, James, and Henry went on strike. He later became station pilot at Tidmouth, and after that at Knapford. Following the Knapford Harbour Improvement Scheme in 1955 and later renovation of the New Harbour, Percy was moved permanently to Thomas' branch line where he now works as a goods engine. His favourite job is pulling the mail train and he is Thomas' best friend.Troublesome Engines (1950)Closest basis isAvonside 0-4-0ST. Percy's real basis is unknown.Keith Wickham (2009-2015)Nigel Pilkington (2015-2021)Henri Charles (2021-2023)Oliver Milchard (2023-2025)Oscar Elliott (2026-)Martin Sherman (2009-2015)Christopher Ragland (2015-2020)Charlie Zeltzer (2021-2025)Oscar Elliott (2026-)7/68221 (formerly in The Railway Series)North Western Railway A square brown tram engine who works on the North Western Railway. He used to work on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway in East Anglia, but was brought to Sodor to run the tramroad to Ffarquhar Quarry after his own line closed down. He has three coaches – Henrietta, the Quarryman's Coach, and Victoria – as well as a luggage van named Elsie. In the original TV series before being bought by Sir Topham Hatto to run the tramroad to Ffarquhar Quarry his tramway was located between Lower Arlesburgh and Arlesdale End. This line would later be reopened as part of the North Western Railway, with Toby being reallocated to his old shed. Henrietta is his only coach in the original TV series. In the All Engines Go reboot series he moves to Sodor after his line on the Mainland is closed, and unlike in previous iterations, he does not have Henrietta as a coach.Toby the Tram Engine (1952)GER Class C53 Ben Small (2009–2015)Rob Rackstraw (2015–2021)Toby Hadoke (2022-2025) William Hope (2009-2021)Eddie Glenn (2022-2025)85741North Western Railway A green Great Western pannier tank engine who works on the North Western Railway. Duck's real name is Montague, and hegoes by "Duck" because some engines say he "waddles". But he doesn't really waddle. In fact, Duck likes his nickname better than Montague. He believes that there are two ways of doing things: the Great Western way, and the wrong way. Duck runs the Little Western which runs north from Tidmouth along the west coast of Sodor to Arlesburgh. His coaches are Oliver, Donald, Douglas, and two autocoaches Alice and Mirabel In The Railway Series his coaches are Alice and Mirable, and in the TV series his coaches are the Slip Coaches.Percy the Small Engine (1956)GWR 5700 ClassSteven KynmanDonald and Douglas9 and 10/57646 and 57647North Western Railway A pair of blue tender engines from Scotland who work on the North Western Railway. Originally numbered 57646 and 57647 and formerly painted British Rail black, the twins now work as general-purpose engines, primarily on the main line, the Brendam branch line, and the Little Western. In The Railway Series Douglas was given his own brake van, Toad, after he saved Oliver, Isabel, and Toad from scrap. In the Thomas & Friends franchise Toad remains with Oliver.The Twin Engines (1960)Caledonian Railway 812 and 652 ClassesDonald: Joe Mills (2015-2016)Rob Rackstraw (2016-2018)Douglas: Joe Mills111436North Western Railway A green Great Western tank engine who works on the North Western Railway. After Isabel, Toad, and himself were saved from scrap by Douglas, Oliver now runs the Little Western with Duck and his two autocoaches, Isabel and Dulcie. In the original TV series only Oliver and Toad are saved by Douglas. And while Toad is given to Douglas as his brake van in The Railway Series, Toad remains with Oliver in the Thomas & Friends franchise.Enterprising Engines (1968)GWR 1400 ClassJoe Mills1 and 2 (The Railway Series)SCC Private Railway (The Railway Series)North Western Railway (Thomas & Friends)Dark yellow (later yellow) saddle tank engine twins belonging to the Sodor China Clay Company. They both work in the china clay pits and at Brendam Docks, where they shunt trucks. Bill and Ben are Sodor's most mischievous engines, and like teasing and playing tricks on the other engines.Main Line Engines (1966)Bagnall 0-4-0ST "Alfred" and "Judy"Bill: Jonathan Broadbent (2013-2016)Tim Whitnall (2018)Rasmus Hardiker (2018-2020)Ben: