Norman

**Norman** is a red/orange diesel with a unibrow. He is often seen working around Vicarstown. He has a twin named Dennis.

## History

### Thomas & Friends

Before coming to Sodor, Norman worked at a busy marshalling yard on the Mainland, but kept breaking down due to faults in his design. He was only able to shunt a few wagons at a time, which led the yard manager to believe Norman was simply lazy. He was later transferred to Sodor along with Paxton and Sidney, where he was delighted to find his twin, Dennis.

Norman was one of the diesels who took over the Sodor Steamworks. He later laughed at Flynn for not being able to rescue Thomas. Norman told Percy that Sidney had been on his hoist for two years and was there when he was given his new wheels. He also offered Thomas and Gordon a place to sleep at Vicarstown Dieselworks when the turntable at Tidmouth Sheds was frozen. When Gordon refused the offer (due to the fact he hates the smell of the oil), Thomas was left to sleep there.

Norman was at the Dieselworks when Paxton returned after looking for him, Diesel, Sidney, Den and Dart.

When the Great Railway Show was being held, Norman was one of the engines who were hoping to be picked to compete but wasn't. Norman was later involved in an accident with Thomas, resulting in the tank engine being unable to compete in the Great Railway Show until he had to.

Sometime later, he helped the other diesels do the steam engines' work when the coal delivery was delayed.

Then, Norman was one of the diesels who got in to trouble by not doing their jobs properly due to Diesel playing a trick on Rebecca so she could do the jobs and end up in the wrong place.

## Personality

Norman's shape resembles that of his twin Dennis, but he is a diesel engine who is much kinder and more willing to work. He wants to be liked by all the engines, whether they be steam or diesel engines. So he does his part at the Vicarstown Dieselworks and follows all of his orders; in fact Norman is so efficient, Sir Topham Hatt holds him in high regard.

However, poor Norman often breaks down and he does not like that. Unlike Dennis (who is lazy), if Norman were fixed properly he would show what a Really Useful Engine he can be. He is also willing to help another engine in trouble.

## Livery

Norman is painted orange-red with yellow lining and a dark grey roof. His paint is chipped in places and shows signs of weathering

## Appearances

* Season 2 - Double Crane Trouble (*cameo*) and Ryan's New Friend (*cameo*)
* Season 3 - Emily's Misadventure (*cameo*)

## Trivia

* Despite Norman's bio which claims he is always called by his nickname "**Norm**", he is only ever referred to by his full name rather than his nickname. He shares this dilemma with Paxton and Sidney.
* Norman's transmission wheel changed from red to black in the seventeenth series.
* Norman is the only vehicle character to have a unibrow.
* In *Day of the Diesels*, Norman shared Mavis' horn sound from *Calling All Engines!*, and he shared his later horn sound with Dart.
* Norman, along with Paxton, was never named in Day of the Diesels with the exception of the song.
* Norman is the only character introduced in *Day of the Diesels* to not have a *Thomas & Friends* episode dedicated to him.
* Norman is the only standard gauge diesel in the CGI series to not have a headlamp.
* According to the writer's bible of 2013, Norman and Dennis have canonically met, but were never established to meeting in the CGI series, as Dennis never appears there. This leaves Charlie and Billy, the only twins that haven't been acknowledge as twins.

## Quotes

> There's room for another engine at the Dieselworks, if one of you wants to sleep there. - Norman offering Thomas and Gordon a place to sleep at the Dieselworks for the night.
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> It's been about two years. - Norman telling Percy how long Sidney has been on the hoist.
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