Which Real Life Thomas and Friends Vehicles SURVIVED? (Some Inaccuracies- READ DESCRIPTION)

Nearly every Thomas and Friends character is based on a real-life vehicle. Over the years, some of them were scrapped and some of them survived to this very day. Which were sent to the cutter's yard and which can still be visited and witnessed by your very eyes? Watch and find out! Please note that this video has one or two inaccuracies that I mistakenly included when making the video, notably Gordon. Gordon is an A1, not an A2.
MUSIC CREDITS:
• The Watermill Theme - ... - S.A Music
• James the Red Engine's... -S.A Music
• Percy's Danger Theme (... Music
• Bertie the Bus' Theme ... - S.A Music
• Devious Diesel's Theme... - S.A Music
• Devious Diesel's Theme... - S.A Music
• Skarloey Railway Theme - Mavis M
• Rusty's Theme (S4) - Mavis M
• George's Theme - Mavis M
• BluEngine12's Sodor Th... - BlueEngine12
• [S5,V1] Boulder's Theme - NWRN06 Music

[@bluediamonddirector]

Glad to see Boulder survived. Sad to see Thomas and Edward are gone now....

[@karenfan010]

unless someone could make a replica of an e2 and a k2

[@ReallyUsefulPinkEngine29]

And Toby

[@thebananacraft7298]

⁠@@ReallyUsefulPinkEngine29Toby has a replica says in the video and I’ve seen it so I know it’s true

[@ReallyUsefulPinkEngine29]

@@thebananacraft7298 oh, ok

[@Sudriantank12]

Thomas is actually not an E2 but a custom build

[@timesnewlogan2032]

Fun fact: Donald and Douglas' original numbers in the books were 57646 and 57647, while their real-life counterparts only went up to 57645. This means that, in the Railway Series, two more were built than in real life.

[@DaLilVivi96]

Interesting fact 👍

[@spadesofpaintstudios1719]

The fact all narrow gauge engines survived and are still working is amazing

[@electricangel4488]

Because the books where writen by a man that worked on the talyllyn which is the first preservation railway.

[@XavierSaenz-d5p]

i see a lot in Durango CO

[@PilloTheStar]

Except smudger. They turned him into a generator.

[@istalk_uttpkids]

And turned one to a water generator ​@@PilloTheStar

[@JZJ7777]

Same! Most of them are so old now, but it’s amazing they’re all still here and in working order!

[@klein2042]

Can we talk about how resilient those little Class 08s were that they're still in regular service all these years later?

[@basicallyarobloxian4533]

If it isn't broken, you tend not to replace it.

[@suarezfan99]

@@basicallyarobloxian4533 If it ain’t broke don’t fix it

[@carsarecoo]

Similar to the GP38s in the US

[@koranadams9992]

That’s such cap so much of them were scrapped ?

[@klein2042]

@@koranadams9992 A lot were scrapped, but a lot are still not even preserved, just straight up in normal service

[@patrickrichmond9896]

This is very educational. I was surprised to see that all of the Toby ones got scrapped. These are all of the model series and one the great things about model railroading is that it is a great way to keep the spirit alive. The narrator on this had the perfect voice because although the Island of Sodor is a fictional island, but by looking at the map, it is part of the UK. Someone at the Museum of Transport and I were talking about both Bertie and Bulgy, that if someone was to drive one of the two buses, they would have a great time driving Bertie since someone said that he might have been one of the early buses that the bus builder was trying to experience putting an automatic transmission onto buses but Bulgy had the 5-speed compound transmission. One of the episodes in the 3rd series about the diesels vs. steam engines, is that it takes a lot of manpower to get a steam engine ready for work than it does a diesel.

[@cklim7410]

Just a correction.gordan is actually the prototype of the gresely A1 pacific wich were rebiult into A3 pacific

[@Ukrainyi1917]

Correct

[@Popaldinho10]

Isn't Gordon a duchess class

[@cklim7410]

@@Popaldinho10 no he is not. If gordan was a duchess, he would not have been argueing what london station is

[@dannychan6202]

@@cklim7410Would be a 2v1 with Big City Engine and Gordon vs Duck.

