City of Truro

**City of Truro** is a famous tender engine from the Great Western Railway, who once visited the Island of Sodor. He is believed to be the first engine in the world to attain the speed of 100 mph.

## Bio:

In 1969, City of Truro and Earl of Berkeley arrived into Oxford station with their rail tour. While at the platform, Truro greeted Eliza who was shunting nearby and introduced himself. When he asked Eliza how far she travels, the GWR saddle tank explained that she wasn't allowed to leave the shunting yards because of Mr. Stevens and Meryl telling her the dangers of the world. Truro admitted that Meryl is only partly right, but that she doesn't know everything. He then told Eliza about his visit to the Island of Sodor back in 1957 and how it is save heaven for steam engines to be preserved, he also mentioned that during his visit, he met a green saddle tank engine asking if he knew Eliza. The GWR Saddle Tank asked the famous engine if his name was Peter, Truro told her that engine said his name is Percy who told the famous engine that he is her little brother. Eliza was overjoyed to know that her brother was still alive and knew she had to get to Sodor. Truro told her that she would never get clearance on BR, though Berkeley suggested that she could sneak away at night mentioning Oliver's escape to Sodor back in 1967. Both Truro and Berkeley encourage Eliza to do the same, but she was very reluctant to do that as she worried that Meryl would freak out if she found out that she was escaping and feared that the diesels would catch her if she tried to escape, but Truro told her that he will deal with Meryl and for her to take the chance to find her brother after so long before both Truro and Berkeley were escorted to the sheds by Western. That night at Didcot sheds, Truro and Earl woke Eliza up and told her that now was the time for her to make her escape to Sodor to reunite with her brother even though she worried what Mr. Stevens and Meryl would say if they found out she was escaping, Truro encouraged her to go the distance to find her little brother and told her that he will deal Meryl, while Berkeley told Eliza that they'll just say she was taking away for scrap as a cover story. Both Truro and Berkeley wished Eliza good luck as she left Didcot. The following morning, Meryl woke up to discover that Eliza was gone and panicked that she left the yards, but Truro told her that Mr. Stevens sent her to the works to be repaired. However that cover story was blown when Sidney arrived at the sheds and Mr. Stevens asked where Eliza is as she was to be replaced by Sidney. The cover story was completely blown when Western pulled up saying he overheard her mentioning about going to the Island of Sodor as he was awake that night, much to the shock of Truro, Berkeley, and Meryl as Mr. Stevens left to inform BR about Eliza's escape. Meryl was about to head off to search for Eliza, but Truro stopped her and told the GWR Castle that even if she did bring Eliza back, she wouldn't be safe at Didcot and be sent off for scrap. He then reassured Meryl that Sodor would be a safe place for Eliza before he and Berkeley left to take their rail tour.

## Personality:

City of Truro and Duck got on very well during his stay on Sodor, talking about their Great Western heritage and ways. He sparked jealousy within Gordon, and gave him ambition to break City of Truro's record but to no avail. In addition, Edward and Duck described him as "*the finest engine in the world*".

## Appearances:

### Specials:

* 2019- 1963 Times Of Change (mentioned)
* 2022- 1964 A Turn For The Worst (after credits)
* 2023- Liz's Journey The Beginning (official debut)

## Technical Details:

City of Truro is based on the real locomotive of the same name, built in 1903 for the Great Western Railway (GWR) at Swindon Works, to a design by George Jackson Churchward. Debatably, City of Truro broke the 100 mph speed barrier for steam railways in 1904, the year after it was introduced. However, Flying Scotsman was the first steam engine to attain the speed of 100 mph that was officially recorded. On September 8th, 1991, City of Truro attended the opening of the line to Lydney Lakeside with Wilbert. It went on static display at the National Railway Museum following a tube failure in February 2013. In November 2015, it was moved to Steam Museum in Swindon, Wiltshire.

## Trivia:

* City of Truro's personality is based upon Hercules from TUGS.