Murdoch

* NWR Orange
* BR Black

Murdoch is one of Sodor's largest and strongest tender engines, who prefers the peace and quiet countryside to the constant noise of industry.

## Bio:

In 1963, Murdoch was waiting to depart with a goods train at the Port of Southampton while trying to get some peace and quiet. While waiting, Jimmy arrived with his goods train and began talking with him. Shortly into their conversation, Neville arrived into the port with a train of fuel tankers, the Bulleid Q1 greeted the two engines and while Murdoch was annoyed at having his peace and quiet disturbed, he quickly brushed it off and talked with Jimmy and Neville about their working lives. When Harold arrived in, he and Neville just gave a stern stare as they knew the Coronation Express engine didn't like them. They later questioned Jimmy what got into Harold after he raced away in a panic, to which Jimmy told them that Harold has a fear of fuel tankers thinking that they would explode at any moment.

In 1969, Murdoch went on the run to escape the cutter's torch along with Neville and Rosie to try and find their way to the Bluebell Railway. Along the way they spotted Joseph at Didcot sheds and went over to him to see if he was alright, when Joseph told them that they are on ex-GWR metals, Murdoch was cross with Neville for getting them lost and argued with him. Rosie tried to break up the fight, luckily Joseph warned them that another engine is coming and told them to hide inside the sheds. After the engine passed, Joseph gave the all clear and said it was only Meryl. The three engines thanked him and asked the 94xx if he wants to join them to which he agreed, but mentioned that he couldn't move because of his broken cylinder, Murdoch told him that he could carry him along. At Bedford St. Johns, the four engines came across Green Arrow, Harrison, Alfred, and Crovan resting in a goods shed who were also on the run from scrap too. Shortly after the group encountered Nickolas and Serena who were followed up by Geoffrey. After that the group laid low at Bedford Sheds to refuel on coal and water, while there Murdoch and Green Arrow talked about where they were going to go. The two engines were the first to notice Jonathan puffing by and Murdoch quickly rushed out to save the 4F when he heard a diesel horn in the distance. After Jonathan told them that he was trying to find his way to Sodor, the group continued on to Leicester where they hid in the sidings behind some trucks thanks to Arthur. From there Murdoch decided to go to the National Railway Museum with Green Arrow, Joseph, Alfred, and Crovan as he was concerned that the Bluebell Railway wouldn't be able to support his weight on the line. At Sheffield Station the five engines stop there to let other night trains pass, but they were suddenly ambushed by diesels and taken to a nearby scrapyard. Alfred and Crovan managed to escape from the diesels, Murdoch and Green Arrow called for their help, but Alfred abandoned them saying that were nothing but dead weight to him before running off with Crovan following on a moment later. Murdoch and Green Arrow fought against the diesels, but they were unable to help Joseph as he was being lifted by a scrap grabber to the melting pot and the GWR 94xx told them to go on and to not look back. The two big engines raced out of the scrapyards hearing Joseph's last scream as he was melted down. The following morning Murdoch felt guilty for leaving Joseph behind at the scrapyard with Green Arrow comforting him as they finally arrived at the National Railway Museum where they met Mallard and Jessica. After they settled into their new home, Jessica asked them if they knew her friends and of their whereabouts, but unfortunately they didn't and only hoped that their friends were safe.