[@cklim7410]

@@dannychan6202 yea

[@TheGingerEngine]

Loved that you included boulder at the end 😂😂 Very well done my friend ☺️🚂🚃

[@giantfightingroboto]

It would have been rude not to! It is iconic after all 😂

[@giantfightingroboto]

Through reading some of these comments, it's apparent that some of my information isn't entirely accurate. I'm not a huge rail fan so it's easy to slip up, I suppose and thankfully people have corrected me in the comments. I plan on making an expanded video at some point with more characters, and this will include corrected errors. Thank you for the feedback!

[@nwrxj9264]

Getting rid of the stupid O-Face sound (a joke that hasn't been relevant in years) will help too. 👍

[@giantfightingroboto]

@@nwrxj9264 Nah I like the sound, has quite the impact I think. Things being relevant or not in a fandom doesn't really mean anything to me, lol.

[@CraftsTimReview]

This is surprising a really fun video. Also, I never knew Terence doesn’t really have a actual basis because I thought he was based on those vintage Caterpillars crawlers from the 1930s or 40s.

[@giantfightingroboto]

He is based on those, but it's like an amalgamation of a few different ones so I didn't really know how best to portray that in the video

[@Firefighter14199]

​@@giantfightingroboto You forgot Salty and Porter.

[@mrdarknezz6285]

When a real life version of a Thomas character is scraped, it’s like the character in the show is an immortal being

[@giulianodervelociraptorder734]

I still wish that the crew had the budget to finish the model of Flying Scotsman.

[@giantfightingroboto]

Yeah, I reckon they should have made Flying Scotsman instead of City of Truro. Tender Engines could have been a more worthwhile episode than Gordon and the Famous Visitor.

[@dannychan6202]

@@giantfightingrobotoThey could have gone for a more faithful adaptation had that happened. They also could have done Truro in Series 4.

[@RishantYT747fan]

Couldn't they just buy a Flying Scotsman model and just slap on a face ?

[@SpongeDan]

​@@RishantYT747fanThere were no Flying Scotsman Gauge 1 models

[@giantfightingroboto]

I'm aware of the errors in this video, as others have so kindly pointed out. I've made a new video correcting the mistakes made in this one, and also included HiT and CGI era characters! Be sure to check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZ2WYYmBpth7kMUsi=swqV-SbExn0lpCto

[@overly7997]

Link doesn’t work

[@giantfightingroboto]

@@overly7997 I deleted that one because the video wasn't right. It should work now!

[@thestainmorephoenix8632]

Funny thing about Stepney-He was rebuilt from an LBSCR A1 Form. Yes, the original Stepney was an LBSCR A1, before becoming an A1x

[@Ilovenoahsomuch0009]

Sad to see some gone

[@michaelhobbs3426]

It’s sad that Edward, Thomas, Toby gone now. Scrapped.

[@tjmfarming9584]

Considering the time period Thomas Terence and the snow takes place in, Terence seems to resemble a Caterpillar model 70, however this doesn’t quite work because of his orange paint - a trait that points him towards an Allis-Chalmers tractor with caterpillar tracks. But because of the fact that Allis charmers tractors aren’t exactly common in the UK, and by extension Sodor, I wouldn’t put it past the idea that either Awdry based Terence on a caterpillar tractor that worked on a local farm in the area of which he lived, or the illustrators used Allis charmers caterpillar tractors for inspiration. Nonetheless, whichever design Terence is based on, several of the potential candidates for his basis are still around today whether that be museums, private collections or lovingly restored for use on hobby farms

[@DaLilVivi96]

Thanks for the vid, I've always wondered which real life trains the tv show was based off 😝💕 i grew up watching Thomas & friends

[@InactivePannier]

this was very interesting, i would really like to see more

[@railwayjade]

That bit on Boulder was hilarious

[@Portero_316]

im so happy to see that boulder lived-he is the MOST important character here *sigh of relief* phew

[@olivercook9663]

Other than the fact that this was a superb video, I'm glad there is someone else who actually does the Welsh pronunciations properly!

[@giantfightingroboto]

As a Welsh person myself it would be odd if I didn't!

