Roderick

## Bio:

In 1964, Roderick and the rest of the Diesel Justice Division were at Doncaster Works intricating a diesel shunter who let two steam engines escape scrap. He then instructed Western to pull the diesel out of the wreckage as the diesel shunter was still alive and so he could say his final words to the diesel. Once the diesel shunter was pulled out of the wreckage, Roderick talked with him for a bit about his friend Levi, about his claw, and how the diesel shunter himself is a traitor to the diesel cause with the diesel shunter muttering his apology before being killed by Roderick with Levi, Western, Goyle, and Whistler watching on. They spent the night looking for the two steam engines and they ended up spending the night at Trent station. The following morning Western was the first to notice a goods train left on the other platform which was enough for Roderick to tell that the escaped engines are beginning to form their own team to find salvation. Goyle grinned at the thought of more steam engines to scrap, but Roderick reminded him that they don't scrap steam engines anymore and that they have orders from British Railways to hunt down any rogue steam engines to take back to their respective scrapyards before they can start a revolution. The DJD headed up to Paddington station to talk to head office if they've heard any word about any reports of any rogue steam engines, while there Roderick smacked some senses into Goyle who was complaining about how looking for the rogue steam engines was taking forever and how Roderick was going soft as he was only doing what BR was telling him to do. They later learned that a group of rogue steam engines were seen at Oxford and were heading west. They headed to Gloucester where they confronted Shaw Savill, Duchess, Ryan, Barry, Richard, Maria, Lucas, and Meryl. However the DJD were forced to stand down when Shaw took Simon a BR Class 01 diesel shunter hostage. They camped out in the yards of Gloucester for the whole day with Roderick trying to keep his fellow diesels in line and how they do things. Goyle and Whistler suggested that they should just charge in to capture them and also kill Simon thinking he's a traitor to the diesel cause, but Roderick stated that Simon is innocent and hasn't done anything against the diesel cause and that it's not his fault for being a hostage. He then went to get refuel and vented his frustrations to Levi how the other three diesels seem to urge him to use brut force when they have strict orders not to harm any of them. Yet Levi is the only one who is loyal to him as he is the newest addition to their group, Levi explained ever since his terrible accident on the S&D everyone teased him for how he looks and Roderick was the only one who was nice to him. As the two returned back to the sheds, Roderick noticed Shaw Savill's glasses and picked them up with his claw. Shortly Naval pulled up to the group to see what the situation was and to try and ask Roderick to look the other way, but Roderick stated that it isn't possible and that they have orders from BR to capture steam engines that don't have clearance to run on the main line. That night Shaw called him over to have a chat with him, the two engines talked for a bit with Shaw stating that he wanted to make a deal with him that he and his henchmen can take the other steam engines in exchange that he and Maria are spared, but Roderick told him it was a no deal on his behalf and that they do their job with no deviations, and they hunt down steam engines that breaks the rules of British Railways. He then started explaining that steam engines are stuck in their own little worlds where everything is perfect and he could tell that Shaw was trying to lead the group to Crewe to restart his little club like he use to back at Nine Elms Sheds, but he told him that they would've met Diesel 10 if they ended up there and that what he and the other diesels are about to do is consider mercy than what his master would do to them. Roderick then told Shaw for him and the rest of the steam engines to surrender themselves to make it easy for everyone and that they have one hour to decide which he stated that if he made it any difficult he would be in worse condition than his glasses which he breaks even further with his claw in front of Shaw. Shortly after his conversation with Shaw, Roderick was called over by Duchess who explained that she was trying to set Simon free, he was surprised by the sudden turn of the events, but he explained that it doesn't change anything of what was going to happen to her and the rest of her group, Duchess understood and explain that she and the others want to get as far away from Shaw as possible. Roderick told her for her and the others to stand down and that they would target Shaw Savill, but after that they were all going to be sent back to their respective scrapyards to which Duchess understood. After Duchess went back to the group, Simon told Roderick that they do seem like nice engines and to go easy on them. After the steam engines were apprehended, Roderick instructed Levi, Goyle, and Whistler to take the steam engines back to their scrapyards while he and Western would take Ryan back to Doncester and Duchess back to Crewe where he would leave Western to get checked over for any damage. The following morning they arrived at Doncester Works where he allowed Ryan and Duchess to say their goodbyes. As they got prepared for the journey to Crewe, Roderick commenting on how much of a good leader Duchess was, but that she needed more confidences in herself and told her to remember that if there would be a next time before he and Western took her back to Crewe.

In 1967, Roderick and some other diesel engines were alongside a signal box near an old quarry branch where Oliver, Isabel and Toad briefly hid to escape scrap. Oliver described the diesels as "baying and growling like hounds outside", and he felt very frightened.

## Appearances:

* 2022- 1964 A Turn For The Worst
* 2023- Liz's Journey The Beginning (mentioned)

## Technical Details:

Roderick is based on a BR Class 28 Co-Bo diesel-electric engine with an added non-regulation hydraulic claw. These engines were initially used on the "Condor" express freight services but the class's Crossley engines quickly proved problematic. They suffered frequent failures, and in 1961 the entire class was handed back to the manufacturer for remedial work on the engines, and to cure problems with cab windows falling out while running. Upon return to service in 1962, all members of the class were allocated to Barrow-in-Furness. The real engines were not so fortunate, and most were withdrawn and scrapped by 1969.

## Trivia:

* Roderick's personality is based on Tarn from the IDW Comics Transformers (2005 storyline): More Than Meets The Eye.