Diesel

Devious Diesel is a small Class 08 shunter. He first appeared in the RWS volume, *Duck and the Diesel Engine*, and again in *The 'B' Class Bullies*, before finally becoming the protagonist of *Barrow Engines*.

## Bio

*For a complete overview of Diesel’s years prior to his arrival on Sodor, please see the RWS section of his biography on the official TTTE wikia.*

After Diesel was sent away from Sodor in 1957, he was put on sale and offered to several owners. They, however, were all too aware of his past, and dismissed any thoughts of buying him. Eventually, it dawned on Diesel that, because he was outcast for his poor actions, he was now in danger of being scrapped. When he was saved by his former owner, he felt a resurgence in his conviction that his type was ‘revolutionary’. But as diesels gradually became replaced by electric engines and his owner’s fortunes dwindled significantly, he began to realise that he was no better than the steam locomotives he and his kind were taught to hate and replace. Diesel eventually came to admire the steam engines for the fact that they were preserved, and wished that he could be too.

Diesel’s time as a temporary shunting engine at Barrow-in-Furness was eventful to say the least. He spitefully arranged for James’s trucks to derail the red engine, after he had been rude to Diesel, and was wrongly blamed by the passengers and porter when he tried to bring back a derailed railtour to the station - they thought that he was responsible for two passengers being covered in coffee and escorted away by the station staff.

Now left with no apparent hope of his survival after this, Diesel became suicidal, and began seeking ways of killing or damaging himself beyond repair. It was one of these attempts, however, that was to prove to be his saviour. When a rake of empty coaches broke away from the repaired shunter and rolled back towards the station, the alarm was raised to clear the area in anticipation of Pip and Emma - who were travelling fast along the same line! Diesel, seeing that the points were also set for him, selflessly charged towards the coaches, ramming himself head-on into it. But instead of perishing from the accident, he survived and was awarded with his preservation at the Vicarstown Railway Museum as a working exhibit and maintenance engine, as the porter apologised for blaming him for the two coffee-covered passengers (it transpired that they had had an argument over their seats that got out of hand). His reformation complete, Diesel was only too glad to accept this new lease of life.

In 2020, the North-Western railway was in need of more engines to assist with the increase in traffic, owing to the seventy-fifth anniversary of the *Railway Series.* When he noticed Denise was being bullied by Spamcan and D7102, he instantly stood up for her, and turned detective when she began to suffer from several incidents, which caused The Fat Controller to consider sending her away. However, it was thanks to Diesel’s efforts that Denise’s name was cleared - he interrogated Spamcan for the truth, and, on finding out, joined forces with a damaged Denise to derail 7102. The plan was a success, and Diesel and Denise were congratulated for their work, with Denise becoming part of the Fat Controller’s railway.

However, 7102’s expulsion from Sodor meant that the railway was short of one engine to pull the celebratory railtour. Diesel, remembering that he had taken Edward to the museum to be overhauled, suggested that they fast-track his overhaul - well aware that this was a heavy gamble. He and Denise later appeared the next day, repaired, and with a crowd of people around them. Denise, in some awe of Edward, flirtatiously asks Diesel to tell her about the old engine. He gladly obliges.

Diesel later appears in *Lost in the Snow*, during which he helps Douglas rescue a broken-down Thomas by taking his Santa Special back to Tidmouth for the Christmas party.

## Basis

Diesel is based on a BR Class 08 shunter - the most successful of all of British Railways’ diesel locomotives.

## Personae

When Diesel first arrived on Sodor, he was full of his own ideas. He was too proud to listen to the advice of other engines, and his temper got the better of him when he ran into trouble with some trucks. He showed his infamous devious nature when he came up with lies to be rid of Duck - who he blamed for the incident. However, when he realised the impact of his actions, Diesel became morose and broken, a shadow of his former self.

Since he arrived at the Vicarstown Railway Museum, however, Diesel has shown an altogether new and different side to himself - a fitting attribute to his new lease and fresh outlook on life. He is kind-hearted and a hard worker. It is thanks to his positive work ethic that Neil’s and Eagle’s restorations are nearly complete, and he is the first Diesel engine to show kindness to Denise (who he eventually forms a romantic relationship with).

But don’t let this fool you - though he may have a different attitude altogether, deep down inside him lies the same old Diesel - cold, calculating and downright devious! Cross buffers with him or anyone he cares about and you just might find yourself regretting it!