Rocky

This article is about 'the crane'. You may be looking for 'the Story Library book'.

“New-fangled nonsense!”

― Gordon referring to Rocky, Edward Strikes Out, tenth season

Rocky

Class: Ransomes and Rapier 45-ton steam crane Built: 1945

Rocky is a large breakdown crane who is part of the Sodor Search and Rescue Team.

Bio

When Rocky was new to Sodor, Gordon and Edward were sceptical about his abilities, noting that Harvey could travel under his own power. Later, Edward carelessly left the docks before his cargo was properly secured, causing pipes to spill onto the Main Line. Edward was adamant that Harvey could clear up the line, but the little crane engine was too small to finish the job quickly and as a result, Gordon crashed into the pipes. Edward returned to Brendam to pick up Rocky, who cleared the line and put Gordon back on the rails.

Since this incident, Rocky has become an invaluable asset to the railway. He is frequently called upon to lift loads and help out after accidents. He is based at the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre, but is seen at the docks and other places like Sodor Slate Quarry helping out. He also tells the other members of the search and rescue team about the calls to action.

In Blue Mountain Mystery, Rocky helped clear up the broken Blondin Bridge, nearly took off Skarloey's cab and lifted Thomas onto Owen's platform.

In the eighteenth season, Rocky and James attempted to help Duck get out of a flooded track, but due to James leaving before Rocky's crane arm could be secured down properly, Rocky inadvertently knocked over a signal.

In the nineteenth season, Rocky was taken to Bluff's Cove to lift a beached whale onto a flatbed bound for Brendam. He also rescued both Thomas and James. He later derailed near Ulfstead Castle and the rest of the rescue team had to learn to work together to help him.

Duck brought him to lift Thomas out of a deep cavern after the track had collapsed and he later pulled Captain Calles' Pirate Ship out too. He received credit for finding the ship even though Thomas had found it, which annoyed Thomas. Later, he rescued Thomas after he fell in the water and attended the Harwick Branch Line opening ceremony.

Persona

Rocky likes to lift heavy objects such as engines, coaches and trucks. He is a friendly and careful crane and helps the engines when there is an accident. He takes pride in his work and is always happy to help.

Basis

Rocky is a Ransomes and Rapier 45-ton steam crane, built around 1945.

Livery

Rocky is painted a dull red colour with yellow hazard stripes on his sides and back.

Appearances

Television series

Season 10 - Edward Strikes Out, Big Strong Henry (does not speak) and Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out (cameo)
Season 11 - Dream On (cameo), Hector the Horrid! (does not speak), Henry's Lucky Day, Gordon and the Engineer (cameo), Thomas and the Lighthouse (cameo), Hide and Peep (does not speak), Thomas and the Runaway Car and Thomas in Trouble (cameo)
Season 12 - Steady Eddie (cameo), Rosie's Funfair Special (does not speak), Toby's Special Surprise (does not speak), Saved You! (does not speak), Don't Go Back (does not speak), Gordon Takes a Shortcut (does not speak) and Thomas Puts the Brakes On (does not speak)
Season 13 - Percy's Parcel and Snow Tracks
Season 14 - Henry's Health and Safety, Being Percy (does not speak), Merry Winter Wish (does not speak), Jumping Jobi Wood! (does not speak) and Merry Misty Island
Season 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand, Toby and Bash (cameo), Edward the Hero (does not speak), James to the Rescue, Happy Hiro (cameo), Henry's Happy Coal (cameo), Let it Snow (cameo), Surprise, Surprise, Stuck on You and Fiery Flynn
Season 16 - Race to the Rescue, Express Coming Through, Percy and the Monster of Brendam, Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Percy and the Calliope (cameo), Salty's Surprise (cameo) and Welcome Stafford (cameo)
Season 17 - The Thomas Way (cameo), The Phantom Express (does not speak), Too Many Fire Engines and Gone Fishing (does not speak)
Season 18 - Flatbeds of Fear (does not speak), Duck in the Water and Thomas and the Emergency Cable (does not speak)
Season 19 - The Beast of Sodor, Toad and the Whale, Salty All At Sea (cameo), Helping Hiro, Philip to the Rescue, Wild Water Rescue, Rocky Rescue and Diesel's Ghostly Christmas (does not speak)
Season 20 - Sidney Sings (cameo)
Other - Thomas & Friends in 4-D: Bubbling Boilers (does not speak)

