In the Railway Series, several diesels from British Railways have appeared.
Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine
- “Stepney's a match for any diesel, besides his controller will take care of him."
"He's a brae engine fur aw 'at! Fancy fightin' his way ben aw those Diesels just tae see us!” - ― Percy and Douglas, Bluebells of England, Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine
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These diesels appeared in the fourth illustration of Bluebells of England looking at Stepney.
The first diesel is painted green and cream and had a yellow face. It is based on a BR Class 31 Brush Type 2. 31120 is another member of this class. This diesel's number is D701 and its head code is "4F12".
The second diesel is painted maroon and is based on a BR Class 52 "Western". All diesels of this class were given two-word names, the first word being "Western" and thus the type became known as Westerns.
The last diesel is painted dark green all over and is based on a BR Class 40. The Diesel and Old Stuck-Up are also members of this class. This diesel's number is D782.
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Enterprising Engines
- “We stayed there for days, with Diesels baying and growling like hounds. I was very frightened!”
- ― Oliver, Escape, Enterprising Engines
- “Yoohoo! Yoohoo! A steamer's escaping! Yoohoo!”
- ― The fourth diesel, Escape, Enterprising Engines
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These diesels appeared in Escape three were alongside a signal box near an old quarry branch where Oliver, Isabel and Toad briefly hid to escape scrap, and another one was at Barrow-in-Furness.
The first diesel was painted with yellow and black "hazard" stripes and appeared to be based on a Class 08. Unlike most Class 08 featured in the Railway Series and the Television series, his/her face appeared to be descending from his/her cab, rather than his/her front end.
The second diesel was painted in British Railways' "Rail Blue" livery with large yellow warning panels, and appeared to be based on a BR Class 28. BoCo and D5705 are also members of this class. He/she appears to be D5701, since that engine was the only Class 28 to be painted in "Rail Blue" during the class' existence.
Upon closer inspection of the main line going away from the signal box, a third diesel engine can be seen in the background. Its class is unknown.
The fourth diesel was from Barrow-in-Furness. It shouted a warning that Oliver was escaping. When Douglas was helping Oliver, Isabel and Toad escape from scrap, he/she witnessed the event. Douglas told the stowaways to take no notice of the diesel. This diesel was not seen in any illustrations, making it unknown what his/her basis was.
Trivia
- Their role in the television series were briefly replaced by Diesel, BoCo, and Mavis.
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James and the Diesel Engines
- “Visiting diesels sometimes boasted about how special they were. Usually, BoCo and Bear had to spend the next day smoothing ruffled feelings.”
- ― The Author, Old Stuck-Up, James and the Diesel Engines
Old Stuck-Up, a visiting diesel.
Several diesels from the Other Railway have visited the Island of Sodor on several different occasions. Visiting diesels are known to be particularly haughty, as they feel superior to steam engines and often put the steam engines down.
They aren't well documented or known. However, known visiting diesels include Diesel, The Diesel, D199 and Old Stuck-Up.
Thomas and the Great Railway Show
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This diesel appeared in the third illustration of Not the Ticket, pushing Thomas onto a lorry when he was being taken to the National Railway Museum in York.
The diesel is painted black and is based on a BR Class 08. Over seventy members of this class survive today in preservation, while around 100 remain in service on the national rail network. They were in fact the most successful shunting engines in the world, with 996 of them built.
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