Stepney

**Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine** is a minor character in the Seventyverse and is owned by the Bluebell Railway.

## Backstory

Stepney was awaiting the cutter's torch after being withdrawn from service when a group of people came to see them. These people were from the Bluebell Railway Society and they have saved Stepney to run on their line. Stepney was delighted in his new home and made new friends with the other engines there. A few years later, Stepney and their controller, Mr. Holden visited the North Western Railway where Stepney had many adventures such as helping a passenger to get home, taking a cricket ball in one of their trucks by mistake and, on their last day, helped Duck to haul a heavy passenger train after Bowler sucked a bowler hat in his air intake. After this, Stepney returned to the Bluebell Railway and resumed their normal duties.

## Relationships

### Thomas

At first Thomas was jealous of Stepney as the A1 Terriers (Stepney's class) was more successful than the E2s (Thomas' class), especially Thomas is the last member of his class left whilst Stepney has nine siblings left. However, after Stepney complimented Thomas' expert handling of his branch line, Thomas and Stepney soon became friends and just before they left for home, Stepney assured Thomas that his siblings live on inside him.

### Duck

Stepney was tasked to help on the Little Western, and he and Duck hit it off pretty well. They both laughed when Bowler got his comeuppance, and pulled his special train together.

### Percy

Percy heard a lot of Stepney's history and started talking about it to Douglas and Thomas. The latter of which was very upset until he revealed the truth. Percy also allows Stepney to take some of his trucks down the branch.

### Mavis and Daisy

Stepney gets along pretty well with the Ffarqhuar diesels. Stepney and Mavis agree on the subject on trucks, but Daisy was shocked that Stepney *liked* them.

### Diesel

Stepney and Diesel worked together at Knapford for the evening, when a special train was set. Diesel let Stepney take it, as his top speed wasn't that impressive.

### Bear

Stepney was supported by Bear so they could get to Sodor without running out of coal or water. They immediately found him to be a pleasant sort, and hoped he would pass his trials. Stepney was very pleased to find when Bear became part of the NWR.

### Bowler

Stepney scoffed at Bowler's attitude, and knew he would get his comeuppance eventually. He was right in more ways than one.

### Rusty

Stepney and Rusty hit it off pretty well. It was also thanks to Rusty that Stepney was able to carry on his tourist special; by using some of the saloon coaches as part of his train on flatbeds. Rusty admitted that if he could, he would save another engine from scrap. This might have prompted Stepney to have a dream about Rusty doing just that.

## Personality

Stepney is a friendly engine who enjoys their work and is grateful for being on the Bluebell Railway. They also enjoy working with trucks and misses them on the Bluebell Railway. When Thomas revealed the reasons of his jealously, Stepney made Thomas feel better by complimenting his work on his branch line.

## Technical Details

### Real-life History

Stepney was built by Brighton Works in 1875 and was rebuilt into an A1X in 1912. During his last working years, Stepney worked on the Hayling Island branch line, until he was taken out of service in 1960 and placed on an out-of-use siding. He was bought by the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society and arrived on the railway on 17th May, making him the first standard gauge steam locomotive to be saved for the Bluebell Railway.

Since his first appearance in the *Railway Series* and *Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends*, Stepney has become one of the most popular engines on the railway, with children all across the country coming to see him. Stepney has even participated in "Day Out with Thomas" events and has carried a face for these events.

Stepney was taken out of service in 2008, after his boiler ticket expired; but underwent a fast-track overhaul and returned to working order in 2010, just in time for the line's 50th Anniversary. In March 2014, Stepney was withdrawn from service following the failure of his main steam pipe. As of 2020, whilst he awaits to go into the workshop for new cylinders and significant work on his frames and boiler, Stepney is currently on display inside the Bluebell Railway's new 'Steam Works!' shed complete with his signature face from the former "Day Out with Thomas" events.

### Livery

Stepney is painted in LB&SCR ochre gold, formally known as "Stroudley's Improved Engine Green", with green, red, white and black lining. His name is painted on his side tanks and the number "55" is painted on the sides of his bunker, both in white.

## Differences between the books, TV show and series

* In the books and TV show, Stepney was male. In this series, Stepney is non-binary. This was done because Stepney is not a gender-specific name.
* In the books and this series, Stepney lives on the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex, just like in real life. In the TV show, Stepney's line was on Sodor near the Skarloey Railway and was rescued from scrap by Rusty.
	+ Because of how much it deviates from real life, Railfanbronymedia considers "Rusty to the Rescue" to be the worst episode of "Thomas & Friends". TobyandMavisforever, however, disagrees, and finds it to be a charming story. Both of them found a middle ground with a story called "Rusty Saves the Day" where Rusty and Stepney were able to interact with each other.
* In the books, Stepney came before Duck got a branch line; before Oliver, BoCo, Mavis and Bear came to Sodor, and before Scotsman visited Sodor. In this series, he came after Oliver, BoCo and Mavis came to Sodor; Duck was already on his branch line and Diesel took over pilot duties for him; he and Scotsman visited at the same time, and Bear and 261 were trailed at the same time. 199 didn't come to Sodor in this version of Super Rescue.
* By the time the events of Crossed Lines and Fire Engine happened in the books, Stepney was long since back on the Bluebell Railway. In this series, these events happen during Stepney's visit.

## Trivia

* Stepney's number is LB&SCR No.55. Other numbers included SR No.2655/BR No.32655.
* The preferred voice actor for Stepney is Samuel Joslin, who played Jonathan Brown in *Paddington* and *Paddington 2*.