[@nssportstv7231]

You’ve just earned yourself a new subscriber

[@berkshire4607]

Finally, someone acknowledged the Class 27s

[@randombird-e8i]

2:28 gordons brother was the flying scotsman so technically girdon was scrapped

[@jamesthebluecat1263]

4:53 well I guess that line didn’t age quite so well because most of these engines were scrapped and diesel’s bases is still alive.

[@dliles773]

Great video love to see what they where based on

[@youngdumbguitarist5348]

For Class 40, the real D261 Class 40 got scrapped in 1984

[@benj.kerman609]

And I believe D5702 (BoCo) was also scrapped.

[@RajaRhodes]

This video was very well put together!!

[@OfficialDUNCANOMG]

While not technically a k2, there was an attempted remake at a rail museum (some even theorising that its a k2 that went through several rebuilds).

[@Karagianis]

8:46 Seeing as Harold is portrayed as British and not American, I think that means he's probably a British built version of the S55, the Westland Whirlwind. They look the same, but being UK built would explain the accent. :) He does also appear to have Westland's version of landing floats installed, US built versions with floats also exist but look different.

[@mlwins7]

I know Emily is still alive because one of her class is still around in the National British Railway Museum.

[@giantfightingroboto]

I cover here and other HIT era characters in my new updated video!

[@blueraccoon1088]

I saw a percy near Sacramento here in California. I seen it when i first got there. I hope to go back to see more

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

I seriously do personally just suddenly came up with the officially well-knowingly clever idea of completely building a new generation of each of the well-known locomotives from scratch with modifications that officially include automatic coupling devices on each end to cooperate with various types of American-origin rolling stock with ease @ no complete trouble whatsoever! In other words for another awesome well-known fact, I'm actually gonna also apparently build a specifically wonderfully great new generation of each of the well-known road vehicles in Thomas & Friends alongside modifications for American-origin railroads/roadways with complete ease!!!

[@giantfightingroboto]

That's good

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

​@@giantfightingrobotoTHANKS A BUNCH FOR AGREEING WITH ME ALONGSIDE GIVIN' ME PLENTY OF SUPPORT!

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

​​​@@giantfightingrobotoGREAT WORK WITH THIS OFFICIAL VIDEO IN REALLY HIGH MARKS ON A SPECTACULAR SCORE OF EXACTLY 💯/💯 POINTS PROUDLY JOTTED DOWN DIRECTLY OVER IN MY OWN OFFICIALLY MENTALLY MADE SCOREBOOK FOR SURE!!!!!

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

​​@@giantfightingrobotoAlso, apparently for another awesome well-known fact, when I seriously do personally build an officially well-knowingly amazingly exact copy of Duncan the grumpy Scottish narrow-gauge well-tank engine's own official real-life locomotive basis known as Douglas with the officially well-known exception of renaming the locomotive as Duncan the grumpy Scottish narrow-gauge well-tank engine from scratch, the official length of the wheelbase certainly would basically be very shockingly surprisingly perfect for tight bends alongside enlarging many tunnels to prevent the locomotive's own official cab roof from scraping against the tunnel ceiling once-and-for-all alongside building a new official 27" narrow-gauge railroad that officially runs throughout the entire U S A with complete ease including when running parelle with 21OOO miles of CSX railroad trackage!!

[@bennewbury2572]

Wait dude I’m sorry did you say Gordon was an A2? Gordon is an A1 class, not A2.

[@giantfightingroboto]

Whoops, my mistake. Sorry for that. I'll pin this, thanks for catching that

[@oregonrailfan7046]

@@giantfightingrobotoyou also put class 40s picture instead of Derek’s in the survived shot. Also you put GWR 08 instead of BR 08

[@giantfightingroboto]

@@oregonrailfan7046 whoops!

[@roberthill6216]

There is a surving A2 called Blue Peter......

[@Twisty2012]

Also flying scotsman is not an A2 - it is an A3

[@procta2343]

Cheers for the run down of our childhood hero's i was surprised that the real train thomas was based on, is long gone, id have thought one would have at least survived, a long with edward.

[@BonkzOG]

6:50 I Love how his base is literally the name of two of the characters from the sieres

[@Karagianis]

2:16 Wrong A2, Gordon has been described as a prototype Gresley A1, that's make him one of the two NER Raven A2s of 1922, not the Post war Peppercorn A2. Also Flying Scotsman is an A3 class, not either type of A2. The only preserved A2 is the Peppercorn "Blue Peter" you showed.

