Rebecca

Rebecca is a new character who debuted in Season 22 of Thomas & Friends, subtitled Big World! Big Adventures!. She is a Bulleid Pacific engine originally from the Mainland, who moved to Sodor to become a new member of the Steam Team.

Basis
Rebecca is based on a SR West Country class locomotive, commonly nicknamed the "Battle of Britain". Ten members of the class have been preserved, one of which works on the Bluebell Railway.

Bio
Rebecca first arrived on the Island of Sodor after Henry moved out of Tidmouth Sheds in order to take up a new job which requires him to live closer to the Mainland, and Sir Topham Hatt wanted another engine to help with Gordon. Though she arrived a day earlier than what Sir Topham Hatt expected and nearly bumped him and Winston off the rails when she tried to stop at Knapford. Her first job was to pull the express, though she caused a small mishap when she accidentally collected Flying Scotsman's passengers at Vicarstown early. After hearing how the other engines mentioned how fast and strong they were, Rebecca decided that she would leave the stations early to prove how she can get things done fast, but this caused a lot of confusion and the passengers got angry. Sir Topham Hatt scolded her at the end of her first day about what is happening, and Rebecca apologised for what she did.

Rebecca met Belle, Marion, and Harvey and complimented them on their water cannons, diggers, and crane respectively. Rebecca then felt as if she was not special due to not having a special feature. After hearing Duck mention that the crew at the Sodor Steamworks "can do anything", Rebecca goes there to get the features fitted on her, but to no avail. Thomas and Marion help Rebecca realise that complimenting others and making them feel good about themselves is her special quality.

Livery
Rebecca is painted yellow and blue, with red and orange stripes on her body and tender. Her cab has the number “22” painted in white, and “N.W.R.” lettering on her tender also in white. She has navy blue nameplates on her smoke deflectors. Her footplate is coloured red with two small lights, and is only visible on her front as the rest of her body is covered with streamlining.

Season 22
She will appear in the twenty-third season.
 * Confusion Without Delay
 * What Rebecca Does
 * Seeing is Believing
 * Apology Impossible
 * Samson and the Fireworks
 * Thomas’ Animal Ark
 * Hunt the Truck (cameo)
 * Counting on Nia

Trivia

 * Rebecca’s number is a reference to her being introduced in Season 22.
 * Rebecca is the second engine in the series to have ”NWR” lettering. The first was Rosie.
 * Rebecca is the only member of the Steam Team to not appear in a feature-length special.
 * According to art of her prototype liveries, she was originally going to be named “Miranda”.
 * Rebecca joining the Steam Team in Confusion Without Delay was done in order to address criticism from feminist and social justice groups over a lack of female members in the main cast.