Stepney

Stepney is a visiting engine who works on the Bluebell Railway in England.

## Background Information

### First appearance

Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine (RWS)Rusty to the Rescue (T&F)Thomas & the Balloons

### Last appearance

Thomas and the Great Railway Show (RWS)Rosie's Funfair Special (T&F)

## Technical Details

### Owner

Stepney's Controller (RWS)The Bluebell Railway Controller (T&F)

## Biography

Stepney was stranded on a siding in the scrapyard at the Vicarstown Goods Depot where Rusty found him and helped arrange for him to be put back into service. He now runs the Bluebell Branch Line. He later travelled a long distance away from his railway to Sir Topham Hatt's railway as a visitor after getting tired of travelling on his branch line.

Stepney later wanted to have a change from his branch line and he was sent back to Sir Topham Hatt's railway (again on a visiting basis) to help Toby and Mavis at Anopha Quarry. This excursion nearly ended in disaster after 'Arry and Berttried to scrap Stepney, luckily without success, after Stepney accidentally ventured into the Sodor Ironworks.

For a long time afterwards, Stepney had little actual contact or involvement with Sir Topham Hatt's railway. On a few occasions during the sixth series, he can be seen helping out with the other engines while he visited the North Western Railway. He can briefly be seen helping the other engines out by delivering trucks filled with flowers while the stations prepared for the Most Beautiful Station competition. A short time later, a hot air balloon was flying across the island and Duck accidentally ran into him due to gazing up at it. After he helped Edward with the running of The Loop Line, Stepney had virtually disappeared (not counting his stock footage appearances in the seventh series) until a while later, when he was hit by a truck full of sugar in an incident caused by Rosie. He has not been seen in the television series since.

## Personality

Stepney is a bubbly, honest and humble chap who is bursting with enthusiasm. He is very eager to please and is every engine's friend. Even if an engine might not like him at first, his personality wins them over. After being saved from scrap by Rusty and the Bluebell Railway, he now runs his own branch line, but loves visiting and helping out on the Fat Controller's Railway. He has an enthusiasm for learning and listening to advice, as well as keeping busy. Stepney can feel down in the dumps if he does not get enough work to do or if he does not get a good long run to stretch his wheels. Stepney is high-spirited, lively and is keen to see fair play. He is popular amongst the engines and is always game for more work. Unlike most of Sodor's engines, Stepney loves to work with trucks.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Stepney was built by Brighton Works in 1875 and was rebuilt into an A1X in 1912. During his final working years, Stepney worked on the Hayling Island branch line, until he was taken out of service in 1960 and placed on an out-of-use siding. He was bought by the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society and arrived on the railway on 17th May, making him the first standard gauge steam locomotive in the United Kingdom to be preserved.

### Livery

Stepney is painted in the LB&SCR goldenrod livery, formally known as "Stroudley's Improved Engine Green", with green, red, white and black lining. His name is painted on his side tanks and the number "55" is painted on the sides of his bunker, both in white. The real Stepney has a brass funnel top and brass numberplates with a blue ground. He carries two builder's plates on the sides of his splashers.

## Appearances

Season 3 - Thomas & the Balloons, Flying Sally, Sumzy & the Special Building & Tom's Bad Day.

Season 5 - Sally the Police Car (cameo), James the Red-Nosed Engine (Christmas Special).

The Narrow Gauge Mission (Feature Length Special).

Season 6 - Brave Little Percy (cameo).

Season 7 - Tag, You're it!.

Sodor's Finest Engines (Feature Length Special)

Season 8 - James & the Charging Bull (cameo), Alfred the Unstoppable and Fiery Tankers.

Season 9 - Paxton's First Passenger Train (cameo) and Gordon & the Trouble with Snowdrifts.

## Voice Actors

Daniel Alsop - (Season 3 - 5)

Enterprisingengine93 - (Season 6 onwards).

## Trivia

Whistles
 S4