Edward (T&F)/Behind the Scenes

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This is a behind the scenes subpage for Edward (T&F). This subpage contains all behind the scenes material relating to said article.

Background Information

Edward is a fictional standard gauge tender locomotive created by the Rev. W. Awdry. He is the No. 2 engine on the North Western Railway.

Edward first appeared in the first series episode Edward and Gordon, which first aired in 1984. His last appearance was in the twenty-fourth series episode A New Arrival, which was released in 2020.

Thomas and the Magic Railroad

Edward was not in any known draft of Thomas and the Magic Railroad. According to Phil Fehrle, there was not enough screen time and opportunity to utilise him in a way that added any real value to the film. As a result, he was the only engine of the original seven created by Wilbert Awdry not to appear.

Steam Team

In the eighth series, Edward was among the members of the Steam Team, the main cast of eight central characters. However, following the twenty-second series, Edward was removed from the Steam Team in favour of Nia to join to fix the gender imbalance at Tidmouth Sheds and diversify the Thomas & Friends franchise. Following this, he was relegated to being a supporting character.

Voice

Keith Wickham portrayed him with an English accent in the UK, though William Hope gave him a Southern American accent in the US. Hope's Edward voice also lacks the stereotypical drawl of the typical Southern American dialect, making him sound much younger than he actually is. Much like many early voice performances in the CGI series, Hope's performance as Edward occasionally lowered in pitch before raising to higher ranges. Tim Whitnall tried voicing Edward in the US dub of the eighteenth series episode Spencer's VIP, but did not make the final cut.

Behind the Scenes

Gauge 1 models

Series 1 Edward plastic model (front)

Series 1 Edward plastic tender (rear)

Edward's original model was scratch built from a few different types of plastic sheeting of varying thicknesses and used a Märklin locomotive as a donor for the chassis and various parts. It was painted using car body paint and lined with red and yellow automotive pinstripe tape, with his numbers being custom cut vinyl stickers.

Four different models were used as donors to make the engines after it was decided to use a more reliable base for the props. These were all gauge 1 models made by the German company Märklin. They are the BR 38, BR 55, BR 78 and BR 80.

Edward's main chassis was sourced from the BR 55, which was cut down to only have the rear four wheels from the original 0-8-0 arrangement. His tender wheels and clips that held the wheels were from the tender of the BR 55 as well as his tender buffer beam.

He also used some parts from the BR 78. These include his front buffer beam, sourced from Gordon's donor model, and a bogie with two ten spoke wheels on it. This bogie was shortened to make the wheels closer together and give a more appropriate look for his 4-4-0 wheel arrangement. His tender used the front steps from the BR 78, which unlike Henry's steps from the rear of the BR 78, were never reinforced. Over time they broke off and he had new ones made from thin square rods of plastic to mimic the look of his originals.

Edward's plastic model was originally AC powered as this is how the Märklin locomotives were powered. During a refurbishment, his AC motor was replaced by a DC motor to allow for easier running and maintenance since there were fewer wires and components to deal with.

The BR 55, which was used as a source of parts for Edward

The BR 78, which was used as a source of parts for Edward

Edward's model on display in Japan in 2000

Edward's wheels

Edward's side rods removed from his wheels

Edward's back bufferbeam

Edward's dome

Edward's funnel

The plastic model in the first series

The plastic model in the second series

The plastic model in the third series

The plastic model in the fourth series

The plastic model in the fifth series

A collection of models on standby during production of the fifth series

The plastic model in the sixth series

The plastic model in the seventh series

The plastic model in the eighth series

Edward's plastic model during production of the eighth series

The plastic model in Calling All Engines!

The plastic model in the ninth series

The plastic model's last appearance in James the Second Best

As seen in a photograph taken by David Payne from when Edward was first built, his leading wheels did not have power pickups, which were later added once filming started on the first series.[1] This was likely done due to performance issues after the heavy alterations the chassis went through, which made it so there were less pickups than the unmodified chassis. These modifications are seen in these photos taken by the current owners of Edward's model courtesy of Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch.