[@avdozahirovic1770]

There actually was some sort of kickstarter in 2017 to rebuild an E2 class tank engine sadly the project was canceled

[@Voucher765]

Note that in RWS illustrations Henry's tender looks very similar to that of American steam locomotives such as the Reading T1s and B&O P7s who Caitlin is and there is one P7 Pacific 5300 still on display in Baltimore

[@infinityryanyoutube2013M]

6:33 wow, what a coincidence

[@danishmorgan22]

I'm so happy that many of them survived to this day👍👍 way to many steam engines have been scrapped over the years. Here in Denmark we have sadly also scrapped a lot of them, and many have also been stored away for an undetermined fate

[@jesusblanco9104]

😢😢😢 that was sad to see Thomas to be scrapped

[@giulianodervelociraptorder734]

I didn't even know there were any survivors from the James Family.

[@giantfightingroboto]

I didn’t either until looking this stuff up! I expected more of the engines to all be scrapped to be honest.

[@ketelieappolon3617]

@@giantfightingroboto Gordon and the flying scotsman are actually a3s.

[@Jojokun78]

And technically James isn't a class 27 or 28, he's supposed to be the fabled "lost L&YR class 29" which only one or two of were built. They were just rebuilt 28s with front bogeys added. (Aka the two front wheels.) Which were meant to stabilize the bouncy class 27s and 28s. Unfortunately both 29s were eventually unbuilt back into class 28s and eventually scrapped. Either way at least one member of the family exists.

[@22pcirish]

Wisbech. Pronounced wizzbeech!

[@MikyGamesRoblox-kx7vq]

R.I.P Thomas (even though there’s “them”) and Edward

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Thomas' real life basis, the E2, wasn't really good in real life, and while it lasted for years as shunters, they were still bad at being shunters, and were outclassed by smaller engines. So, I can kinda see why Thomas' basis doesn't exist today.

[@Voucher765]

An American equivalent of this would be locomotives such as Reading 0-6-0T 1251 in Strausburg and BEDT tank engines used at the Brooklyn Navy Yard one of which was actually mocked up as Thomas

[@PixelMate06]

R.I.P Reginald

[@sonicfan117dash2]

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify, Percy’s boiler and wheel arrangement are, indeed, based on the GWR 1340 class of engines, which includes Trojan. However, Percy’s elongated coal bunker comes from that of a GWR 1361 class engine.

[@alexthekitsune8740]

For the newer engines, Emily is a GNR Stirling from 1895-1916, today they are still preserved in rail museums

[@ashleydemoss4609]

Thanks for this. Can you do season 6 to 12?

[@giantfightingroboto]

I sure can! I've got some other stuff to work on first but I should be able to get round to it

[@ashleydemoss4609]

@@giantfightingroboto ok thanks

[@kadenrobinson7067]

I'm just gonna tell you this Hank did survive

[@ashleydemoss4609]

@@kadenrobinson7067 cool

[@williamheinrich4659]

Thomas is either A: the only remaining E2 left in the world, or B: he is a fictional member of the class. Same questions with Edward.

[@lrcronk9874]

I'm not sure if we should count Thomas as scraped or not because although all the LBSCR E2's were all scrapped, they did eventually build an actual Thomas train that even talks to you, sooo maybe thomas survived, idk.

[@S1LLY_FL0WER]

He still counted Toby as scrapped despite the right image 3:26

[@lrcronk9874]

​@@S1LLY_FL0WER Oh yeah you're right about that. Then I don't know. 😶

[@phillnewton740]

Of all the first 6 main engines; Thomas, James, and Edward are quite common boys' names, Gordon is an old-fashioned variant of Jordan, Henry is also an old-fashioned variant of Harry, or Hank (US). But I can't say I know a single person called Percy, probably the most extinct name.

[@enigmagermany2303]

Thank you for this video..

[@itzmespencer]

Gordon is acually based on the LNER A3 Pacific

[@midgetarmy1912]

I thought he was the A0 prototype made in '21?