In 2012, Murdoch along with Neville, Molly, and Stanley were told by Bear that Henry was sleeping in Knapford Sheds as he and Gordon got into a fight and broke up. When Emily asked one of them to cover her duties, Neville cracked a joke, but was told off by Murdoch given how serious the matter was. When Harvey was feeling down about not having a proper job, Murdoch and Salty decided to help him find a proper job where he could work. The following day while Salty was keeping an eye on Harvey at the shunting yards, Murdoch and Rosie told Stanley, Ben, and Stafford about their adventure they had in 1969, he also mentioned about a SR Q class named Delilah who they also use to know and how they asked her if she wanted to join but declined the offer. When they got back to the shunting yards, they found that Harvey left the yards in a complete mess, so Murdoch and Salty tried to find the crane engine work at Brendam Docks, but it didn't work out and Murdoch was annoyed when Cranky made fun of Harvey's dream of joining the Sodor Search and Rescue Center. That evening after having a talk with Rusty, Murdoch had an idea of what work Harvey could do as his proper job with the crane engine becoming the track maintenance engine for the NWR. One night when Murdoch pulled into Knapford Station, he asked Gordon for any games that they have at Tidmouth Sheds as it was game night for him and the other Knapford Shed engines. He ended up choosing UNO though Gordon warned him to never play the game with more than four players. Murdoch ended up stepping down from the game when Sir Topham Hatt needed two engines to help Henry and Adam at the Timber Mill with the log delivers, he volunteer to help when Molly also did to as he saw this as an opportunely to work alone with her. The next morning they both arrived at the Timber Mill to start work, Murdoch was paired up with Terence and helped to pull large trees down to be cut up. While the men were cutting up the tree, Murdoch told Terence about his feelings for Molly and how Neville always seem to make him look like a fool whenever he is around Molly. Later that day Murdoch was told by Trevor to shunt some trucks to the loading bay, but as he did so, he derailed on the tight corner and ended up on top of some loaded trucks. Murdoch was taking to the Steamworks to be checked over for any damage, surprisingly no serious damage had been done to him and he was allowed to have his repairs carried out at Knapford Sheds, but to his disappointment Molly told him that Sir Topham Hatt chose Neville to work with her at the Timber Mill as Murdoch was too big to navigate the tight curves. The big orange engine was surprised to see the other engines still playing UNO. The next day he asked Molly if she could help him with his trains sometimes, even as Neville was teasing him, Molly told him she would see. A little later on Murdoch talked with Arthur about Neville's jokey side and how he always seem to get in the way whenever he tries talking with Molly. After Arthur left, Molly pulled in with her train and attempted to tell Molly how he feels about her, but he was interrupted by Neville before he could tell the yellow engine. Later Murdoch went to the Timber Mill to talk to Molly, but Neville told him that she is busy and also made a crack at Murdoch saying that she wanted to talk him and maybe pop the question. Murdoch was cross and left the Timber Mill feeling really annoyed and upset. That evening Molly came up to him and asked him what he wanted to tell her, Murdoch was hesitant at first, but soon confessed his feelings for her and the two engines became a couple, with Neville reassuring him that he would be fine and that he looks to him and Molly like brother and sister. When Murdoch first met Madison, she ran off scared of the big orange 9F as she has a fear of bigger engines, but he was properly introduced to her thanks to Emily, shortly into their conversation, Molly brought up Emily's title nickname of 'Excellent Emily' which the Stirling Single gave a stern stare at Murdoch since he told a few engines. When Diesel 10 was captured after causing trouble on Sodor, Sir Topham Hatt tasked Murdoch and Hank to escort the class 42 warship to Railgate, but at Barrow-in-Furness they were blocked off by some trucks that were placed in front and behind them by Splatter and Dodge allowing Diesel 10 to escape.

## Appearances:

### The Adventures on Sodor:

#### Season 2:

* Unauthorised Road Work \*cameo\*, The Break Up, What Place is Right for You?, Logs Away, Three's A Crowd, Friends and Fantasies, Spy Dennis

### Specials:

* 2019- 1963
* 2020- 1969 and TAOS: How Diesel Stole Christmas \*cameo\*
* 2021- TAOS: A Cranky Christmas Carol \*cameo\*
* 2022- TAOS: Little Engines Save Christmas \*cameo\*
* 2023- Demons

## Technical Details:

### Basis:

Murdoch is based on a BR Standard Class 9F with a BR1G tender, which was used for fast and heavy goods trains. The class was the last of the BR Standards and the final steam engine class built by British Railways, with the last one, "Evening Star", built in March 1960. Due to the size and shape of the class, they were given the nickname "Spaceships". "Evening Star" and eight other 9Fs are preserved. One 9F, "Black Prince" holds the record for hauling the heaviest steam-hauled train in Great Britain, at 2,198 tons. "Evening Star", the very last steam locomotive built by BR, is also part of the National Collection.

### Livery:

* BR Black (formerly)
* Dull Orange with Green and Red lining.

## Trivia:

* Murdoch's British Railway number has been changed creating a continuity error. For in 1963: Times of Change and 1969: The Resistance, his number was shown to be 92212, which is the number of the BR Standard 9F preserved on the Mid-Hants Railway (Watercress Line), when Murdoch's actually number was 92245.