Edward's chassis next to an original (unmodified) Märklin BR 55 Chassis

Comparison of both Edward's chassis next to the BR 55 Chassis.

The smokepump generator bracket bolted to Edward's chassis.

The motor and smokepump setup likely added/changed during production of Series 6

The top view of Edward's Märklin chassis

Edward's leading truck side view (Note: The power pickup contacts and wires are mounted on top of the leading truck in order to get power to the drive motor from the rails)

The bolted weight added to the front of Edward's leading truck

The leading truck undercarriage

The drawbar from the chassis to the tender

At some point during filming of Trust Thomas, Edward's model fell off the set which resulted in the sides of his cab to sustain damage. Thin beam rods were used to repair and re-enforce the damage as well as making the backhead of his cab to be easily removed if the model needed a service to the motor.

The filler work on the side of Edward's cab is slowly lifted over the years

The beam sheet rod used to hide the damage and make the removal of the cab's backhead easier

During the production of the tenth series, two new models of Edward were built. This was due to the original model being twenty-two years old at this point and the tight filming schedules meant there was very little room for emergency repairs.

The new models were made out of brass and equipped with a CNC machined aluminium chassis powered by a DC motor. From this point onwards, the plastic model would only appear in scenes that would damage the brass models, but would be retired completely after the episode, James the Second Best.

Edward's brass model

Edward's wheels

The eye mechanism had two servos, one for up and down movement and one for left and right movement. The up/down servo was attached to the body. The left/right servo had a rod attached to the arm, which connected to a bracket. The eyeballs were coupled to the bracket and locked in by the face-plate, so whenever the servos were powered, the eyeballs would move however the crew member desired.

In the episodes, Wrong Road, Edward's Exploit and Haunted Henry, Edward is seen with lamps. They were powered by a hidden battery pack (note the exposed wires in Wrong Road and Edward's Exploit).

Note: Edward has no eyebrows.

Note: Edward has no eyebrows.

Edward's headlamp in the fifth series

In the third series episode, Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party, the "Garden Party" posters were pasted on Edward's body and tender.

Reference Sheets

Series 1

Series 3

Series 8

Calling All Engines! (Dream Sequence)

Faces

Fourteen different facial expressions were sculpted for Edward and used on-screen. The faces were first sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made of a silicone mould. Some of Edward's faces were duplicated in case the crew needed a face to look dirty and clean on the same day of shooting.

Reference Sheets

Series 4 - 1994

Series 4 - 1994 (Edward's angry face amongst James' faces)

Series 6 - 2001/2002

Series 12 - 2008 (Page one)

Series 12 - 2008 (Page two)

Usage and Evolution

Edward's sad face that appeared between the first series and The Great Discovery, excluding the fifth series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company and Thomas and the Magic Railroad... (1984-1995, 2002-2008)

...then temporarily had his eyes covered to resemble a troubled sleeping face in Calling All Engines! (2005)

Edward's original smiling face that only appeared in the first series (1984)

Edward's confused/neutral face as it first appeared in the Clearwater Features... (1984-1986)

...and The Britt Allcroft Company eras... (1991-1998)

...until it was recasted during production of the sixth series and reappeared in the tenth series all the way until the end of the model era, excluding The Great Discovery (2002, 2006-2008)

Edward's shocked face that first appeared in the first series episode, Edward and Gordon... (1984)

...and did not appear on-screen again until the seventh series all the way until the eleventh series, excluding the eighth series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company and Calling All Engines! (2003, 2005-2007)

Edward's angry face as it first appeared in the Clearwater Features era... (1984-1986)

...and was later recasted with some of the scrunch marks removed and gained some teeth in the third series episode, Escape... (1991)

...until it was recasted again with the remaining scrunch marks removed along with the teeth during production of the sixth series, and it reappeared in the seventh series all the way until the tenth series, excluding the eighth series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company and Calling All Engines! (2002-2003, 2005-2006)