[@Killcrim]

I like to think Sodor is an island that focuses on preserving the early 20th century by not upgrading their vehicles and technology. Basically being stuck in the past in order to preserve the old days

[@giantfightingroboto]

I've updated the video title to reflect the fact that this isn't completely accurate, so hopefully I can spare any more hardcore enthusiasts from losing sleep over this!

[@sarahcoyle399]

Actually, there's a replica of Thomas down to the last details that are an old refurbished E2.

[@Piadina88_wolfblaze]

Thank you for helping me ❤

[@limeyfox]

Tbh I can’t quite see how James’s origin is a L&Y loco of a different wheel arrangement. Surely he’s more likely to have been a GWR Churchward 4300-Class 2-6-0?

[@polishcosmonaut6324]

Came back here just for 10:23

[@WilDBeestMF]

Those Pannier tanks. They were pretty common and far reaching. I'm not sure that they were ever used here, but we even have a couple here in Australia. One is on display, the other does excursion journeys and museum stuff. Cool trains ngl.

[@adrianNanlohy]

Fun fact : Arthur is a character from the thomas and friends who was preserved and working on sodor and has the K.W.V.R at the side of his Tanks and wears a red livery haveing the number 41242 ( based on a IVATT 2MT 41241 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE)

[@trendygaming795]

It's a little ironic that the engine named edward thomas survived but not edward or thomas

[@belfastbusfan]

Gordon - A2 Pacific? Blue Peter still exists to this day, Flying Scotsman is an A3

[@bossbrozork3022]

You forgot that the diesel that salty is based on survived and its still in working duty.

[@giantfightingroboto]

I didn't forget it. I just did series 1-5 characters in this video.

[@bossbrozork3022]

@@giantfightingroboto ok so if you do the rest of the series mention him.

[@giantfightingroboto]

I already have

[@bossbrozork3022]

@@giantfightingroboto ok

[@sithlordofoz]

Gordon is an A1, the original A1 of the GNR - which became, with a bit of a rebuild, the A3. Look at the pictures in Enterprising Engines and you can clearly see Gordon and Flying Scotsman are "brothers".

[@ThomasTheorist]

Great video!

[@Fcutdlady]

I know for sure a scammel constructor truck still exists , I've photographed it. It was run by the irish state transport provider CIE under the fleet number SC 1 and its nicknmed Essie . It's in the transport musuem society of ireland display at Howth Castle in Dublin, not sure if it runs on fact I'm 99.95% it doesn't but cosmetically its in resonable nick

[@limeyfox]

Daisy & the Snailwell Firing Tunnel was a particularly distressing episode

[@randombelugaman]

i wish i can go back in time to saved the E2s but is a canon event😿😥

[@thomasfan8889]

Somebody better start preserving the Boulder class because I’m about to blast through their withdrawal and scrapping so quickly that it would make Beeching blush

[@themechanic.9545]

Edward has a Dutch Conterpart which is eerily similar to his TV Series or RWS Appearance. You can find it in the Utrecht Railway Museum in The Netherlands. The engine similar to Edward was the NS 1600 by the Dutch Railways, and coincidentally, they were built by the Sharp, Stewart and Co.-the same manufacturers that built Edward. I would consider Edward to be “Preserved” since he had a Dutch “Brother” still standing in a Railway Museum.

[@Poppy-z2g]

I knew Edward would never die

[@zeldafreak1991]

Fun fact there is a Thomas train in at Thomas Ontario Canada and yes it's on tracks and used but rarely more of a museum piece now

[@LisaandBradlee]

What sound is used for the scrapped engines?

[@karenfan010]

how did boulder get included before emily or diesel 10?!

[@giantfightingroboto]

Because this is series 1-5. I’m going to do the ones from later series another time because I’ve yet to watch any of them.

[@ReviCat]

Fun fact: mavis' design is fictional as it's both hybrids of both versions of the batches of the BR class 04s. I don't think I'll count this because Henry started out as a stolen LNER A1 1915 prototype draft designs for the great northern railways struggles in use, He was built in 1915, same goes for James I won't count it because he's an experimental hughes design and not an actual design, James's design was probably most likely based off of the class 29s. The possible B type class. Also when looking at the basis just saying their alive because only some members of their class existed doesn't mean they survived, you have to look at their origination numbers if they survived or if its fictionally real, for example, BoCo is 5702 and not 5701, the diesel of the 28s alive, but you can tell daisy is alive because they randomly named a 101 after her... Strange isn't it?

