Class 40

## D261

**Andy**, also known as, **D261**, **Bowler** and **Class 40**, is a diesel engine who once visited the NWR on loan from British Railways.

## Bio:

Bowler was built at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Meadows, Lancashire, England. Class 40 was sent to Sodor in 1962 to assist the engines with goods and express work towards the end of Stepney's visit, but he only insulted the other engines by saying they were scrapped and replaced by diesel engines. He got his comeuppance when an inspector's bowler hat jammed in his air intake, causing him to break down and to become as sick as boiler sludge. He sulked in the shed while Duck and Stepney took the Express for him to Crovan's Gate.

While everyone was fare-welling Stepney, a sad Bowler crept away, leaving behind "a rather nasty smell of bad manners and a battered bowler hat".

In 1963, he was talking with Spamcan, Old-Stuck Up and Bear about how his visit to Sodor went, interrupting BoCo's sleep. Because he stated that they don't need to learn as they are revolutionary, he was stared by Bear and BoCo with the others.

In 1964, Bowler, Spamcan, and Bear were talking with a diesel shunter who was telling them about a group of steam engines she spotted while passing through Oxford. He grew annoyed on how some steam engines wouldn't just accept their faith, he then mentioned that he heard word that the Diesel Justice Division are after the rouge steam engines which most of the other diesels shuttered of hearing about them. He wished Naval good luck as she was going to go to Gloucester to see what was going on there, he then cringed when she brought up the bowler hat incident as she left.

In 1969, he briefly past by the hiding steam engines while pulling a passenger train and later met up with Old-Stuck Up and Spamcan to discover Geoffrey off the rails. Unlike the other diesels, he kept listening to Geoffrey's words, un-shocked, and ordered Old-Stuck Up to bring him to their owner.

In 1986, Bowler arrived at Euston Station late to collect his passenger service as his engine took some time to start up as he was explaining to Spamcan while they were waiting. They even talked about the newer diesel engines that were taking the older one's place commenting that they at least sort resembled the first generation diesels, their conversation was interrupted by Pip and Emma who pulled into the station. The HST but mostly Pip began boasting on how fast and modern they are, Bowler commented that speed isn't everything as long as the passengers get to their destinations safely to which Spamcan asked him if one of the steam engines told them that in the past. When Pip and Emma mentioned the North Western Railway, Bowler hesitated on what he was going to say next before the HST departed with their service, he confessed to Spamcan that he felt like he had a flashback before the class 46 told him to shake off that feeling as they departed the station, though Bowler had a few difficulties and almost overheated. Later that night, Bowler pulled into Crewe Station with his passenger train and witness Diesel looking sad about the train of scrap that arrived in as another member of his class was on that train. He questioned Diesel about it to which the diesel shunter explained that the one on the scrap train was the 20th member to be withdrawn from service and that other scrapyards were scrapping the rest of the class 08 shunters left to right as they were the easy pickings to get scrapped first. The next day while pulling his passenger service to York Station, Bowler was surprised to see Deltic at the station who was an old friend, the class 55 was surprised to see Bowler as well. He asked Deltic where he had been over the last 23 years to which Deltic explained that he was withdrawn in 1961 and got preserved at the National Railway Museum being part of the National Railway Collection explaining that it was a safe heaven for old engines to get preserved and saved. At first Bowler thought it was a whole museum filled with diesels, but Deltic explained that diesels were only a small portion of the museum and that it was mainly held in popularity for steam engines. Bowler was annoyed with this and told Deltic how the steam engines always seemed to hog all the attention away from them, but to the class 40's surprise Deltic suddenly defended the steam engines and told him off for being rude towards them. Deltic then told the class 40 just because he's still operating that he'll go on forever, but it doesn't work like that. He then told Bowler he once thought the same thing but that he failed to realize that he was just only a prototype of the BR Class 55s and how they were now being replaced and scrapped along with other diesels. Bowler questioned why BR would want to scrap them giving how revolutionary they have been for years to which Deltic said that if the hammer keeps forging and the minds keep thinking that they'll always keep building newer stronger machines, while explaining that they maybe immortal their engines are not and that a locomotive's life stands between 10 to 20 years or to those that aren't so lucky. Deltic even mentioned that he now regrets how he treated the steam engines in the past and that it would take time before they would all get along while also giving Bowler a piece of advice to keep his friends close and if an opportunity to get preserve comes along to take it, but also to treasure it and not take it for granted before he departed with his rail tour. Later that night at the sheds, Bowler along with Spamcan and Old Stuck-Up continued their discussion on BR talking about all the lies they were told when they were new. He even commented that their days were numbered and that it was only a matter of time before the three of them will get scrapped next. During the conversation, they each revealed their real names to each other with Spamcan first revealing his real name to be Ted, while Bowler revealed his real name to be Andy and Old Stuck-Up revealed his real name to be Johnny; thinking that any day they would soon be scrapped. However a man who was a representative of the East Lancashire Railway asked Bowler if he'd like to be preserved on their railway, Bowler agreed to it but requested if Spamcan and Old Stuck-Up could be preserved with him. The representative explained he would have to talk to the owner about Bowler's request, but told him he was sure they could pull a few strings before leaving to make the arrangements. Old Stuck-Up told Bowler that he really didn't have to do that, but Bowler mentioned that he wasn't going to let his two friends get scrapped and mentioned the exact same words Deltic told him. After a few days, Bowler, Spamcan, and Old Stuck-Up got preserved on the East Lancashire Railway. At Heywood Station, the three diesels were approached by Diesel 10, Splatter, Dodge, Diesel, and Dennis asking if this was a heritage railway and how they have a diesel that wants to be preserved which turned out to be Dennis. Bowler mentioned that they can keep him around and shortly into their conversation, he, Spamcan, and Old Stuck-Up were shocked to realize they were talking with Diesel 10 as they remember hearing about the time he attacked a steam engine with his claw. He offered that if Diesel 10 ever needed a place to stay that he can come back any time. After they left, Dennis tried introduce himself, but shut up when Bowler said he didn't care.

