Daisy

* **Class**: BR Class 101
* **Designer**: Metro-Cammell
* **Builder**: Washwood Heath Works
* **Built**: March 1960
* **Configuration**: Bo-Bo
* **Top Speed**: 75 mph
* **Arrived on Sodor**: May 1960

"*Look at me, I'm the latest diesel. Highly sprung and right up to date!*"
— Daisy

**Daisy** is a unique Metro-Cammell diesel railcar who lives and works on the Ffarquhar Branch Line. She was the first diesel-engined rolling stock to enter permanent service on the North Western Railway upon her arrival in 1960. She briefly also worked on the Harwick Branch Line.

## Biography

Following the publication of British Railways' modernisation plan in 1955, steam locomotives were being phased out across the UK in favour of diesel traction - however the North Western Region on the Island of Sodor refused to follow the initiative; its first trail of a diesel locomotive, an 0-6-0 shunter in 1957, having gone disastrously, and it refused to trial a second. Hoping to convince the regional controller, Sir Charles Topham Hatt, of the merits of diesel traction, in 1960 the Railway Executive commissioned Metro-Cammell to construct a railcar variation of its successful DMU design - the resulting unit emerged in March, as a 65 seat driving motor composite (DMC), and underwent some testing on Birmingham local services.

Railcars and DMUs had proven effective at operating cheap and efficient services on rural branch lines, of which Sodor had many, and a railcar had been chosen specifically so it could, at least initially, operate a supplementary service to a steam hauled one - with the Executive hoping the increased efficiency of such a service would persuade Sir Topham to supplant the steam service with a DMU one. To further sweeten the deal, the Executive offered to cover all operational costs for the next 25 years, including the hiring of a personal fitter for the railcar. Despite the offer, Sir Topham Hatt initially refused, suspecting BR's motives behind the offer.

Circumstances would, however, would force Sir Topham into accepting the offer, when Thomas crashed into the Stationmaster's House at Ffarquhar, and required an extensive overhaul. Needing an immediate replacement, Sir Topham accepted the railcar from the Board, and she would be despatched from Metro-Cammell to Sodor with her fitter, Mr Evan Jones, an experienced Metro-Cammell employee of some 10 years. In.

She was sent to the Ffarquhar Branch Line, but quickly proved to be troublesome and lazy

## Persona

Daisy is a diesel railcar, who has been known to consider herself "highly sprung and right up to date". She was brought to help run passenger services on Thomas' Branch Line, while Thomas was "indisposed" after running into the stationmaster's house. She can be hard to please, mostly indignant, and highly opinionated. She is extremely authoritative, trustworthy, and confident in herself and can sometimes boast of her abilities in particular situations, unconcerned, despite having never actually been in such a position before. She will sometimes presume she can show other engines a thing or two, despite knowing little on the matter, until she actually learns for herself.

After arriving on Sodor, Daisy insisted that she required delicate handling and considered pulling trucks and vans to be below her. She was very lazy and stubborn, but the Fat Controller spoke severely to her, telling her that his engines must work hard and that he sends lazy engines away. However, the Fat Controller felt she deserved another chance after she worked hard clearing up after an accident Percy had. Daisy is now good friends with the other engines on Thomas' Branch Line, tries to work much harder to be a useful engine and is better capable of handling things alone. Daisy can be described as a self-obsessed diva.

## Livery

Daisy is painted in British Railways' Brunswick green DMU livery with yellow lining. The number "D1" is painted on her cab sides in white. The BR "Cycling Lion" crest was formerly painted on her sides.

She wears makeup, including eyelashes, red lipstick, blush and blue eyeshadow.

## Trivia

* Daisy is unique for being the only railcar in her class. All others were 2 to 4 piece multiple units.