Specials:

The Great Discovery (does not speak)
Hero of the Rails
Misty Island Rescue
Day of the Diesels
Blue Mountain Mystery
Tale of the Brave (cameo)
Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (does not speak)

Learning Segments

Season 10 - Right Sized Engine for the Job and Diesels and Steamers (cameo)

Magazine stories

2007 - Helpful and 'Happy'!, Edward Strikes Out and The Lost Spring (does not speak)
2008 - Hide n' Peep! and Thomas and the Lighthouse! (cameo)
2010 - Misty Island Rescue (cameo), Trees and Tunnels, Snow Tracks, Fast and First! (cameo) and Percy's Parcel (cameo)
2011 - Gordon and Ferdinand (does not speak), Being Percy (does not speak), Snug in a Rug (mentioned), Wet Wait, Henry's Health and Safety (does not speak), Winter Wish (does not speak), Snow Tracks and Slowcoach Diesel (cameo)
2012 - A Special Shelter, Rescue Team (does not speak), Making Hiro Happy (cameo), Stuck on You, The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 647) (mentioned), Snug in a Rug (mentioned), Welcome Stafford, Flaming Flynn (mentioned) and Thomas and the Rubbish Train (mentioned)
2013 - Toby to the Rescue, Flash! Crash! Wallop! (does not speak), Being Percy (does not speak), Surprise, Surprise! (does not speak) and All in a Day's Rescue (mentioned)
2014 - The Thomas Way (cameo), Swanky Cranky! (does not speak) and Harvey the Crane Engine (does not speak)
2015 - Duck in the Water
2016 - James' Ghost Train!

Rocky also appeared in the magazine story, The Best Bridge.

Voice Actors

Matt Wilkinson (UK; Hero of the Rails onwards)
William Hope (US; Hero of the Rails onwards)
Irwin Daayán (Latin America; Hero of the Rails onwards)
Kunihiro Kawamoto (Japan)
Gerhart Hinze (Germany; Hero of the Rails onwards)
Anders Sundstedt (Norway; Hero of the Rails only)
Christian Greger Strøm (Norway; thirteenth - seventeenth season, excluding Day of the Diesels and Blue Mountain Mystery)
Simen Sand (Norway; Day of the Diesels - fifteenth season)
Jarosław Domin (Poland; Hero of the Rails onwards)
Pedro Belini (Brazil)
Fernando Castro (Spain; Hero of the Rails onwards)
Yehonatan Magon (Israel)
Petteri Hynönen (Finland; Hero of the Rails onwards)

Trivia

One of Rocky's television series models used to be on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios.
Rocky has a much taller cab than his basis, in order to accommodate a face.
Although Rocky says in Duck in the Water that he must have his crane arm secured properly, in Season 19 and Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, Rocky has been transported without his crane arm lowered, which is very dangerous.
Rocky does not have windows on the front of his cab, making it difficult for the operator to see what is happening.
In the eleventh season episode Thomas and the Runaway Car, it was stated that Rocky was too heavy for Thomas to move, but since the CGI switch, Thomas has been able to move him.
- The same goes for Percy in the fourteenth season. In Being Percy, Percy stated he was not strong enough to pull Rocky on his own, but since the nineteenth season, Percy has been able to move Rocky.
Rocky has gone through some changes in the television series:
- Since the CGI switch-over, Rocky's face has been lowered down.
- In the nineteenth season, Rocky gains a tail lamp.
Rocky has no visible whistle, despite it being heard once.