In 2012, Bowler along with Spamcan and Old Stuck-Up kicked Diesel 10, Splatter, and Dodge off of their railway and how they were tired of getting involved with his crazy plans to take over Sodor. They even called him a coward as Diesel 10 didn't have the heart to scrap a fellow diesel and threatened that if he ever came back to the East Lancashire Railway, they would send him and his henchmen to railgate.

## Appearances:

### The Adventures on Sodor:

#### Season 1:

* Steamies Vs Diesels \*not named: cameo\*

#### Specials:

* 2019- 1963 Times of Change
* 2020- 1969 The Resistance
* 2021- 1986 A Cruel Irony
* 2022- 1964 A Turn For The Worst

## Technical Details:

### Basis:

Class 40 is based on a BR Class 40 1Co-Co1. Old Stuck-Up are also members of this class. 200 members of this class was built from 1958 to 1962, and the last was withdrawn in 1985. They where given the nickname "Whistlers" because of the strange whistling noise their engines would make. Over seven Class 40s are preserved with the first built, D200, at the National Railway Museum.

Class 40's television series number belonged to a real Class 40. The real D261 entered service on the 26th of February 1960 and in 1973 It was repainted into "RailBlue" colours (though in the series was kept in green) and renumbered to 40 061 until the engine was withdrawn from service in 1983 and scrapped at Crewe in March the following year. However, D261 in Mra's series was preserved and kept in working condition.

### Livery:

BR two-tone green with a black roof and yellow warning panels. In real life however in 1973 would be repainted in coporate Blue livery,

## Trivia:

* Bowler's personality was heavily inspired by Shockwave from Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.
* His name is revealed to be Andy in 1986.
	+ His name "Andy" likely comes from Leokimvideo's video "Mad Bomber" video.