| This article is about the engine. You may be looking for the Story Library Book. |
| This article is about {{{1}}}. You may be looking for {{{2}}}. |
Template loop detected: Template:Spacer
- “Please, I want some peace and quiet. I don't want to share a shed with chatterboxes!”
- ―Murdoch complaining
Murdoch is one of Sodor's largest and strongest tender engines, who is somewhat shy, a gentle giant and prefers the quiet countryside to the constant noise of the industry. He hauls goods trains on the Main Line and lives at Knapford Sheds.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Murdoch was brought to relieve the engines of their heavy workloads. Because of his size and strength, Bill and Ben were eager to learn more about him. Murdoch, however, disliked the noise of their chatter and he ended up getting cross with them. The Yard Manager tells Murdoch's Driver that they were in the wrong shed. Then Murdoch leaves for another shed where Harvey and Salty are resting. The next day, Murdoch finally had a chance to pull a train through the quiet countryside. Unfortunately, his journey was interrupted by a flock of sheep. Murdoch had to wait with the noisy sheep until Toby could bring the farmer to lead them away. That night, Murdoch found Salty's and Harvey's company a relief.
Murdoch was happy but shy about being decorated for the May Day festivities.
One windy autumn day, a large red carpet landed on a goods wagon from Murdoch's goods train, unbeknownst to Murdoch. Rosie briefly chased after it, until the heavy winds blew it away again.
Personality[]
Murdoch is a mighty, powerful engine with ten drive wheels. He is the largest engine working on Sodor and was brought to the Island to help with the heavy workload and pull heavy goods trains across the Main Line. Murdoch is as shy as he is strong, as he is actually a gentle giant. He can often be found seeking peace and quiet, away from the bustle of the yards and the Docks. He enjoys long hauls through the countryside and although he can get short of patience and a little annoyed if he does not get some alone time, he can be quite a reserved engine. Although he can be an independent worker, Murdoch is often content to join in, help and offer advice where he deems it worthy, but, despite being hard to miss due to his defining strength and size, he will not jump to put himself at the centre of attention.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
Murdoch is based on a BR Standard Class 9F with a BR1G tender, which was used for fast and heavy goods trains. The class was the last of the BR Standards and the final steam engine class built by British Railways, with the last one, "Evening Star", built in March 1960. Due to the size and shape of the class, they were given the nickname "Spaceships". "Evening Star" and eight other 9Fs are preserved. One 9F, "Black Prince" holds the record for hauling the heaviest steam-hauled train in all of England, Scotland and Wales, at 2,198 tons. "Evening Star", the very last steam locomotive built by BR, is also part of the National Collection.
Livery[]
Murdoch is painted dull orange with green and red lining. He has smoke deflectors, on which he wears red nameplates with his name in gold. His number 33 is painted on the sides of his tender in yellow with red lining.
Originally, Murdoch was to be painted maroon with red and chrome yellow lining, as shown in early artwork by Robert Gauld-Galliers. His livery was later changed, likely due to it being similar to another of the new characters introduced in the seventh series, Arthur.
Appearances[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Music Videos
|
Books
Magazine stories
Murdoch also appeared in the magazine story, Noisy Passengers. Video Games
|
Official Description[]
Trivia[]
- Contrary to popular belief, Murdoch does not share the same whistle sound as Arthur. Him having Arthur's whistle sound was actually a goof, for Murdoch's own exclusive whistle sound can be heard (although very faintly) in the seventh series episode, Peace and Quiet.
- Murdoch's whistle sound, along with Sir Handel's tenth series whistle can be heard as sound effects of the Snoodle Tower in the VeggieTales episode, A Snoodle's Tale.
- Murdoch's model used to be on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios. The model was displayed with no face.
- The Halloween Engine in the eighth series episode, Halloween, used Murdoch's cylinders.
- Murdoch's name was once misspelt as Mordoch, The Motor Road and Rail system previously spelt Murdoch's name incorrectly as "Murdock".
- Even though Murdoch's tender wheels are black, most merchandise ranges have them orange, excluding Ertl, Tomica, Tomy, TrackMaster, Take-N-Play and Hornby.
- Michael Angelis gives Murdoch a Scottish accent in the twelfth series, while Michael Brandon gives him an English accent.
- The remote control used for Murdoch's eye mechanism and later Stanley's is now owned by Twitter user IsaacM6991.
- Murdoch is the first character introduced in the television series to have smoke deflectors.
- Murdoch bears a resemblance to the Reginald.
Merchandise[]
- Ertl (UK only; discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- My First Thomas Template:Talking; discontinued
- My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)
- Hornby (discontinued)
- Tomica (discontinued)
- Nakayoshi (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail
- Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)
- Padlock and Key
| North Western Railway | Locomotives | Billy | Den | Marion | Murdoch | Nia |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Stock | Chipmunk | Fred Pelhay | Hannah | Helen | S.C. Ruffey | |
| Non-Rail Characters | Elizabeth | Ned | Terence | |
| Skarloey Railway | Locomotives | Rusty |
| Non-Rail Characters | Owen | Thumper | |
| Culdee Fell Railway | Rolling Stock | Catherine | Helena | Holly | Jane | Lucy | Mabel | Ruth | Rose |
| The Mainland | Locomotives | Novelty |
| Other Railways | Locomotives | The Chinese Engine |
| Rolling Stock | Bepe | |
| Non-Rail Characters | Cassia | Stefano |
- ↑ My Thomas Story Library - "Murdoch"