BoCo

**BoCo the Metropolitan-Vickers Diesel** is one of the deuteragonists and the first diesel on the North Western Railway.

## Backstory

BoCo resided not too far down from Barrow-in-Furness. He lived with his siblings, but they were all unfortunately ridiculed for multiple mechanical issues. He did find a friend though, in the form of a large tank engine named Arthur. When Arthur turned down his trials on Sodor and gave them to BoCo, the Metropolitan-Vickers headed there and became part of the North Western Railway.

(Info regarding Alone in the Sheds, Philip and the Troublesome Twins and BoCo's New Driver to be added)

## Brendam Team

### Bill and Ben

BoCo had quite a bit of trouble with the duo when they first met. Unfortunately, there was a misunderstanding with the china clay trucks, and the twins wanted them back. BoCo was put into a right state, and Edward had to intervene. Since then, Bill and Ben's relationship with BoCo has been more positive, as they stood up for him against Gordon.

### Derek

BoCo sees Derek as something of a little brother. He enjoys Derek's enthusiasm and optimism, and relates to him in the technical difficulties department.

### Salty

BoCo admires Salty's enthusiasm and while he doesn't fully understand the sea shanties, is patient with them. Salty also admires BoCo's calm and patient nature.

### Porter

BoCo and Porter have only recently met, but they seem to be getting along. BoCo admires how Porter was able to brush off the twins' teasing.

### Timothy

BoCo and Timothy have only recently met, but they seem to be off to a good start. BoCo wishes to help Timothy build up more confidence in standing up to the twins.

### Marion

Not much is known about their relationship, but BoCo is one of the more patient engines when it come to Marion's obsession with digging.

### Philip

BoCo first met Philip and helped him get back at Bill and Ben with a prank of having multiple other 'Philips' for them to see. The two seem to have a decent start to their relationship, and even share Wellsworth sheds with Edward.

### Trevor

BoCo sometimes talks to Trevor at the Orchard, and their relationship is fairly positive.

## Other Relatinships

### Henry

BoCo broke down on the hill when Henry found him, and he was standoffish at first. However, when BoCo mentioned his design flaws, Henry realised that BoCo and him had some common ground. The two started to get along after that. Henry helped BoCo over Gordon's Hill, and BoCo returned the favour sometime later.

### Gordon

Gordon was appalled when he had to take BoCo's trucks when he broke down. He also didn't like the idea of BoCo taking the express. However, when BoCo 'saved' Gordon from Bill and Ben, Gordon's tune changed immediately.

### James

James, much like the other two big engines, was standoffish to BoCo at first. He unfortunately got stung by a bee when he was to take the express one day, and BoCo took it instead. BoCo tried to help James with his bee problem, but he buzzed off.

### Duck

Though Duck was standoffish to BoCo at first, BoCo eventually won Duck over with a friendly smile, sharp wit and good sense of humor. The two managed to find common ground about thinking that Edward will surprise everyone, and that Bill and Ben can be a nuisance sometimes.

### Donald and Douglas

Much like Duck, the twins were apprehensive of BoCo at first. But after taking the express when James was stung by a bee, Douglas took BoCo's trucks for him. They also overheard BoCo standing up for Edward, and formally apologised to him for misjudging him. Donald, Douglas and BoCo are all firm friends now.

### Diesel

(Info regarding BoCo's relationship with Diesel to be added)

### Bear

(Info regarding BoCo's relationship with Bear to be added)

### Flower and Fiona

(Info regarding BoCo's relationship with Flower and Fiona to be added)

## Romance

### Edward

BoCo felt touched by Edward's kindness the moment he arrived on Sodor. The old engine gave BoCo a pep-talk which got him to gain hope on being rebuilt. Low and behold, after BoCo proved himself helping Edward when he was being overhauled, he was overhauled too. BoCo and Edward's relationship continued to blossom, and they quietly confessed 'I Love You' a week before *Diesels and Westerners*.

## Technical Details

### Basis

BoCo is based on a British Rail (BR) Class 28 Co-Bo diesel-electric engine, built from 1958-1959 (the engine BoCo is based on was built on 29th September 1958). These engines were initially used on the "Condor" express freight services but the class's Crossley engines quickly proved problematic. They suffered frequent failures, and in 1961 the entire class was handed back to the manufacturer for remedial work on the engines, and to cure problems with cab windows falling out while running. Upon return to service in 1962, all members of the class were allocated to Barrow-in-Furness. BoCo was susceptible to the mechanical failures of his class - according to the Awdrys, however, Sir Topham Hatt eventually found a fix to prevent these malfunctions. The real engines were not so fortunate, and most were withdrawn and scrapped by 1969. (The engine BoCo was based on was withdrawn on the 7th of September, 1968, and scrapped in October of 1969).

### Livery

BoCo is painted green with red bufferbeams. His number (D1) is painted underneath his end one side windows in white.

## Differences with the episodes and the books

* BoCo's introductory arc was done in one go in the books and the order was: *The Diseasel, Buzz Buzz, Wrong Road, Edward's Exploit*. In the TV show, *The Diseasel, Wrong Road* and *Edward's Exploit* happened back-to-back in series 2 while *Buzz Buzz* came in series 3. In this series, *The Diseasel* and *Wrong Road* happened back-to-back, then *Buzz Buzz* and *Edward's Exploit* happened back-to-back. This was all in the Series 3 block of Classic Sodor Adventures.
* BoCo ends up taking the express after the events of *Wrong Road* in this series, but in the original series, it happened before. As a result, the discussion with Edward and Gordon regarding the express had to be changed.
* BoCo is the first diesel to join the NWR in this series. In both the books and the TV show, he was the second one after Daisy.
* In the books, BoCo's BR number wasn't revealed. In the TV series and this series, it's D5702.

## Trivia

* BoCo's preferred actor is Kevin Frank, Henry's voice actor from *Thomas and the Magic Railroad*.