Marion

> Guess what's in my shovel! - Marion's catchphrase
>
>

**Marion** is an orange railway steam shovel. She usually works at the Clay Pits with Bill, Ben and Timothy, although she can be seen at any digging site on the North Western Railway. In Lukeillie's Series, she refers to her shovel as "Mr. Shovel".

## History

### Thomas & Friends

The morning after a large landslide at the Clay Pits, Marion met Thomas for the first time, scaring him with her bucket. When she introduced herself, Thomas found that she talked a lot. A few days later, she was still cleaning up the fallen rocks when Percy and James came her way trying to escape from another landslide caused by James' whistle. Although James escaped, Percy was swept up by the landslide. He was buried wheel-deep when he saw a large rock coming his way. It looked like the end for the little green tank engine, but Marion put her bucket in front of him and caught the rock, which she identified as the skull of a Megalosaurus.

Whilst repairing an embankment on the Main Line, Marion once hit a water pipe, causing a leak. Marion decided to cover up the leaky pipe, but Thomas later spotted water trickling out of the ground. When he took Marion to inspect the site, water gushed up from the ground and caused a landslide. Luckily, Marion was able to clear the line just before Gordon raced through with the Express. Marion promised that she would tell someone if she unearthed a water pipe in the future.

Later, Marion became worried when Ben did not bring any coal to the Clay Pits. She was cross when she realised that the twins had used it all up and got them to thank and apologise to Timothy, who came to the rescue by fetching more coal for Marion and the twins.

Some time later, during the construction of the Dinosaur Park, Marion was sleeping on a siding when Samson pulled a train of animatronic dinosaurs past her. She did not see Samson and believed the dinosaurs were real. She reversed all the way to Ulfstead Castle and a few minutes later Samson arrived, revealing that the dinosaurs were in fact fake.

Once, Marion witnessed Bill and Ben taking away trucks she was loading, causing rubble to land on the tracks. She said that they were unhelpful and Timothy agreed. This infuriated the twins and, as a trick, they sent Timothy to the Docks to help Porter and Cranky. This only caused trouble at the Clay Pits because Marion's trucks were getting too full. She ended up getting trapped due to the heavy trucks. Bill and Ben framed Timothy, angering her. Despite Timothy coming back, Marion was still trapped for a while.

She was later brought in to help with the construction of the new branch line. Upon meeting Bert, Rex and Mike, she believed that they were magical - a thought that became more remarkable when she thought they turned Oliver into an excavator. Marion was present when Rocky lifted the Pirate Ship out of Calles Cavern and decided to make a wish to the Small Railway engines that she would be the one to dig up the buried treasure. The three of them were less than enthusiastic when the steam shovel arrived at Arlesburgh West and while Rex and Bert managed to flee, Mike got trapped on the chute by Marion's shovel and she did not let go until she had made her wish. The little red engine escaped in full speed, but this only strengthened Marion's belief that he was magical. She helped Alfie and Oliver dig part of the site when she discovered a buried treasure chest. She later attended the branch line's opening ceremony and was surprised to discover that there are two Olivers on Sodor.

At Christmas time, Marion was working on Thomas' Branch Line to help make room for a new warehouse on a disused siding and discovered a "talking Christmas tree". Marion tried to tell Thomas, Toby and their coaches about her discovery, but they did not believe her. She then went to Knapford to get the Fat Controller to take him to the talking Christmas tree, but when they arrived, it was gone. Marion was later recognised for Glynn's discovery.

Marion was one of the many engines who wanted to go to the Great Railway Show but she was not chosen and left on Sodor.

When she was new to the Island, Rebecca came across Marion, who was digging a hole. Rebecca thought Marion's steam shovel looked great. Later, Marion helped Rebecca realise that she is special because she brings out the best in everyone by making kind comments about the other engines.

While searching for a best friend to do her work with, Emily offered Marion when she encountered her digging out an embankment. She - along with Henry and Philip - were confused when they overheard Emily call Edward her best friend at the scrap yard, all four being under the impression that they were her best friend. She later attended the unveiling of the Steam Team sand sculpture at Tidmouth Town Square.

### Lukeillie's Series

Marion was built back in 1911, in America, where she worked in a local mine for some time. During this time, she gained her fascination with digging. She was later shipped over to Sodor on a boat to help out with digging there. She became friends with Timothy really quick.

