The Little Blue Tank Engine

This article is about 'the Little Blue Tank Engine'. You may be looking for 'the Little Blue Engine, or Thomas'.

“Here are your trucks, James. Have you got some bootlaces ready?!”

― The Little Blue Tank Engine teasing James, James the Red Engine

Railway Series
The Little Blue Tank Engine
Gauge: 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The Little Blue Tank Engine is a tank engine who could be seen shunting trucks at Tidmouth Yard in two illustrations from James the Red Engine.

Bio

The Little Blue Tank Engine once shunted James' goods train for him, and teased him about the incident he had with some bootlaces when he needed bootlaces to mend a hole in his coaches. He ran off laughing rudely, leaving a very angry James. It is unknown what happened to the engine afterwards.

Basis

The tank engine's basis is unknown, but he appears to have side tanks from his cab to half-way along his boiler and might have a 0-6-2 wheel arrangement. He also resembles a North Eastern Railway N8/N9/N10 or a London, Tilbury and Southend 69 Class tank, as well as a slight resemblance to a L&BSCR E2 such as Thomas.

Livery

The tank engine is painted blue with red lining.

Appearance

Railway Series

• James the Red Engine - Troublesome Trucks

Trivia

• In the television series adaption of Troublesome Trucks and the magazine version, the tank engine's role was replaced by Thomas. In James the Red Engine and the Troublesome Trucks, the role was replaced by a Dark Green Tank Engine. In the Engine Adventures book, James, the role was replaced by Charlie.
• In Toby the Tram Engine, a similar looking blue tank engine appears to be pulling the Breakdown Train after James collided with some Tar Tankers It is unknown whether or not this is Thomas, or the same engine.

Gallery

The Little Blue Tank Engine shunting trucks in the background

The Little Blue Tank Engine with James

Rev. W. Awdry's early sketch

A similar looking engine in Toby the Tram Engine

Other Sudrian railways

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* RWS only | ** T&F only