Arthur

**Arthur (née Clarence) the Fishing Engine** is is one of the deuteragonists of the SeventyVerse, and the sixteenth engine of the North Western Railway. However, he was the seventeenth engine purchased for the North Western Railway in the series.

## Backstory

Arthur used to be a tender engine under the name of Clarence. Unfortunately, he was a boastful, spiteful and reckless engine who often got into accidents. Unfortunately, one such accident thought he'd never be able to run again. But fate gave him a second chance. He was rebuilt as a tank engine and renamed Arthur. In his new life, Arthur made many friends such as Rosie, Jinty, Pug, Percy (who often visited Barrow-in-Furness from Sodor) and even a kindly diesel named BoCo. When Sir Topham Hatt wanted Arthur to trial on Sodor, he declined and instead gave the opportunity to BoCo. A few years later, Arthur, along with some others, were chosen to help out engines for the London excursion. And, as luck would have it, his good deeds didn't go unnoticed, as he became a Sudrian at last.

## Norramby crew

### Molly

Molly is a caring big sister toward Arthur, and often keeps tabs on him being an over perfectionist. She was the first to find out the truth about 'Clarence', and came clean with her own past regarding her being built as a boy.

### Sidney

Not much is known about Arthur and Sidney's relationship, but given Arthur's personality, it's possible Sidney's forgetfulness is a frustration to Arthur.

## Other relationships

### James

Arthur was selected to fill in for James when he and the others went to London, and the red tender engine was happy to show him what to do. They later ran into a conflict when the Norramby branch was open for a new engine.

### Percy

Percy saw Arthur when he was down at Barrow, and often told him stories of his time on Sodor.

### Murdoch

Not much is known about Arthur and Murdoch's relationship, but Murdoch and Arthur worked together to help out the engines on the London trip. Arthur did accidentally nearly crash into Murdoch's train. Murdoch was upset about it, and Arthur decided to tell the truth about who Clarence was.

### Jinty and Pug

Like Rosie, Arthur worked on Jinty and Pug in the London Midland Region. The tank engines also met up with Percy when he came to Barrow to tell stories of his escapades on Sodor. Arthur, Jinty and Pug also worked to help out the engines on the London trip.

### Whiff and Stanley

Not much is known about Arthur's relationship with the duo, but they ultimately found out the truth about who Clarence was.

### Rosie

Rosie and Arthur worked together on the London Midland region following Rosie's transfer. They also often met up with Percy when he told his stories of his escapades on Sodor. Arthur and Rosie also helped out when the Sudrians went on the London trip. Rosie found out the truth with Clarence much later on in life.

### Daisy

Arthur was chosen to fill in for Daisy when her group went to London. Not much else is known about their relationship.

### BoCo

Arthur and BoCo were old friends on British Railways, and the then-black tank engine stood up for BoCo against Bowler when the former broke down. When Arthur was asked to be trialled on Sodor, he declined so BoCo could be given a better chance at life. The duo reunited when Arthur was one of the volunteers of the London trip, and he was very happy to find out BoCo had been rebuilt.

### Dennis

Arthur is quick to be annoyed by Dennis due to his laziness and calling him 'Artie'. Dennis' poor listening to Arthur's distress also caused him to spread rumours, which further hurt Arthur and Dennis' relationship.

## Personality

Arthur is a very polite gentleman, and works with a high sense of professionalism. This gives him a sense of pride, which can very often get in the way. He often tries to push his previous life as Clarence to the side, when he was very boastful, arrogant and reckless.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Arthur is based on a London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Ivatt Class 2MT tank engine developed for the LMS, (hence the initials on his tanks). Four members of the class are preserved. The engine Arthur is specifically based on, 1204/41204, was built on the 21st of December, 1946, withdrawn November 1966, and scrapped April of 1967.

### Livery

Arthur is painted in LMS Crimson Lake with gold boiler bands and yellow lining. The initials "LMS" and his number (16) are painted on the sides of his tanks in yellow with red lining. His wheels are also painted red and his ladder is painted black while the steps at his front buffer beam are red and he has white lamp irons.

Interestingly, while these colours were used by the LMS, this livery is inauthentic for Arthur, as his class was only ever painted black when in service on the LMS. This is because he didn't receive the red paint until he got to Sodor. In his pre-Sodor appearances, Arthur was painted black.

## Differences from the episodes

* Arthur used to be a tender engine named Clarence, which was his concept name.
* Arthur's old number was LMS 1204/BR 41204 while his Sudrian number is 16. His number in the TV show was going to be 41241, an engine who was preserved on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
	+ This was changed because if Arthur was this engine, he'd have the same problem Stepney did in the TV show, a real life preserved engine on Sodor.
	+ Another reason for this change is because the real 41241 didn't work for the LMS, while No. 41204 did.
* *The Spotless Record* and *Something Fishy* are going to be a two parter introduction episode to Arthur, rather than two standalone episodes who feature him. Furthermore, James replaces Thomas in these episodes.

## Trivia

* The preferred voice actor for Arthur is David Tennant, who plays The Tenth Doctor from *Doctor Who*.