Fergus

**Fergus** is a small railway traction engine who works at the Sodor Cement Works.

## Biography

Fergus knows the rulebook by heart, and his catchphrase is "Do it right!" His insistence on doing everything absolutely according to the rules can annoy the other engines, but he is a decent engine at heart and will not hesitate to help others in trouble. He is also friendly to nearly everyone he meets.

Fergus was once sent to work at the Ffarquhar Quarry with Mavis, Bill and Ben. Bill and Ben immediately began to get annoyed with Fergus telling them to "Do it right", so when they brought a rock crusher, they decided to do the opposite of what he told them to do, thus, to "Do it wrong". However, their naughty actions nearly caused them to get caught in a landslide caused by blasting and their heavy rock crusher, but Fergus managed to push them out of the way, only to end up in the rock-slide himself. The twins managed to help Fergus out and apologised for their bad behaviour.

Fergus got lost once and ended up at Killdane. Salty was sent to fetch him, and the two departed for home. During a storm, they missed the junction to the Cement Works and they ended up on the Norramby branch. As they passed the lighthouse, the generator broke down, and the light in the lighthouse went out. Luckily, Salty suggested Fergus to use his flywheel to power up the generator. The plan worked, and the ship managed to clear the path before it crashed into the rocks.

The Fat Controller once sent Diesel to help Fergus at the Cement Works. Diesel soon started to find Fergus annoying with his "Do it right" attitude, so he tricked him by telling him that the Fat Controller wanted him to work at the Ironworks. When Fergus arrived there, he found the place very scary, and when Arry and Bert showed up, Fergus and his driver immediately ran away. When the Fat Controller learned of Fergus' absence, he sent Thomas to search for him. Thomas eventually found Fergus, out of steam and hiding in a spooky wooded area. Fergus was worried he would be in trouble; but when the Fat Controller heard the whole story, he punished Diesel by sending him to the Ironworks, and Fergus returned home, thankful for his friendship with Thomas and relieved that he was still "the pride of the cement works".

## Basis

Fergus is based on the Aveling and Porter 2-2-0WT 'TJ' class railway traction engine No. 9449 "The Blue Circle", which is believed to be the last railway traction engine built in the world. Like Fergus, "The Blue Circle" worked at a cement works, the Snodland Cement Works of Blue Circle Cement, between 1926 and 1962. It was initially presented to the Bluebell Railway in 1964, but was deemed unsuitable for the line and was eventually sold off in 2001. Since Fergus' introduction, "The Blue Circle" has been dressed up as Fergus on special occasions on its former home line, the Battlefield Line in Leicestershire. In January 2015, it moved to the Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway. After being bought again in 2018, it moved to work on the Nene Valley Railway.

## Livery

Fergus is painted reflex blue with gold boiler bands and red wheels. He has a brass funnel cap and bronze buffers.

## Appearances

### Season 7

* Bill, Ben and Fergus
* Fergus Breaks the Rules
* Salty’s Stormy Tale

## Trivia

* Fergus' flywheel can be used to power tools such as a saw, drill or pump. It has also powered a generator in the past.
* Fergus differs slightly from his basis: his smoke box is larger to accommodate a face.