Benson

"*ATTENTION! Attention!*"
— Benson, Parade

**Benson Chumley** was a tender engine who was owned by the Ministry of Defense. He worked at Fort Sudrian before being replaced by Rosie. He was then reassigned to Brendam, but this was only during the war.

## Biography

Benson was built in 1913 and served in the First World War on the Western Front. Later on, in 1939, when Fort Sudrian was completed, he arrived on Sodor to administer the fort as it was to have its own engine. He immediately got off to a rough start with Edward, who had negative experiences with ROD engines in the past, and he accused Peter of apparently being late with his goods train, despite this likely not being the case. He reprimanded the engines, as punctuality was a necessity when war seemed on the horizon. When Edward cheeked him, Benson reported Edward to Mr. Star; being a veteran himself, Mr. Star put Edward on track maintenance duties as punishment.

In Evacuation, he scolded Gordon, Henry and Colin for just standing around talking when they should have been working.

However, in Combat, it was revealed that he was transferred to Brendam and Rosie took his place at the Fort. He also got in trouble with Mr. Zorro for disgracing Colin's death, which Mr. Zorro took as an insult to everyone who had died during a time of war, including his own brother, and promptly sent him packing.

In Choices, he came to take Whiff away to serve as a practice target for the Navy after his owners couldn't afford to keep him in service. He told Thomas and Henry that Whiff had volunteered for the task. He had apparently also tried to talk Whiff out of it, although this is never seen.

In Treasure, Benson visited Fort Sudrian again when Rosie was having a chat with Whiff. He yelled at her to do her job on schedule, despite her already doing so. Despite this, Benson ordered her to get the ship loaded up so that he has room to shunt his "Letters from the Bank", which Whiff immediately knew what it was. Benson told Whiff that as ex-military, it is no longer his concern and orders him out of the facility since his fuel delivery is done.

In Munitions, Benson was in charge of inspecting trains at the docks. During that night, Benson bumped into a train loaded with munitions and was killed in the explosion that ensued.

## Persona

Benson was an ROD engine (Railway Operation Division), meaning he was an extremely strict and well disciplined engine. He was extremely bossy, telling engines what to do and not liking them talking on the job. Diesel once said he was a bloody mongrel after he disgraced Colin's death back in the war.

According to Peter, Benson also had a caring side as he allegedly tried to talk Whiff out of sacrificing his life. His soft side was also shown when he allowed Stanley to have the Lucky Lamp back, as despite it being property of the British Army, it's considered missing. However, he quickly afterwards he went back to his old ways as he has a reputation to maintain; despite this, he did readily show respect to the others.

## Livery

Benson was painted in light brown livery, with the letters 'R.O.D' on the sides of his cab, and the number 44 on his tender.

## Basis

Benson was based on an LNER Class B12. Alfred, Lenny, and the Purple Tender Engine are other members of this class.

## Trivia

* The model used for Benson is essentially a reskin of SI3D's model of Alfred, but with Max/Monty's faces, which are the same faces used for Andreas.
* In The Stories of Sodor episodes based on episodes from TUGS, Benson takes the role of Bluenose. Unlike Bluenose, Benson has a more caring, well-meaning side.
* His role is similar to a Drill Sergeant.
* In the Sodor Short, titled Dictatorship, his full name is revealed to be General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Benson.

## Appearances

### The Stories of Sodor

#### Stories of War

* Evacuation
* Combat

#### Season 4

* Treasure
* Lamp
* Relationships *(cameo)*

#### Season 5

* Munitions *(death)*
* Fallout *(flashback)*

#### Sodor Shorts

* Siege *(does not speak)*
* Triggers
* Government
* Coup
* Dictatorship
* Revolution
* First
* Selection *(does not speak)*