Diesel

**“Devious” Diesel,** as his name implies, is a black diesel engine who originates from the Other Railway, and is the first known standard-gauge diesel ever to arrive on Sodor. Initially, he was sent away for bad behaviour, however after a number of return visits he eventually became a permanent member of the North Western Railway.

## Biography

Diesel is, in essence, the average pantomime villain. He is oily, malicious, devious, scheming and full of ideas to get revenge. He views himself and any other diesel as highly above the steam engines and believes that all diesels are "revolutionary". His antics give diesels on Sodor a bad reputation, which causes most steam engines (particularly Duck and Thomas) to distrust him. His rough demeanour also affects his fellow diesels, who are often victims of his tricks alongside steam engines, mainly diesels who are friendlier to steam engines and are just nice in general, with Paxton and Sidney being prime examples. As such, Diesel has very few friends, mostly associating with diesels whose personalities align with his, such as Diesel 10 or ‘Arry and Bert. He also enjoys using gullible engines (such as Paxton) as pawns in his plans.

However, despite his antics, Diesel still wants to prove himself to be a Really Useful Engine. He is also very proud to be the first diesel on Sodor. Diesel will also more often than not focus more on his own work than help anyone else, but he will help any engines, steam or diesel, when it comes down to it. Due to the amount of chaos his web of lies set off on his first day on Sodor, Diesel has often been seen as a liar by the other engines, leaving them to blow off his news as bluffs until absolutely proven. This is not helped by the fact that he lies whenever he gets the chance, further reinforcing their beliefs.

Lately, Diesel is portrayed as a typical bully with a lack of forethought. While sinisterly cunning, he usually neglects to think of what would happen if things were found out and due to the transparency of some of his plans, he always gets his comeuppance in the end. His distaste for steam engines has also been dropped, being replaced by a mean-spirited prankster nature and inflated arrogance. He also shows several hints of manipulative and self-serving tones, as he can be found as very lazy. He also made fun of James when he was painted pink, finding it to be humorous contrary to how James actually felt. Diesel does know when he goes too far, however, and usually owns up for his misdeeds if the situation demands it. This has allowed him to form genuine lasting friendships with such engines as Daisy and Harvey.

In 1954, British Railways had requested Sir Topham Hatt I a chance to trial one of the new Class 08 shunters and see if there's any chance of modernising the railway like on the Mainland. When he came to the Fat Director's railway, he was arrogant and boastful about being revolutionary for being a modern diesel and wants to show it off, much to Duck's displeasure and told him to collect some of his trucks while he fetches Gordon's coaches. But thanks to Diesel's stupidity, he took some old trucks and made a fool of himself and ended up blaming Duck for it.

Thanks to him, he made the trucks believe that Duck called Henry, Gordon and James names and they told the big engines about it, with them blaming Duck for it. However, the Fat Controller discovered that it was Diesel's fault and sent him away back to the Other Railway. There were times Diesel had returned to the Island.

In 1956, he returned when Duck and Percy needed help at Brendam Docks. While proving how useful he can be by shunting some trucks into sidings, Diesel proved to be as bad as ever and was expelled for good after shunting some trucks of china clay into the sea and bumping into Percy after his driver failed to put his brakes on properly.

In 1961, after Henry's accident with the trucks, he came back to Sodor, and he ended up an attempt to pull 20 trucks and caused himself to land in a barge.

In 1962, he came to help at the Cement Works to help Fergus and made up an order from the Fat Controller making him go to the Ironworks in Peel Godred. But he ended up going to work in the Ironworks as an act of punishment. Since then, he is a permanent resident on Sodor.

## Basis

Diesel is based on a British Rail (BR) Class 08 diesel-electric shunter.

## Livery

Diesel is painted in the BR mixed-traffic black livery with red buffers, which was the standard livery for shunting engines from 1948 until the mid-1960s. His side rods were also painted black.

## Appearances

### Season 2

* Pop Goes the Diesel
* Dirty Work
* A Close Shave *(mentioned)*

### Season 3

* Diesel Does It Again
* Tender Engines
* Escape *(cameo)*

### Season 8

* Thomas to the Rescue
* James Goes Too Far *(does not speak)*

### Season 10

* Tickled Pink
* James the Rubbish Engine
* Blue Mountain Mystery

### Season 11

* King of the Railway
* The Missing Christmas Decorations
* No More Mr. Nice Engine

### Season 12

* Last Train for Christmas
* Disappearing Diesels
* Thomas the Quarry Engine
* Samson at Your Service

### Season 13

* Wild Water Rescue
* Diesel’s Ghostly Christmas

### Season 14

* Goodbye Fat Controller
* Saving Time
* The Railcar and the Coaches
* The Big Freeze

### Season 15

* A Most Singular Engine
* Springtime for Diesel
* Daisy’s Perfect Christmas

## Trivia

* Diesel was the first diesel engine to be introduced in the series.
* Season 4 and 5 are the only seasons that Diesel does not appear in after his introduction in Season 2.
* It was not until the Season 7 episode, Fergus Breaks the Rules, that he was referred to by the name “Devious Diesel”.