Edward's cheeky face as it first appeared in the second series… (Early 1986)

...and later gained some teeth to resemble a triumphant face... (Mid 1986)

...until it had his eyebrows modified to resemble a happy face all the way until the end of the model era, excluding the sixth series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company and Thomas and the Magic Railroad (Late 1986-1998, 2003-2008)

Edward's current smiling face as it first appeared between the second and fifth series... (1986-1998)

...until it gained some teeth in the sixth series all the way until the end of the model era, excluding Jack and the Sodor Construction Company (2002-2008)

Edward's tired face that first appeared in the second series... (1986)

...and did not appear on-screen again until the ninth series all the way until the end of the model era, excluding The Great Discovery (2005-2008)

Edward's exhausted/anxious face that appeared between the second and eleventh series, excluding the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and tenth series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, and Calling All Engines!... (1986, 2003-2005, 2007)

...but did appear in a deleted scene image from the third series episode, Percy's Promise (1991)

Edward's unused second series wincing face that only appeared on-screen between the eighth and eleventh series, excluding the ninth and tenth series (1986, 2004-2005, 2007)

Edward's cross face that appeared between the third and twelfth series, excluding the fourth, fifth, sixth and eleventh series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company, Thomas and the Magic Railroad and The Great Discovery... (1991, 2003-2006, 2008)

...but did appear in a deleted scene from the sixth series episode, Harvey to the Rescue (2002)

Edward's unused third series drowsy face that only appeared on-screen in the eighth series episodes, Percy's Big Mistake... (1991, 2004)

...and Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough (2004)

Edward's unused fourth series unamused face that only appeared on-screen in the eighth series episode, Edward the Great... (1994, 2004)

...and the ninth series episode, Thomas and the Birthday Picnic (2005)

Edward's content face that only appeared in the HiT Entertainment model era (2004-2008)

Some of Edward's faces during the production of the third series (1991)

Edward has been seen mistakenly given two of James' faces in the first series episode, Edward and Gordon and a promotional image for the first series, as well as one of Donald and Douglas' faces in the second series episode, Saved from Scrap.

Donald has also been seen mistakenly given Edward's angry face in the second series episode, Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree.

Present Day

Four of Edward's screen-used faces are now owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch. Various other faces, including duplicate casts of the faces owned by ThomasTankMerch, have also been put on display throughout 2019-2023 at various events held at The Midland Railway Centre. Edward's content face is currently on a fan-made replica at the Discover Thomas & Friends Exhibition at Drayton Manor.

Edward's shocked face owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch

Edward's current smiling and tired faces owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch

Edward's cross face owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch

Edward's duplicate current smiling, sad and exhausted/anxious faces on display in 2019

Edward's duplicate current smiling, drowsy, exhausted/anxious, duplicate angry, duplicate shocked and wincing faces on display in 2021

Edward's duplicate cross face on display in 2021

Edward's wincing, drowsy, angry and sad faces on display in 2022

A cast and a screen-used version of Edward's sad face on display in 2022

Edward's drowsy, angry and sad faces on display in 2022

Edward's cross, shocked and wincing faces on display in 2022

Casts of Edward's faces on display in 2022

Edward's faces in storage inside the exhibition coach in May 2023

Edward's duplicate shocked face on display in Autumn 2023

Edward's duplicate cross face on display in Autumn 2023

Edward's wincing face on display in Autumn 2023

Edward's sad face on display in Autumn 2023

Edward's drowsy face on display in Autumn 2023

Edward's angry face on display in Autumn 2023

Edward's content face being worn on a fan-made replica at Drayton Manor in 2023

CGI Face

The twelfth series marked the beginning of the show's transition into CGI and the characters' faces were animated through CGI with the aid of motion-capture animation. The physical models' moulded faces were replaced by white targets with triangles to fix a computer-animated face in post-production. Edward's resin faces were only used in background shots.

