There are many different types of tankers on the Island of Sodor and other railways used to carry various kinds of liquids. They usually have had very little influence in stories. They are also referred to as wagons or trucks and were only depicted with faces in the fourth season episode, Toad Stands By.
Tankers
There are black, white, brown, silver, grey, and yellow tankers used to carry various liquids. In the Railway Series, there has been tankers painted green, red, black and orange and some have carried logos from companies such as BP and Shell.
Trivia
- The faces on the tankers were reused from the Slate Trucks.
- A yellow tanker in a Railway Series illustration is the only time a tanker has been seen with a face in the books.
Merchandise
- Motor Road and Rail (only in Asia and Australia with a face)
- Wind-up Trains (Asia only)
- My First Thomas (Sugar Tanker)
- Interactive Learning Railway (Soap Tanker)
Gallery
Merchandise Gallery
Fuel Tankers
The fuel tankers are painted yellow with pictures of fire in red diamonds and "SODOR FUEL" in black on both sides. They are used to transport fuel. In the thirteenth season, the words "Sodor Fuel" were removed and a red gas can has taken their place.
Trivia
- Fuel has also been transported in black tankers, and yellow tankers without any labels.
- The title "Sodor Fuel" is an in-joke. Apparently it was supposed to sound like "Sod off, you all".
- One fuel tanker model used to be on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios.
Merchandise
- ERTL (discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (still available in various parts of Asia)
- TrackMaster
- Bachmann (HO and large scale)
- Hornby (available as part of a triple pack with an oil and milk tanker)
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)
- Mini Die Cast Collection (discontinued)
- Tomix
- Märklin
- My First Thomas
- Nakayoshi (discontinued)
- Wind-up (Japan and Australia only)
- Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)
- Boss (with Busy Bee James; discontinued)
- Lionel Trains
- Tomica
Gallery
Merchandise Gallery
Tar Tankers
- “I heard tell aboot an engine and some tar wagons."
"Shut up! It's not funny!” - ― Douglas and James, Break Van
Tar Tankers are painted black with "TAR" written on the sides in white. They are used for transportation of tar across the North Western Railway. James once crashed into some after losing control of his trucks.
Trivia
- Eight tar tanker models are on display at Drayton Manor.
- In Toad Stands By, several tar tankers can be seen with narrow gauge truck faces.
Merchandise
- ERTL (with milk tanker; discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (discontinued outside Asia)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Bachmann (HO and large scale; HO discontinued)
- Hornby (discontinued)
- De Agostini (discontinued)
- Nakayoshi (discontinued)
- Wind-up Trains
- Tomica
- Boss (with Diesel 10; discontinued)
Gallery
Merchandise Gallery
Oil Tankers
The oil tankers are painted black with "OIL" in white on the side. There are also a number of older, dirtier oil tankers that can be seen around Sodor. The utmost care must be taken with these in case of fire, as James once found out when his tankers caught fire.
In the CGI Series, the tankers have also been used for carrying diesel fuel instead of oil.
Trivia
- A model of an oil tanker is currently on display at Hara Model Railway Museum in Japan.
- Up until Hero of the Rails, the oil tankers just said "OIL" but this was changed to an oil rig with oil coming out of it on a golden circle.
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway (red and light-up silver)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued; reintroduced 2013)
- Bachmann (both versions)
- Hornby (available as part of a triple pack with a fuel and milk tanker)
- Lionel Trains
- Tomica
- TrackMaster
- Mega Bloks
Gallery
Merchandise Gallery
Milk Tankers
This article is about 'the milk tankers'. You may be looking for 'the milk van, the milk float or the magazine story'. |
The Milk Tankers are painted white with "TIDMOUTH MILK" in blue on the sides. They are used to carry milk from local farms to the dairy at Elsbridge. Toby collects one from the dairy each morning on his way to Anopha with the quarrymen, and leaves it at Ffarquhar to be loaded. After being loaded, the van is coupled behind Clarabel and taken to the dairy on Thomas' first train. While Thomas was away having his front mended, a diesel railcar named Daisy was brought to do his work. Daisy, who was then a lazy sort, did mind, and refused to pull the van, and so much to their annoyance Toby and Percy had to make special trips to deliver the milk. However, now that Daisy has learnt sense, she sometimes takes the milk instead of Thomas.
From Misty Island Rescue onwards, the words "TIDMOUTH MILK" have been replaced by a logo of a cow in a blue circle.
Trivia
- Three milk tankers are currently on display at Drayton Manor.
- In the first and second seasons, due to budget limitations the milk tankers were painted half white and half black, the black side being used the tar tankers.
- In the Railway Series, the Milk Tankers have six wheels, are painted yellow and do not have any writing.
Merchandise
- ERTL (discontinued; with a tar tanker)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (with Diesel) (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)
- Mini Die Cast Collection (discontinued)
- Bachmann (HO and large scale)
- Hornby (available as part of a triple pack with a fuel and oil tanker)
- Lionel Trains (discontinued)
- Tomica (with Percy)
- My First Thomas
- De Agostini (discontinued)
- Wind-up Trains (Japan only)
- Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)
- Boss (with Emily; discontinued)
- Nakayoshi (discontinued)
Gallery
Merchandise Gallery
Raspberry Syrup Tankers
The Raspberry Syrup Tankers are painted dark red with raspberries pictured on the sides. A model is currently on display at Drayton Manor. One only appeared in the eighth season episode, Too Hot for Thomas and the magazine story, Cheers for Thomas.
Trivia
- Despite only appearing in Season 8, Bachmann depicts their Large Scale and HO Scale model of the tanker with a CGI-styled logo.
Merchandise
- Motor Road and Rail (Asia only)
- Bachmann (HO and large scale)
- Hornby (discontinued)
Gallery
Merchandise Gallery
Cream Tankers
The Cream Tankers are painted cream with milk churns pictured on the sides. It first appeared in the eighth season episode, Too Hot for Thomas.
A model of the cream tanker is currently on display at Drayton Manor.
Merchandise
- Bachmann (HO and large scale)
- Hornby (discontinued)
- Wind-up Trains (Asia only)
Gallery
Merchandise Gallery
Water Tankers
The Water Tankers carry water and are painted sky blue. They first appeared in the nineteenth season episode, Toad and the Whale.
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway (normal, Day Out with Thomas 2008 Exclusive and search and rescue centre versions; normal version discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail
- Interactive Learning Railway
Gallery
Merchandise Gallery
Jam Tankers
Jam Tankers, known as Jelly Wagons in the US, are tankers which carry jam. They are painted silver and grey. In the ninth season episode, Respect for Gordon, Gordon collided into them and jam went flying everywhere.
Gallery
Toffee Tankers
Toffee Tankers (known as Taffy Wagons in North America) are painted orange. One appeared in the tenth season episode "Sticky Toffee Thomas".
Thomas offered to deliver the toffee tanker to best costume party for Toby, after he crashed into him, damaging Toby's axle.
Gallery
Diesel Tankers
Diesel tankers carry diesel fuel. They are painted black with a red triangle on the sides. They first appeared in the magazine story, Magpie Mavis. In the eighteenth season, diesel fuel is transported by oil tankers.
Merchandise
- Take Along (discontinued)
- TrackMaster
Merchandise Gallery
See Also
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