Splatter and Dodge

**Splatter** and **Dodge** (collectively referred to by Diesel 10 as **"Splodge"**, a portmanteau of their names) are two diesel engines, who were Diesel 10's bumbling minions.

## Contents

* 1 Biography
	+ 1.1 Thomas and the Magic Railroad
* 2 Personalities
* 3 Technical Details
	+ 3.1 Basis
	+ 3.2 Livery
* 4 Appearances
* 5 Trivia
* 6 Merchandise
* 7 References

## Biography

### *Thomas and the Magic Railroad*

Splatter and Dodge are two diesel shunters who (at one point) worked alongside Diesel 10 who referred to them as "Splodge", claiming he did not have time to say both names. They did not take a liking to their boss when he collectively referred to them as "Splodge" and grew impatient with them when they asked him questions about his scheme. They were also seen moving rolling stock at Tidmouth Sheds.

At Diesel 10's Mountain, Diesel 10 wanted to get rid of the railway's steam engines as well as the lost engine. Splatter and Dodge were complacent with his plans, regularly keeping a lookout for their boss and being present when he was scheming. As time went on, Splatter and Dodge spent their time mocking their boss and pointing out the flaws in his scheme. This caused Diesel 10 to lose his temper and cause problems.

They first arrived at Diesel 10's mountain and he tells them about his plan to destroy the lost engine for good and the other steam engines. But Splatter and Dodge remind him that Mr. Conductor was coming. But it didn't bother Diesel 10. Because he was gonna get him as well. Intending to kill him with his claw. then "Pinchy" whacked Diesel 10 in the face. Much to Splatter and Dodge's amusement.

They arrived at Tidmouth Sheds and spied on the steam engines, until Harold flew by, spreading sneezing powder, dumped by Diesel 10, over Thomas and them. The next day they arrived at the Smelter's Yard and listened to Diesel 10's plan to destroy the lost engine and the other engines. Toby however overheard their plans and rang his bell to distract Diesel 10, causing his claw to knock the shed over the diesels and trapping them.

They later showed how useful they could be to Diesel 10 when they found the Magic Buffers. But instead of going through them, they decided to tell Diesel 10 the following morning after being frightened by an owl. Percy saw this and went back to warn Thomas.

However, the two eventually grew tired of Diesel 10 and when he tried to chase down Lady and Thomas, they refused to follow him and told him to do his own dirty work.

What happened to them after that is unknown, although it can be assumed they returned to the Mainland after being found out by Sir Topham Hatt.

## Personalities

Both engines are simple-minded, awkward, cowardly and tend to banter. Splatter is the more talkative of the two, while Dodge is more intelligent. Although Percyfears them, they do not have the intelligence or villainy to match Diesel 10's. They enjoy watching Diesel 10's plans backfire, but are also prone to making a mess of things. Despite initially siding with Diesel 10, they seem reluctant to destroy a fellow engine, even a steam engine, and eventually abandon Diesel 10 in the end. They also seem to have a poor vocabulary, such as when they used the word "emphatically" as they left Diesel 10 to do the chasing, even though they had no idea what the word meant.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Splatter and Dodge were originally based on freelance designs. In the final cut of Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Splatter and Dodge are based on British Rail (BR) Class 08 diesel-electric shunters. In the real world, BR Class 08s were in fact the most successful shunting engines in the world with 996 of them built. Over seventy of them are preserved by heritage railways, such as the Dean Forest Railway and museums, such as the National Railway Museum. Around one-hundred BR Class 08s also remain in service on the national rail network.

Diesel, Arry, Bert, Paxton, Sidney, Ulli, the Mainland Diesels and Fernando are also based on BR Class 08s along with the international orange, blue and Chinesediesels. Two BR Class 08s also appear in the *Railway Series*. Unlike these engines, Splatter and Dodge along with 'Arry and Bert have been modified without ladders going up on the sides of their fronts.

Splatter and Dodge's basis

### Livery

Splatter is painted purple and grey while Dodge is painted olive and grey, both with their names painted on their sides in white. Their paint also shows signs of weathering.