Model Changes

Edward's gauge 1 models had gone through several aesthetic changes in the television series:

• Series 3:
  • Edward's angry face gains some teeth.
• Series 4:
  • The lining on his wheel arches became slightly thinner and moved outward.
  • His whistle sound changed pitch.
• Series 5:
  • His whistle sound changed back to its original pitch (excluding James and the Trouble with Trees).
• Series 6:
  • His paint was given a matte finish.
  • His smiling face gained teeth becoming his current happy face.
  • His safety valve disappeared.
  • His eyebrows became smaller and longer and are raised slightly.
  • His coupling rod bolts became blue.
  • His footplate became dark grey.[2]
• Series 7:
  • The teeth on his angry face disappeared for the rest of the model era.
• Series 8:
  • His eyebrows became thinner.
• Calling All Engines!:
  • His eyebrows were lowered and became even thinner.
• Series 10:
  • The riveting and brake pipe extrusion on his front buffer beam disappeared. (brass model)
  • His buffers were moved downward and widened in length. (brass model)
  • His funnel became thicker. (brass model)
  • He gained a small box above his left-hand splashers. (brass model)
• Series 12:
  • His face became bigger, now matching his smokebox/boiler size.
  • His pupils also became smaller.
  • His eyebrows became thicker and changed shape.
  • The gap between his second and third boiler bands became larger.

Present Day

After production of the model series wrapped in 2008, most of the models and sets would be put into storage, with some being put on display at Drayton Manor Resort. All other models would be logged and referenced from 2010 till early 2011 by HiT Entertainment, from this HiT would decide on which models were to enter storage once again, which would be given to crew members and which to be disposed off. Due to it's old age, Edward's plastic model would be disposed off, as it was no longer needed by the company since they had the brass models which would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership. Briefly, one of Edward's brass models would also be exhibited on the Tidmouth Sheds set alongside the rest of the Steam Team at Drayton Manor for a special event during the same year.

Edward at the Tidmouth Sheds Exhibit at Drayton Manor

One of Edward's brass models is currently on display at the Hara Model Railway Museum in Japan with a duplicate cast of his current smiling face. It had previously been on display at Nitrogen Studios.

One of Edward's brass models at Nitrogen Studios

The same model at the Hara Model Railway

The other brass model used to be on display at the Discover Thomas & Friends Exhibition at Drayton Manor. Edward's confused/neutral face was on the latter brass model when it first arrived at Drayton Manor in 2009. It was later replaced with a replica smiling face expression sometime after. The model was removed in early 2020 and restored to be put on display at the 'Clearwater Weekend' event at the Midland Railway Centre in August 2021, wearing his current smiling face expression, instead of the replica one. A few months later, Edward's brass model was given a Halloween makeover for the October VIP Clearwater Event. In August 2022, the model would be exhibited again for the second Clearwater Event.

One of Edward's brass models at Drayton Manor during the exhibit's construction

One of Edward's brass models with a smiling face replica

Edward's brass model at Drayton Manor in 2018 (Note: He has no eyebrows)

One of Edward's brass models with Sunshine's model from TUGS

The model in the coach display during the Clearwater Event

The model in the V.I.P area with a duplicate cast of his shocked face

Edward's brass model with Halloween decoration

Edward in 2022

(Note: The face is loose)

In December 2020, Edward's original plastic model, used from the first to tenth series, is now owned and preserved by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch. However, the model was received with a tenth series brass tender. When the plastic model was first received, the funnel was discovered to be poorly repaired with auto body filler. So, it was redone using new putty filler. The models chassis was missing the siderods, so new replacements were sourced from a parts BR 55 Chassis. In November 2022, Edward's model was displayed at the Greenberg's Great Train & Toy Show on November 26th and 27th in Edison, New Jersey.

