| This article is about the engine. You may be looking for the Thin Controller, the magazine story, the Story Library book or Stuart the seagull. |
- “I can't understand it. Peter Sam just seems to stroll along the line. He makes work look so easy.”
- ― Sir Handel after Peter Sam got used to his new funnel
Peter Sam - originally named Stuart, after his builder, Kerr Stuart - is a green narrow gauge saddle tank engine originally of the Mid Sodor Railway. He now works on the Skarloey Railway.
Biography
Peter Sam has always been a cheery little engine. He often works closely with his friend Rusty. Once, after Rusty helped him to a water tower, Peter Sam's trucks decided to break away. They did and rolled down the track, derailing on the Old Iron Bridge and plunging into the ravine below. Because Peter Sam and his crew did not secure the trucks properly, the Fat Controller made Peter Sam work in the yards until he could be trusted again. He was next seen at the Skarloey Coal Yard and after that, he was seen moving trucks about in the slate yard when the railway was shut down.
Through the valiant effort of Rusty, Elizabeth, Skarloey and Rheneas, the railway was reopened and Peter Sam was out and about again. Unfortunately, he was promptly relegated to not working again when a low-hanging tree branch knocked his whistle right off. Duncan told him that an engine's not an engine without a whistle, but Peter Sam did not let Duncan get to him. When Duncan came back to the depot, having lost his own whistle, he found Peter Sam with a shiny new one. Peter Sam felt sorry for "Duncan the musical engine" and complimented him for managing to deliver his goods, even without a whistle. All the same, he could not help but echo the "An engine's not an engine without a whistle" line.
Peter Sam also helped the Refreshment Lady find a place to put her new tea shop, in an old restored coach. He once had to deliver a new winch for the incline at night, but got lost trying to find the magic lamp from the legendary engine, Proteus. In result, Harold helped him find his way home by shining down his light to guide the way.
Peter Sam was once put in charge of the Skarloey Railway while Mr. Percival was away, but ran out of coal. In result, Victor came and brought him coal and fixed Skarloey, Sir Handel and Duncan afterwards.
Percy later informed him and Sir Handel about a railway show for little engines being held at Ulfstead Castle. Peter Sam wondered aloud if his funnel would win a prize there and added that there was no funnel quite like it. This led to Sir Handel bragging about his special wheels, to which Peter Sam teased him by referring to them as "steamroller wheels". Peter Sam was later seen in the queue of engines waiting to get into the castle for the show.
He is currently working on the Skarloey Railway in the Blue Mountain Quarry with the other narrow gauge engines.
Personality
Peter Sam, named Stuart in his younger days while being brought up under the instruction of Duke, is extremely enthusiastic, eager and bubbly. He can be occasionally cheeky, but is kind-hearted, well-meaning and well-mannered. He can also be somewhat prone to being a little naive at times and perhaps take things a little too literally. With an infectious attitude and high spirits, Peter Sam is kind and hard-working to a fault and seldom grumbles about late hours and/or extra work. Although these traits can get him into trouble sometimes, he still accepts whatever job he gets and is always nice to the coaches and trucks, unlike Sir Handel.
Despite being friendly with everyone, when the bigger engines, such as Henry, tease him or cause him to misunderstand something, he can get very angry and wish to go crook on them.
Technical Details
Basis
Peter Sam is based on the Talyllyn Railway's Edward Thomas, a Kerr Stuart Tattoo Class 0-4-2ST that originally worked on the Corris Railway. Interestingly, Edward Thomas only donned the Giesl ejector funnel for a limited time, while Peter Sam has used it since he first received it. Four other Tattoo locomotives are also preserved, including a replica on the Corris Railway.
Livery
In the television series, Peter Sam has always been painted sea green with red lining and brass fittings. He has red and gold name and number plates on the sides of his saddle tank and coal bunkers respectively.
In The Thomas Way DVD, the Mr. Perkins segment features a re-illustrated version of Trucks!. In this, Peter Sam is painted dark green, like in the television series.
Appearances
Audio Files
Theme
| First used | Last used | Composer | Theme Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 9 | Series 12 | Robert Hartshorne |
Whistles
| Only used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|
| Series 4 |
In one scene in the US version of Trucks, Peter Sam has Thomas' whistle at six steps higher in pitch.
| Only used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|
| Trucks (US only) |
From the sixth to seventh series, Peter Sam shares Duncan's whistle.
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Series 6 | Series 7 |
Between the ninth to twelfth series, and in some games as well as the mobile app, Read and Play!, Peter Sam reuses Emily's original whistle. This would later be reused again for Freddie.
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Series 9 | Read and Play! |
Since Blue Mountain Mystery, Peter Sam has a whistle which sounds like Duncan’s whistle, but much more curving.
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Mystery | Series 20 |
Trivia
- His original Wooden Railway toy along with Thomas' both made a cameo appearance in an episode of Australia's Funniest Home Videos.
- In most magazine stories, some books based on the television series and some forms of merchandising, Peter Sam gains his old funnel.
- Peter Sam lacks his valve gear from his basis.
- In 2014, Peter Sam's small scale model and a slate truck were put up for auction at Vectis and sold for £2,600. The model was sold wearing his smiling face mask. For nine years, the model's whereabouts and owner were unknown, until it was revealed in November 2023 that the model is currently owned by Twitter and Instagram user OGThomasFan.
- Peter Sam's large scale model is currently on display at the Hara Model Railway Museum in Japan and is wearing his happy face mask.
- Peter Sam's whistle in the CGI series is very similar to Duncan's. Not only that, both their whistles are very similar since their debuts in the fourth series. Peter Sam's whistle has a curving sounding whistle while Duncan's whistle had a much straighter note, albeit their whistle sounds being a lot similar.
- In the French dub, he is called Pierre-Jean until the sixth series. In the fourth series, he is named Étienne when on the Mid Sodor Railway, a name which would later be used for another character in the special The Great Race.
Quotes
- “I'm Peter Sam, I'm running this line! I'm Peter Sam, I'm running this line!”
- ― Peter Sam singing happily, Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady, Four Little Engines
- “Peter Sam's said again and again,
his new funnel will put ours to shame.
He went into the tunnel
lost his old funnel.
Now his famous new funnel's a drain!” - ― Sir Handel teasing Peter Sam, Special Funnel, Gallant Old Engine
Merchandise
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References
| Locomotives | Duke | Smudger | Falcon | Stuart | Bertram |
|---|---|
| People | The Mid Sodor Railway Manager |
| Stations | Arlesburgh Harbour** | Arlesburgh Bridge Street** | Ffarquhar Road** | Bertram's Old Mine** | Marthwaite** | Arlesdale Green** | Duke's Station | Cas-ny-Hawin** | Ulfstead Road** | Elm Farm | Ballamoddey** | Valesbridge | King Orry's Bridge** |