Bulgy

This article is about 'the character'. You may be looking for 'the episode'.

“I call him, Bulgy. He's painted bright red and shouts `Down with railways'.”

― Oliver, Bulgy, Oliver the Western Engine

Bulgy

Registration number: BLG 1 Built: Sometime between 1949 and 1969

Bulgy, a nickname given to him by Oliver, is a double-decker bus, who was once very opposed to railways.

Bio

Bulgy hated railways, and believed that some day they would all be replaced by roads. He even carried a poster on his side telling people to "JOIN THE ANTI-RAIL LEAGUE". His favourite phrase is "Free the roads!"

Bulgy tried to steal Duck and Oliver's passengers by pretending to be a railway bus. Bulgy was determined to get the passengers to Tidmouth before Duck, but got stuck under a bridge after attempting to take a short cut. His lies were exposed, and soon "nobody would believe his destination boards". Eventually he was turned into a henhouse and placed near the bridge, now nicknamed "Bulgy's Bridge".

Bulgy was later brought back to the road to help with passengers while Thomas and Emily needed repairs, but the chickens who had lived in him nestled in his luggage racks and caused trouble the following morning. He was then turned into a mobile vegetable stand. Bulgy enjoys his work delivering vegetables, because they do not lay eggs and they never complain.

The Official Website states that he is now a refreshment stand. However, this could be a mistake.

In magazines, he has been converted into a playbus and a greenhouse.

Persona

Bulgy was a very rude and bad-tempered double-decker bus. After being restored, he saw the error of his ways and changed his attitude.

According to the "Character Cube" bonus features in the "Thomas Gets Bumped" and "Thomas and the Toy Workshop" DVDs, Bulgy "has no scruples" and "knows how to tell a lie when he is in a tight jam", and is friends with Diesel.

Basis

Bulgy is based on an AEC Bridgemaster bus.

Livery

Bulgy was previously painted red and cream, but after becoming a vegetable bus he was painted green and cream. He has since gone back to his old livery. He has a sign on his left side reading "Railway Bus" and an opposing sign on his left side reading "JOIN THE ANTI-RAIL LEAGUE". He also has a sign on his front and back, reading "FREE THE ROADS".

Appearances

Railway Series

Oliver the Western Engine

Television series

Season 3 - Bulgy
Season 4 - Train Stops Play (cameo) and Mind that Bike (cameo)
Season 6 - Harvey to the Rescue (mentioned)
Season 7 - Bulgy Rides Again and Best Dressed Engine (cameo)
Season 10 - Follow that Flour (cameo)
Season 12 - Excellent Emily (cameo)

Specials:

Thomas and the U.K. Trip (does not speak)

A poster of Bulgy was seen at Kellsthorpe in the tenth season episode, Topped Off Thomas.

Bulgy also appeared in a tenth season learning segment.

Magazine stories

1994 - The Nature Bus!
1998 - The Greenhouse Bus!
2001 - A Special Story About Bulgy (does not speak)
2003 - Playbus and Broken Bridges (does not speak)
2004 - Bulgy's Back!, and Train Stops Play (cameo)
2006 - Sow and Grow, Bulgy's Back, and Stop and Shop
2011 - Market Day and Pecking Order
2013 - Bulgy's Back

Bulgy also appeared in the magazine stories, Bulgy's Bridge, Bulgy's Dream, Holiday Havoc!, Special Bus Service, The Best Bus, and The Open Top Bus.

Voice Actors

Daisuke Gōri (Japan)

Trivia

Bulgy and Diesel are apparently good friends.
Bulgy's model (in original red livery) has been put on display at Drayton Manor. His front bumper has been removed.
Bulgy uses Dunlop brand tyres.
In the UK narration, Bulgy develops a lisp in the seventh season.
According to the magazine story, Playbus, Bertie and Bulgy are cousins.

Quotes

The bus watched the passengers happily milling round the Small Railway.

"Stupid nonsense! I wouldn't have brought 'em if I'd known I'd have had a breakdown or something."

"I'm glad you didn't," smiled Duck. "You'd have spoilt their fun. Look how they're enjoying themselves!"

"Pah!" snorted the bus. "Enjoyment's all you engines live for, taking the petrol from the tanks of us workers. Come the revolution," he went on fiercely, "railways'll be ripped up. Cars 'and coaches'll (buses) trample their remains. Free the roads from Railway Tyranny!"

- Bulgy argues to Duck, and talks about the 'Road Revolution', "Bulgy", "Oliver the Western Engine".

Duck's train was to be first out, but he had few passengers. He was soon to know why!

"Look!" shrilled Oliver. "Look at Bulgy! He's a mean Scarlet Deceiver!"

Bulgy had turned to leave. They could now see his other side. It had on it RAILWAY BUS.

"STOP!" yelled Staff and engines; but too late.

"Yah! Booh! Snubs!" jeered Bulgy.

He roared away. The unsuspecting passengers waved happily.

"Come on!" puffed Duck.

He, Alice and Mirabel trundled unhappily away. Alice and Mirabel chattered crossly.

"The nasty old thief, he's stolen our people!"

- Bulgy steals Duck and Oliver's passengers, "Bulgy", "Oliver the Western Engine".