[@andyaccount]

As Stepney and City of Truro are real locomotives surely they are not based on the locomotive as stated, but represents it. Also Flying Scotsman was not mentioned as a character, it is in the books so I assume that story is featured in the TV series.

[@giantfightingroboto]

Yeah I should have worded the real life ones better. I'm actually in the process of writing a new video based on which RWS only characters survive and note whenever they have a specific basis:)

[@FIFAandroblox79]

It is happy to see Henry to survive my favorite but my other favorites like Thomas Edward and Toby had to be scrapped…

[@F4productions4072]

I have a theory. Boulder has Gordon’s face on. The boulder. It might mean that one of Gordon’s brothers have crashed and died by the boulder so the boulder kinda has the brothers soul stuck in it.

[@Turgineer]

Rest in peace Thomas.

[@petercurtis3984]

Regarding Thomas, I frequently get videos from the Watercress Line and they have a Thomas current being renovated and nearing completion, it seems likely to be back in Steam and on the rails sometime in 2024. Check out their latest video for more details. Brilliant video and hope this helps!

[@steamingaroundbritain]

Gordon is based on the LNER A1/A3 class in the books being a Prototype of the A1

[@TheMidlandTerrier]

gordon was an A1, and flying scotsman is an A3 rebuilt from an A1, A2s came over 2 decades later

[@Sid3300]

I actually live near the railway musem with the Toby, it's actually a John Fowler 0-4-0DH with a shell dropped onto it.

[@Electric_Souls]

Gordon is a Peppercorn A2? I thought he was the prototype A0 For the LNER Gresley A1&3s?

[@casbrowne9055]

He is, you're correct

[@gerarddip]

Wtf Thomas is still alive, I fricking met him in North Conway when I was 5

[@xtremeyoylecake]

Well…about that 😬

[@toby.fan9198]

I guess Thomas’ popularity wasn’t enough too save his real life counterpart, I would’ve thought someone would’ve jumped on the opertunity too save the real life Thomas but I guess not

[@Zathurex95]

I’m happy for Oliver, saved from scrap in universe and real life

[@thomasoates3003]

Gordon is a hybrid of the Gresley A1 and Raven A2, not a Peppercorn A2. Those were built more than 20 years after Gordon.

[@Thomasfan579]

Gordon was a Prototype A1

[@thomasoates3003]

@@Thomasfan579 Indeed. The A0 incorporated design features from the NER A2 and Gresley's Great Northern to see which engineering features worked better.

[@FlashCameraStudio]

a little fact: Bear's class the class 35 Hymek number's went up to 71000 meaning Bear's a fictional ad on to the class 35.

[@MissPark21]

The boulder caught me off guard.

[@goobius-gooberton-the-3rd]

fly high to those engines we have lost, we will not forget them they were useful, but a torch got to its cutting,

[@WorcoEntertainment]

Do really want to see one on the trains beyond series 5

[@Jef2017Offical]

Sad fact: real life is the bad ending for Thomas because Diesels are the reason the e2 class tank engine was scrapped

[@marianevans6558]

I saw most of those and I was aloud to stand on Peter Sam !

[@bensmith9491]

Gasp! You covered Boulder but not Thumper?

[@Littlelmaginations14]

I would like to think donald survived as he was the one supposed to survive, douglas came tagging along to save himself from scrap

[@Triple7Productions806]

Technically Oliver and duck were scrapped because duck was 5741 and Oliver was 1436. Both of these were real and were sadly scraped

[@giantfightingroboto]

Starting to think I didn't research this as well as I should have... thanks for pointing that out

[@Triple7Productions806]

Same also goes for boco. He was scrapped

[@Fuzzy_1304]

I mean, IDK if a Tram Engine with 4 wheels count, because basically, what I heard from a friend of mine, a J70 I think was getting a rebuilt, but it was actually a Tram Engine that looked like Toby, but only with 4 wheels, so IDK if it's really Toby

[@shadowcat314]

I was driving on a highway somewhere in Virginia a few months ago, and I saw THOMAS on a flatbed trailer. He had a mask over his face.