Charlie

> I'm fun! - Charlie
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**Charlie** is a playful purple saddle tank engine who loves to tell jokes and have fun. He can usually be found working at Knapford Yards.

## History

### Thomas & Friends

Charlie first arrived on Sodor to help out on the railway. He was said to be the favourite engine of the Mainland engines and his old controller. When Thomas was to show him around, Charlie convinced him to have fun instead of bringing Allicia Botti to her concert.

He later convinced Edward to have fun instead of bringing the Fat Controller's car to the mechanic. This resulted in more chaos when Edward suggested repairing the car at the Sodor Steamworks.

When Flynn was going on the roads for the first time, Charlie teased him by calling him a "big wobble on wheels". Later, in winter, Charlie pretended to be a talking snowman, which made Henry rather scared until Charlie realised that everyone has different opinions about snow.

Once, he came across an elephant on the line. But when he tried to inform the other engines, they just thought he was telling one of his jokes. Charlie then reported the elephant to Harold, who took Charlie seriously. Soon, the elephant was recaptured, but Charlie was not pleased about not being taken seriously and vowed never to tell another joke. Unfortunately, Charlie's promise to himself did not last long.

Later, Caitlin left her coaches with Charlie in the Knapford Yards while she went to the Steamworks. Just then, Thomas arrived and left Annie and Clarabel. When Caitlin came back to collect her coaches, Charlie - distracted by telling Caitlin a joke - accidentally shunted Annie and Clarabel with Caitlin's coaches, resulting in Caitlin pulling them with her train to Ulfstead Castle and the Mainland. He also seems to be primarily based in the shunting yards by this point.

When the Great Railway Show was being held, Charlie was one of the engines who wanted to go to the show, but he was not chosen and was left on Sodor to do the other engine's jobs.

### Lukeillie's Series

Charlie was one of the engines who came to ask Cranky questions on "Ask Cranky Day" and then joked about the railway only having one female yellow tender engine which made Molly and Rebecca cause confusion and delay. He and Billy later filled in for Whiff and Scruff at the dump after Whiff lost his glasses. He didn't agree with Billy at first but at the end, they got the job done.

## Personality

Charlie has a reputation for being a really fun engine. He has an unquenchable desire for fun, games and play, and is said to have been the favourite engine of the Mainland controller. Charlie can get easily distracted by his japes, sometimes distracting others in the process. He can be pouty, huffy, and teasing at times, but he always wants everyone to be enjoying themselves. Often though, Charlie has to learn that the opinions of others, keeping calm and working hard to completing jobs foremost, are important if when wanting to be a really useful engine. He has a good working relationship with Edward - often calling him "Eddie" - who is sometimes capable of taking Charlie under his wing, and Thomas, who Charlie enjoys racing and sharing in the fun with. Being a fun-loving, playful scamp, cheeky Charlie is popular at parties and fairs, is well liked by the children, and known for his youthful humour.

## Livery

Charlie is painted violet with white lining, brass fittings and red wheels. His number 14 is painted on the sides of his cab in gold with white boardering and he has brass nameplates on the sides of his saddle tank with his name painted on them in white.

## Appearances

* Season 1 - Ask Cranky Day (*cameo*) and Molly and Rebecca
* Season 2 - Billy and Charlie and New Glasses for Whiff (*cameo*)

## Trivia

* Charwelton - a Manning Wardle O Class preserved at the Kent and East Sussex Railway - is also numbered 14, although Charlie's number 14 is less likely a reference to Charwelton; Charlie is an L Class while Charwelton is an O Class, and more likely originates from the fact that he was the fourteenth standard gauge engine to appear in the CGI series.
* Charlie was not in the original script for *Splish Splash Splosh*. Billy had the role of the engine getting splashed at the signal by Thomas instead.
* Charlie shares his name with Edward's Driver.
* Charlie was the last character to get his own book in My Thomas Story Library.
* *The Big Book of Engines* states "Although Charlie is from the Mainland, he wears number 14 on Sir Topham Hatt's Railway."