Edward's original model in late 2020

The prop with his tired face

The prop with his cross face

Edward's cab interior

The underside of Edward's model during restoration (Note: The chassis was missing its siderods)

The front of the chassis latch

The inside of Edward's body shell

Edward with James' smiling face

Edward with Percy and James's plastic models

Edward in ThomasTankMerch's model collection

Edward's plastic model on display at Edison in 2022

Edward's plastic model alongside the CoolProps Thomas replica

Additionally two spare unused number decals, one on it's own and another part of a larger transfer, were sold by The Prop Gallery in 2022, these were sourced from a spare unused larger decal sheet from the production of Series 11, which was cut up and sold individually. Duplicate copies of this sheet are also currently owned by Twitter user TomsProps, spare unused lining sheets for Edward's tender and wheel arches, from the production of Series 9, as well as a lining sheet for Edward's cab windows, are also owned by TomsProps.

One of the spare unused number "2" decals as currently up for sale on The Prop Gallery

Another on a larger transfer sheet as prior to being sold by The Prop Gallery

A decal sheet containing Edward's number owned by Twitter user TomsProps

A scan of the decal sheet

The lining sheet for Edward's tender and wheel arches

The lining sheet for Edward's cab windows

Present Day Ruler Reference Photos

Ruler reference of Edward's newly made tender at the Clearwater Event in 2021 (courtesy of Twitter user Alex Hargreaves)

Close-up model

A close-up model of Edward was built to be used for scenes where he had to interact with the close-up scale figures.

Initially, the close-up model of Edward's cab only consisted of his cab and a small section of his firebox, built by Bernard Carr. In the scenes of where a tender was required, Gordon's close-up tender was used, with the number being strategically hidden.

Edward's firebox

Terence Permane filming Edward's cab during The Sad Story of Henry episode

Inside Edward's cab

Sidney Hever, the fireman on Edward's cab roof

Edward's cab window

Edward's whistle

Note: Edward has Gordon's close-up model tender

Note: the figures used to hide the number 4 on Gordon's tender

Edward's water level tank

The close-up model of Edward's cab was shared with James' cab.

James' cab

Inside James' cab

Ruler reference

In the second series episode, Old Iron, the side windows of Edward's cab are misused for James', and can be seen in a rare promo image. This is not present in the final episode.

James' cab

Edward's cab (error)

During production of The Great Discovery, a new close-up model of the exterior cab was built possibly due to the original substaining damage, this new model was received with its own tender, unlike the original counterpart which borrowed Gordon's close up tender.

The new close-up model

Present Day

Edward's original inner close-up cab and whistle is now owned by former Twitter user TomsProps. The cab of Edward's new exterior close-up model is also currently owned by TomsProps albeit currently unrestored.

Edward's original Series 1 cab owned by Twitter user TomsProps

Edward's close-up whistle as owned by Twitter user TomsProps

The new cab owned by TomsProps (Note Percy's close-up model and the Pingu prop house in the background)

A unfinished production made number decal sheet for Edward's close-up tender is also currently owned by Twitter user TomsProps.

Reference Sheets

Third series ruler reference of Edward's close-up model

Eighth series ruler reference of Edward's close-up model

CGI model

In 2009, the series introduced Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) as a replacement for the show's long-standing live-action models. Edward was recreated from scratch in CGI by Nitrogen Studios. His model was "hand-sculpted" in Maya, a 3D animation and modelling software.

Photographs of Edward's Gauge 1 model were used for reference. According to Greg Tiernan, every detail of the original Thomas & Friends models for each character is carefully reproduced in the CGI model. The models are subjected to many rounds of review before they are submitted to HiT Entertainment for final input and approval. These CGI models have rigs specifically designed for there facial features, wheels, and to power the lights on them. The coal bunkers are made seperate from the model, and are only used for close-up shots, similar to the model series.

Edward's CGI model was mostly identical to his Gauge 1 model but has had modifications, these include:

• Hero of the Rails:
  • He slightly decreased in height.
  • He sits slightly lower on his chassis.
  • His boiler becomes slightly smaller and his funnel becomes taller.
  • His buffers became bigger and moved towards the centre of his buffer beam.
  • His pupils returned to their larger size.
  • His roof is slightly more curved than it was in the model series.
  • His whistle sound is sharper in tone.

