Donald and Douglas

Donald and Douglas, originally known by their old numbers, 57646 and 57647, are a pair of blue goods engines from Scotland who live and work on the Island of Sodor, and are the North Western Railway's number 9 and 10 engines respectively. The pair currently work as utility engines wherever and whenever they are needed, primarily on the Main Line, the Brendam Branch Line and the Little Western. Douglas has his own brake van, Toad.
==Biography==
Donald and Douglas were designed by John F. McIntosh and built by the St. Rollox Works for the Caledonian Railway in 1909. Upon nationalisation, they became part of the Scottish Region of British Railways, where they were renumbered 57646 and 57647. In 1959, Sir Topham Hatt needed a goods engine and by his request, BR decided to transfer 57646 (Donald) to Sodor.
To Sir Topham Hatt's surprise though, two engines arrived. Donald's twin Douglas (57647) could not stand to be separated from his brother and was smart enough to realise he would eventually be scrapped if he stayed in Scotland. Unfortunately for Sir Topham Hatt and any other worker, neither engine could be told apart: both claimed to have forgotten their numbers and indeed their number plates had "slyly slipped off" during the journey from Scotland. This caused the Fat Controller to keep both until he could determine which engine was freeloading on his hospitality. It was later revealed that this piece of skullduggery had been planned not only by the two engines but also by their drivers and firemen, who were related as well.
The Fat Controller was unaware of Douglas' motive and threatened the two that whichever engine he found out to be the truant would be sent home. Both engines resolved to give outstanding service so that Sir Topham Hatt would want to keep both of them. This plan quickly went to pieces, however, after Douglas accidentally shunted Thomas' special coach, full of passengers, into a siding at Tidmouth, causing a great deal of fury for the passengers. Things went from bad to worse when Donald crashed into a signal box at Tidmouth and Douglas accidentally destroyed a Spiteful Brake Van, who had caused trouble for him earlier.
Despite all this grief, the twins' professionalism, competency, strong work ethic and personable natures had begun to win them support, particularly when they demonstrated an aptitude for snowplough work that they had learned in Scotland. After rescuing Henry from just such a snowy ordeal, the other engines came over to Donald and Douglas' side which ultimately led to the engines of Sodor taking industrial action. After a suggestion by Edward and being pushed into it by Gordon, Percy was presented to the Fat Controller as a deputation to argue the twins' case on their behalf and pleading that if they were sent away, they would be scrapped. Although Sir Topham Hatt did not approve or appreciate them trying to interfere with his decision-making, he understood the engines' feelings upon the matters of saving steam engines and scrapping in general. In the end, Percy's statement and the twins' excellent performance was enough for The Fat Controller to take pity on the twins and keep both. He demonstrated this intent with an offer of a fresh coat of paint for both engines, as well as giving them both nameplates to avoid any more confusion.
==Personalities==
Donald and Douglas are Scottish twin engines. They are practical, peppery, proud and level-minded, but, despite their maturity, they enjoy playing practical jokes and have been known to impersonate one another in the past. They were fitted with nameplates to specifically end this element of their humour.
Donald and Douglas are very able workers, strong performers and handle any task well. They are fully capable of being firm with the other big engines, such as Gordon and Henry and even the Troublesome Trucks know better than to try their tricks on them. They are both used to harsh winter conditions too. Coupled back to back, with a coach between their tenders, they are very capable of patrolling the lines, clearing them of the snow. The twins both pull their weight on the Main Line and both Duck and Edward's branch lines. They can enjoy a joke with any engine. They are happy to act as the brawn of the Fat Controller's steam-driven goods haulers. Both are smart. Between the two, Donald tends to be the charming, witty joker whereas Douglas is the quick-thinking, calmer-natured one of the pair. Both display a keen sense of wit and the pair usually get to have the last laugh, more often taking the moral high ground. But that does not mean they will not be just a little bit smug about it when a deserving engine meets their comeuppance.
Donald and Douglas hate to be parted from each other, but, like most twins, they occasionally have their arguments among themselves and can squabble with one another. Donald and Douglas previously had a strong dislike of diesels, however over time their dislike for diesels has softened and they appear to have grown accustomed to their diesel companions.
==Technical Details==
===Basis===
Donald and Douglas are both based on Caledonian Railway (CR) McIntosh 812 Class 0-6-0 goods engines. Their numbers, however, would realistically place them in the 652 sub-class. One example, No. 828, survives in preservation.
File:DonaldandDouglas'basis.jpg|Donald and Douglas' basis
===Livery===
Donald and Douglas are painted in British Railways (BR) black livery with white and red lining on their cabs and tenders. Their numbers (9 and 10 respectively) are painted on their tenders in yellow with red outlines. They have black running boards and valances with red bufferbeams. The pair also have brass nameplates with red backing, mounted on either side of their smokebox.
== Appearances ==
=== Red Panda Express ===
* Broken Trust 
=== Movie ===
* Red Panda Express 
== Trivia ==
*Either one of the twins can be briefly seen sleeping at Tidmouth Sheds in Broken Trust.
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Tender engines
Category:0-6-0
Category:North Western Railway
Category:The Little Western
Category:The Main Line
Category:Awdry-created characters
Category:Twins
Category:Male characters
Category:Standard gauge
Category:Scotland