Rheneas

**Rheneas the Gallant Old Engine** is a narrow gauge tank engine who is the second engine on the Skarloey Railway and one of the secondary protagonists of the Seventyverse.

## Backstory

Rheneas was built in 1885 and sent to the Skarloey Railway that same year along with Skarloey. He was more mature than Skarloey and not as bouncy. After rescuing Skarloey from a collapsing bridge, he was given a cab. After pushing himself to save the railway in 1982, he was sent away to be overhauled and returned in 1984. He and Skarloey celebrated their 100th birthdays, the following year.

## Relationships

### Skarloey

As young engines, Rheneas and Skarloey often quarrelled and didn't see eye-to-eye. However, after Rheneas helped Skarloey out of a mudslide, the two became really close. Rheneas was also one of the few that accepted Skarloey being transgender with no questions asked when he first came out. In their elder years, Skarloey commends Rheneas' bravery and missed him dearly when he was away. Skarloey warmly welcomed Rheneas home and they celebrated.

### Sir Handel

Rheneas was more angered by Sir Handel's rude remarks than Skarloey was. At first, he doubted Sir Handel was hiding anything, but he slowly came to realise he was a troubled engine. Unfortunately, he had to be sent to the works before he could find out more. When Rheneas came back though, he was more patient with Sir Handel.

### Peter Sam

Rheneas was very curious by Peter Sam's progress on the railway, and liked his cheerful attitude. He unfortunately didn't see too much as he went on overhaul before Peter Sam came back from his passenger run.

### Rusty

Rheneas was surprised to find Rusty on Sodor, as he was a diesel. Yet he was very welcoming of him, and impressed with the way he mended the line.

### Duncan

Rheneas and Duncan couldn't be anymore opposite. Rheneas is respectful to the passengers and polite, but Duncan is grumpy and used to not care for them. Things became frustrating when they were both painted yellow and everyone mixed them up. It got to a point where they were eventually both painted in each other's colours.

### Luke

Rheneas didn't have much patience for Luke when he found a deer in the quarry. However, he still does care for Luke, as he was worried he would be sent away when Thomas spoke to Victor.

## Personality

Rheneas has been mature since the year he was built, albeit, he was still very childish when he was young. He is also willing to take risk such as the time he made sure he got to the station so he and Skarloey wouldn't be scrapped. He doesn't have the same patience that Skarloey has, however, and will be a bit unintendedly bossy to some of the younger engines.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Rheneas is based on the Talyllyn Railway's Dolgoch, a Fletcher Jennings Class Bb 0-4-0WT. In the Railway Series, Dolgoch is Rheneas' twin (built 1866). Jennings is another member of this class. In this series, Rheneas and Dolgoch are twins too, but built in 1885 instead.

Jennings is also based on Dolgoch.

### Livery

Rheneas is painted vermilion with black and gold lining and brass fittings. He has black and brass name and number plates on the sides of his boiler and coal bunkers respectively. In early magazine illustrations, he was painted carmine. This carried over to nearly all his merchandise. In Blue Mountain Mystery, he was repainted yellow with blue lining to play a joke on Thomas and carried this livery for a while. He has been painted back into his original livery since then.

## Differences between the books and TV series

* Rheneas was painted red with blue stripes in the books whereas Rheneas is vermillion with black stripes in the TV series and this series.