Belle

**Belle the Firefighting Tank Engine** is one of the deuteragonists of the SeventyVerse and the twenty-ninth engine on the North Western Railway. However, she was the twenty-eighth engine purchased for the North Western Railway.

## Backstory

On the mainland, Belle worked on the Eastern Region of BR. It's unknown if she knew anybody from Sodor or the Rolling Hills Railway. On Sodor, she was given a special rebuild where she became a firefighting engine.

## Search and Rescue crew

### Flynn

Flynn looks up to Belle as something of an older sister figure, and the two are very efficient in emergencies. Their first rescue on Sodor together was saving Thomas from the burning Dieselworks.

### Rocky

Though any engine can take Rocky to various emergencies, it's typically Belle who does this... when she isn't busy fighting fires that is. The two very well together to keep engines calm during the rescue operations.

### Harold

Belle sees Harold as a form of authority in the SS&R team, being on the island the longest. She often awaits instructions from him before she sets off on her task.

### Butch

Belle and Butch are both very calm and sturdy in the cases of emergencies. When there's an accident at the crossing, Belle will take Rocky and Butch follows alongside, often keeping those involved in the crashes calm.

### Captain

Belle and Captain aren't terribly close, but Belle knows she can rely on Captain to rescue those stranded in the ocean.

## Other relationships

### Thomas

Belle really impressed Thomas when she put out a fire on the Ffarqhuar branch. Their relationship only got better after Thomas was rescued by Belle himself.

### Percy

Much like Thomas, Percy was impressed with Belle putting out a fire on the branch. He was relieved when Belle and Flynn later rescued Thomas from the fire at the Dieselworks.

### Gordon

Belle once took Gordon's express while he had to cover her goods train, much to his dismay. However, Belle does look up to Gordon as a somewhat idol, as she heard stories of his more humble side.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Belle is based on a British Railways Standard Class 4MT tank engine with added water cannons, brass bell, and electric headlamps. These tank engines were a development of the LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T and were used for commuter and outer suburban services. They were used on all regions of BR, except the Western Region, and remained in service until 1967. Fifteen of these engines are preserved, three at the Bluebell Railway. Unlike her basis, Belle has a much longer and much thinner smokebox. (In-universe, this was due to a rebuild she had around the 60s).

The engine Belle is specifically based on, 80120, was built on the 6th of July, 1955, withdrawn 1st of May 1967, and scrapped that same month.

Lawrence is also based on a BR Standard Class 4MT tank engine.

### Livery

Belle is painted royal blue with red and gold lining and brass fittings. She has the number "29" painted in gold on her side tanks and a coat of arms consisting of a flame, two dolphins and a crown painted on her bunker sides. Her water cannons and wheels are painted red, with the latter having blue rims.

## Differences from the episodes

* Belle made her debut in *Day of the Diesels* in the actual series. In this one, she made her debut in the *Victor Says Yes* rewrite, *Backlogged.* She was a secret project for the SS&RC until the DotD rewrite, *Diesel 10 Strikes Back*.
* In the actual series, Belle appeared after Scruff was introduced. In this series, she appeared before Scruff.
* In the actual series, Belle's number was 6120. In this series, her old number was 80120; a real life Standard Class 4 who worked on the Eastern Region of BR. Her current number on Sodor is 29.