Raul

**Raul the Competitive Engine** is a supporting character in the Seventyverse and comes from Brazil.

## Backstory

Raul was selected to participate in the Great Railway Show as part of the Shunting Challenge and was on the same ship as Ashima, Rajiv, Shane, Vinnie, Yong Bao, Etienne, Axel, Frieda, Gina, Carlos, Ivan and Gabriela. Unfortunately, they would end up stranded on Sodor when the ship they're on breaks down. During this time, the engines helped around the island, with Raul covering for Oliver on the Little Western. However, Raul proved to be reckless and during his practice run, one of Raul's vans rolled away with him. During the Great Railway Show, however, Raul did a lot better for real and his showboating annoyed Gina and Ivan to the point where they made mistakes. The smug smile was soon wiped off Raul's face when he came third to Ashima (second) and Percy (first), even demanding a rematch and accusing them of being on Welsh coal.

## Personality

Raul is a feisty little tank engine from sunny Brazil who is an eager competitor. Playful as he is, his competitive nature often proves to be an annoyance in simple things such as playing a game, as he is a bit of a sore loser and does not like it when things do not go his way. Additionally, he has a bit of an ego when they do go his way. He also makes everything into a contest if he can, using unfair advantages to win if he is desperate enough. After being saved by Duck during a contest, he admitted that he was hoping to beat him at something after losing the Great Railway Show, but was more satisfied with being friends rather than rivals.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Raul is based on a series of three vertical-boiler steam locomotives built by Sentinel in 1931 for the São Paulo Railway. The real engine carrying his number was in service at the Amsted Maxion railway equipment factory in Cruzeiro, Brazil from 1959 until October 2014. In 2015, it and classmate 167 were preserved by the ABPF; the third engine, 168, had been scrapped decades before. Their withdrawal marked the end of the commercial use of steam locomotives in Brazil. 166 is currently dismantled and undergoing restoration. Raul is specifically based on number 168.

Raul's basis is built to run on broad gauge rails, whereas Raul is standard gauge. The Brazilian Steam Engine is also based on a series of three vertical-boiler steam locomotives built by Sentinel and has the same modifications as Raul.

### Livery

Raul is painted yellow, blue and green with blue lining. He has yellow and black hazard stripes painted across his running board and buffer beams and his number 166 is painted on the sides of his cab in white, surrounded by a blue diamond. His wheels are grey with white rims.

## Differences between the episodes and the series

* In the original special, Raul was a background character. In the adaptation, Raul was given a bigger role with his competitive nature at play.
* In the original special, it was unknown what Raul's placement in the Shunting Challenge was. In the adaptation, Raul came third.
* In the original series, Thomas went to Brazil. In this series, Duck went instead, as set up in *The Great Railway Show* rewrite.

## Trivia

* The preserved voice actor for Raul is Federico Trujillo who voiced Raul in the BWBA era.
* Raul's number is SPR No. 166. The real engine with that number is preserved as of 2015.
* In an older version of Emily and The Great Railway Show, Raul was said to have broken a record, only for it to later be broken by Ashima and Percy. In the updated version, Raul didn't break any records.