Years later, she encountered a green lorry on her way to work. When she asked for the lorry's name, he said it was Oliver, which confused her due to the fact she encountered two "Olivers" before and turned out to be sharing the same name instead of being the same being, which she was now experiencing once again. Marion, wanting to know the truth, has Percy deliver a message to both previous Olivers, so they can find out the truth. Marion is unable to focus on her work but manages to finish, just as the two Olivers arrive. She explains to them about the mysterious third Oliver, but they once again believe she is crazy. Just then, Oliver the lorry comes, and he was bringing new construction materials. Everyone sees him and they now believe there is actually a third Oliver on Sodor, but it turned out he is actually the first Oliver, predating the other two and reveals he is ignored and has no friends. Marion, along with the others, become his friends, and Marion is happy for making a new friend.

## Personality

Marion works at the Clay Pits. She is friendly and loves digging, talking and talking about digging. She is always ready to share her tales with the other engines, who sometimes try to avoid her. Thomas is always happy to hear her stories. Items she has claimed to dig up in the past include a pirate chest. She enjoys playing "Guess What's in My Shovel", although the answer is almost always mud, rock or dirt.

Marion is very enthusiastic and likes to think of herself as well-informed. She is happy to share her knowledge, though she has had strange beliefs, such as believing that Glynn was a talking Christmas tree. She is very talkative and loves to tell stories of her discoveries. However, not all the engines prefer to stick around and hear her stories, as her nonstop repetitive speeches leave them excessively annoyed. She is also clueless at times to the point of downright idiocy, but she knows when to help a friend.

Despite her enthusiastic demeanour, she can also be rather stern, as seen when she told off Ben for not delivering any coal, and she makes both of the twins apologise and thank Timothy.

## Livery

Marion is painted orange and light brown with yellow lining. Her name is painted on her sides in yellow with red lining.

## Appearances

* Season 3 - Marion and the Three Olivers

## Trivia

* Marion's name is derived from her basis (the Marion Revolving Steam Shovel) as well as the company that built her (the Marion Steam Shovel Company).
* Marion is the first character to have separate voice actors for speaking and singing in both English narrations.
* Marion was the first character to have a singing voice actor with Nia being the second.
* Marion does not have any front windows, making it difficult for her crew members to see.
* Marion's chain drive is not visible under her frame, making it uncertain as to how she moves.
* Marion has a rear coupling hook, but the size of her coal bunker makes it impossible to couple anything to her. This implies that her bunker is retractable.
* In the first trailer for *Tale of the Brave*, Marion's 3D model lacked the protective corners on the edges of her main body. They were added on for the second trailer onward. Because of these being added, her lamp was moved slightly.
* According to Marion herself in the eighteenth series episode, "*Marion and the Pipe*", she, apparently, has a rock collection.
* She is Cassandra Chowdhury's favourite character, according to an interview on SiF.
* Marion's headlamp changed from white to silver in *Big World! Big Adventures!*.
* The twenty-second series episode, "*Forever and Ever*" is the very first instance of Marion pulling rolling stock in the television series, albeit in a fantasy sequence.
* Marion is the first and only female character who Toad has been seen to refer to as "Miss".
* Her whistle comes from Chesapeake & Ohio K-4 #2732.
* According to Sam Wilkinson, Marion was partially inspired by the Marion steam shovels that dug the Panama Canal.
* In *Marion and the Pipe*, Marion yells "Fore!" before she hits the rock off the track. This word is used by some golfers to warn anyone standing or moving in the flight of a golf ball when they are teeing off.
* Marion was going to have a "Greatest Moments" Trackmaster release, but it was cancelled.

## Quotes

> Do you dig digging like I dig digging,
>
>
> I do, I do, I do-do-do-do-do.
>
>
> Do you dig digging like I dig digging…
>
>
> I diggy, diggy, diggy,
>
>
>
> Diggy, diggy do! - Marion singing
>
>

> Goodness gracious me! I found something! - Marion after hitting the buried pipe.
>
>

> Marvellous Mud! - Marion
>
>

> Have I ever shown you my rock collection? - Marion to Thomas
>
>

> FORE! - Marion hitting the rock off the track with her shovel.
>
>

> Eeeeeeeeeek! Look out! Look out! Steam shovel coming through! - Marion running away from the dinosaurs.
>
>