• Series 17:
  • He gained a permanent head lamp and tail lamp.

• Series 18:
  • His handrails were painted black.

• The Adventure Begins:
  • His handrails were painted silver again.
  • The inside of his tender became blue.
  • His side rods became silver.

Head-on CGI promo

Final render

Undercarriage

Cab

Back of tender

Front bufferbeam

Boiler

Leading wheels

Driving wheels

Whistle

Tender wheels

Number

Tail-lamp

Orthographics for Edward's Go Go Thomas model

Jam Filled Toronto later reskinned the model for several background characters in the Big World! Big Adventures! rebrand.

Texture variants

In addition to his standard livery, a few other texture variants exist of Edward's CGI model. These texture variants include:

Edward with milk splatters (No More Mr. Nice Engine)

Edward with light snow (The Beast of Sodor)

Edward with heavy snow (Last Train for Christmas)

Pantone colours

The following pantone colours are used on Edward's CGI model:

• ■ PMS 116 (yellow)
• ■ PMS 299 (blue)
• ■ PMS 428 (white)
• ■ PMS 485 (red)
• ■ PMS 873 C (gold)
• ■ PMS 877 C (silver)

Reference Sheets

Edward's 2009-2020 CGI model orthographics sheet

Edward's expression sheet

Voice Actors

• Keith Wickham (UK; Hero of the Rails - twenty-fourth series)
• William Hope (US; Hero of the Rails - twenty-fourth series)
• Tim Whitnall (US; Spencer's VIP original workprints)
• Mark Moraghan (A Friendly Farewell)
• Simon Hepworth (UK; Railway Adventures only)
• Yasuhiro Takato (Japan; first - eighth series)
• Nozomu Sasaki (Japan; Calling All Engines! - twenty-fourth series)
• Øyvind Borgemoen Lyse (Norway; Hero of the Rails - Tale of the Brave)
• Herman López (Latin America; Hero of the Rails - nineteenth series; excluding Tale of the Brave)
• Javier Olguín (Latin America; Victor Says Yes and The Missing Christmas Decorations; one phrase as an error)
• Luis Leonardo Suárez (Latin America; Tale of the Brave only)
• Daniel Abundis (Latin America; The Great Race onwards; excluding A New Arrival)
• Gabriel Juárez (Latin America; A New Arrival only)
• Christian Stark (Germany; twelfth series only)
• Christos Topoulos (Germany; Hero of the Rails onwards)
• Henry König (Germany; Audiobooks only)
• Wojciech Chorąży (Poland; Hero of the Rails onwards)
• Fabrice Trojani (France and French speaking Canada)
• Petteri Hynönen (Finland; Hero of the Rails - Tale of the Brave)
• Petrus Kähkönen (Finland; Big World! Big Adventures! only)
• Jarmo Koski (Finland; twenty-second series onwards)
• Reinder van der Naalt (The Netherlands)
• Dan Schatzberg (Israel)
• Celso Alves (Brazil; Hero of the Rails - eighteenth series)
• José Carlos Guerra (Brazil; Tale of the Brave only)
• Dláigelles Silva (Brazil; nineteenth - twenty-fourth series)
• Jordi Estupiñá (Spain)
• Anh Tuấn (Vietnam)
• Christian Damsgaard (Denmark)
• Galbenisz Tomasz (Hungary; Hero of the Rails onwards, excluding Blue Mountain Mystery - Ho Ho Snowman, Tale of the Brave and twenty-second series)
• János Bata (Hungary; Blue Mountain Mystery - Ho Ho Snowman and Tale of the Brave only)
• Fekete Zoltán (Hungary; twenty-second series only)
• Alexander Kotov (Russia; thirteenth - sixteenth series)
• Denis Bespaliy (Russia; King of the Railway - eighteenth series)
• Anton Savenkov (Russia; Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure onwards)
• Um Sang-Hyun (South Korea)
• Loukas Frangoulis (Greece)

See also

• Edward (RWS)/Behind the Scenes
• Edward (AEG)/Behind the Scenes