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Owen is an orange incline engine who is stationed at the Blue Mountain Quarry.

Biography

Owen is the incline traction engine at the Blue Mountain Quarry, whose job is to transfer trucks of slate up and down the incline. When he was first introduced, he was among the many workers of the quarry keeping Luke hidden away from Thomas due to the little green engine's dark secret of having accidentally pushed a yellow engine into the sea. After Thomas investigated and discovered the truth that the "yellow engine" was now Victor and thus never scrapped, he pleaded with Rocky to lift him onto Owen's platform and with Owen to lift him up the incline to speak to Luke. Despite Owen's reluctance, he put his best effort in helping Thomas up to the upper terrace, though it was very strenuous. The mismatch of gauges resulted in Thomas coming off the rails and hanging dangerously over the edge of a cliff until Luke saved him and brought him back to Owen. However, the weight of both engines was too much for Owen and the platform they were on hurled to the quarry floor. Luckily, the platform managed to hit the ground without Owen, Thomas or Luke being seriously harmed, after which the truth was finally able to come out.

After Luke befriended a young deer astray in the Blue Mountain Quarry, it became clear that the deer was frightened by the loud quarry noises, including Owen's snoring. When the morning operations of the quarry scared the deer out of Luke's cab, Owen remarked that he liked Luke's fun friend before belatedly realizing that he had wandered onto his lowering platform. Luckily, Owen managed to get the deer down safely. Unsure about the idea of a deer staying in the quarry, Owen told Luke that it might be a bit too noisy for a deer. Luke took this to mean that everyone should work quietly, much to Owen's apprehension. Working quietly was easier said than done and not doable for long. Peter Sam, too focused on being quiet to look where he was going, backed right into the trucks that Merrick was loading, causing Merrick to loudly drop his stone and startle Owen. This resulted in Owen inadvertently letting his platform fall to the ground, frightening the deer once more. Owen agreed with Merrick saying that there was no way they could properly do their jobs whilst trying to be quiet, so Luke took his deer friend along on his delivery of gravel to the much more quiet and serene Ulfstead Castle. When Luke returned alone, Owen welcomed him back, and Luke happily said his friend was where he really belonged - in the Deer Park at Ulfstead Castle.

When Gator returned to Sodor, he and Owen were happy to see each other again. Gator told Owen that he must have brought his salt delivery to the wrong place before leaving to take it to the Steamworks. Owen assured Gator that he would tell Percy that Gator had returned if he were to see him. Percy promptly arrived at the quarry looking for Gator, so Owen informed Percy that Gator went to the Steamworks.

One night, Owen was woken up by Nia and Paxton, who were tracking Diesel by the glowing paint he was trailing. Owen pointed out that he could see a glowing trail of paint leading to the tunnel, allowing Nia and Paxton to find Diesel.

In Owen's final appearance in the series, Percy spread word of a railway show for little engines at Ulfstead Castle, causing the Blue Mountain Quarry to empty out rather quickly. Owen and Merrick belatedly realised that there were no engines remaining in the quarry after Owen asked Merrick if he had seen Rusty.

Personality

Owen is an enthusiastic incline engine, based on a vertical traction boiler, housed at the top of the incline at the Blue Mountain Quarry. From high up above the quarry floor, he gamely takes great pride in his job and never tires in the overseeing of empty slate trucks up the incline, while sending loaded ones down, often announcing the transportation of cargo as he moves it between terraces. He likes to maintain steady, safe operation throughout the quarry and enjoys ensuring everything is running as it should. He is keen to help any engine about their work and make sure everyone is on track.

Technical Details

Basis

Owen is based on the incline at the Dinorwic Slate Quarry, with an added vertical traction boiler engine attached to the side of the incline drum house. The incline works by hauling slate trucks up and down the gradient via two platforms attached to the winch - empty slate trucks are carried up on one platform and loaded slate trucks are brought down on the other. Unlike his basis, however, Owen does not have a transfer table at the bottom of the incline.[1]

Livery

Owen is painted orange and grey, with yellow stripes and a brass nameplate.

Appearances

Trivia

  • Owen is equipped with a steam whistle, however it has never been sounded in the television series.
  • Early concept art of the Blue Mountain Quarry reveals that Owen was originally going to be a crane named Bud. Multiple descriptions of the Take-n-Play "Great Quarry Climb" set still referred to him as "Bud the Crane".
  • He is the only sentient non-rail vehicle that is not a road vehicle, an aircraft, a watercraft, or a crane.
    • He is also the only one to be stuck in one place who cannot move 360 degrees.

Merchandise

References


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