Arthur, is a large tank engine originating from the London, Midland & Scottish Railway. He runs Geoffrey's Branch Line. He brake van named Brian.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Arthur took great pride in his spotless record, which he soon lost after colliding with Nia's trucks in an incident largely provoked by Thomas. However, this spotless record was soon amended, after Thomas apologised to him for causing the accident.
He was bought to shunt and pull goods, but then was transferred to the coastal run, on which he enjoys working. He is responsible for this line, which is famous for its fish. Arthur along with Henry, Salty and Porter, were the only engines known to enjoy the smell of fish.
Personality[]
Arthur is a big tank engine who has never been naughty in his life. He was highly esteemed for his "spotless record" before he arrived on Sodor, never having made a mess or a fuss and never having caused an accident. His main duties were to shunt trucks and haul goods trains. Arthur can be a bit naive however and after a jealous Thomas tricked Arthur into setting his standards too high with the trucks, his record did not stay as spotless as he had hoped. Arthur is very obedient, cautious, and well-behaved. He aims to please in his work and do everything as best he can. He now mainly runs the Fishing Route by the coastal village, a duty which Liz was only all too grateful to be relieved from. Here, Arthur enjoys the sea air and the smell of the fish.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
Arthur is based on a London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Ivatt Class 2MT tank engine developed for the LMS, (hence the initials on his tanks). Unlike his basis, Arthur lacks a sand dome.
According to Robert Gauld-Galliers' original artwork, Arthur was originally going to have the number 41241 painted in yellow on his coal bunker and a top feed like his original basis. The number 41241 comes from a preserved 2MT on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, and at one point, 41241 was painted in a maroon livery like Arthur. Three others are also preserved.
Livery[]
Arthur is painted in LMS maroon with gold boiler bands and yellow lining. The initials "LMS" are painted on the sides of his tanks in yellow with red lining. His wheels are also painted red and his ladder is painted black while the steps at his front buffer beam are red and he has white lamp irons.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
- Series 7 - The Spotless Record, Something Fishy, and Bulgy Rides Again (cameo)
- Series 8 - Fish
- Series 11 - Gordon and the Engineer (cameo) and Rosie and the Runaway Car
Triviae[]
- According to an early leak on the names of the seventh series characters, Arthur was originally going to be called Clarence. It was then changed to Arthur, when a TV magazine ran a competition to give him an official name, and that was the one chosen. Arthur was named after Arthur Sharp, the late grandfather of competition winner Luke Sharp.
- Arthur's seventh series whistle is a stock sound effect of an LMS Stanier hooter whistle.
- Although he appeared in the twelfth series, Arthur was never seen with a CGI face.
- Though he is painted in LMS Crimson Lake, his class was only ever painted black when in service on the LMS.
- Arthur's class were nicknamed "Mickey Mouse Tanks", as their route indicator disks looked like the ears of Disney's famous mascot Mickey Mouse.
- In the interactive DVD game "Arthur's Tricky Travels" until the twelfth series, Arthur shares Edward's whistle sound.
- Arthur was mentioned on concept artwork for Ryan, as it was considered for Ryan to have "a rich red ground just slightly brighter than Arthur."
- Arthur is the only new engine from the seventh series to not have a Nakayoshi toy. Said toy was intended to be released, but was cancelled for unknown reasons.
Merchandise[]
- Ertl (UK only; discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued, reintroduced 2014; discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)
- Tomica (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail
- Nakayoshi (cancelled)