BoCo

"*Yep! They wanted to have a crack at fixing me. Said they might have found a solution. I didn't believe them until they've finished. I feel great! I didn't have a single problem coming along the line. No loss of power. No wheel-slip. No engine splutter... Nothing! I even managed to tow James without breaking a sweat.*"
— BoCo explaining to Edward about his repair at Crovan's Gates.

**Bobby "BoCo" Cooper** is a mixed traffic diesel engine.

## Biography

When BoCo first came to Sodor in 1958, BR had been emboldened by the success of Joshua and had decided to send another one of their prototypes to Sodor. BoCo's engine proved to be very problematic, and he pulled into Brendam station billowing smoke. Donald offered to find some workmen to have a look at him before BoCo set off with his next train. However, when Donald ended up being held up, BoCo assumed Donald was deliberately sabotaging him to make him late. Determined to not be tricked by a steamie, BoCo set off despite his ails, leaving a patch of oil behind that Bill and Ben found. After Donald finally managed to bring the workmen, they explained to the engines about BoCo's condition, instructing Bill and Ben to search for any more oil leaked onto the tracks all the way to Wellsworth, where BoCo was held up. Having found no more oil, Bill and Ben decide to trick BoCo by teasing him about "stealing" their trucks. When Edward showed up, BoCo had enough of steamies and asked if they were prejudiced against all diesels or just him. Edward explained that Donald had actually brought workmen, and Bill and Ben explained how they had not found any more oil. BoCo apologized for assuming the steamies were being prejudiced, and Bill and Ben apologized for their trick.

After Joshua finished his trials and was reassigned elsewhere, BR had BoCo fill the vacancy on the main line, in which he would help James with mixed-traffic duties. BoCo was willing to take on any job, but his problems continued to plague him repeatedly, which BR mistakenly wrote off as teething troubles. At one point, he broke down while pulling the express and had to be helped by Henry. For his repairs, BoCo was returned to the manufacturer before being reassigned, being replaced on Sodor by Emily.

As BoCo worked on the Mainland over the next few years, his frequent problems made his class an embarrassment for BR. In the year of 1964, more diesels arrived on Sodor, and the men at Crovan's Gate managed to fix Derek's teething troubles. They wanted a try at BoCo and succeeded. BoCo didn't believe them until they finished, and when James' injector failed, BoCo made a good impression by rescuing him. BoCo was happy about his new lease on life, and in his much better condition, he excelled on the main line as a mixed-traffic engine.

In the Preview, which takes place in February 2015, Ben loses a race with Bill, which he blames on BoCo getting in his way.

BoCo makes a cameo near the beginning of Choices when Edward talks about how the engines have to be flexible and adapt to changing situations. He is used as an example when Edward says that "it's not uncommon for those of us on the Brendam Branch to deliver goods to Arlesburgh", even up to the modern day.

## Persona

BoCo is a hard-working engine, who is kind at heart, and is always trying to perfect his work. He will set other engines straight when they are getting out of line, and attempts to finish all of his jobs without slacking off or dawdling, despite often breaking down. He is always trying to prove his worth, no matter how down on his luck he feels, even though his problematic design proved to be a liability. Sometimes, he considers himself as a failure amongst himself and others, because of the many breakdowns and delays he makes. After having his engine successfully fixed, he has gained more confidence and is willing to help others needing rescue, in order to prove his strength and versatility.

## Livery

BoCo is painted in BR Green with his number, **D5702,** painted on his sides in white.

## Basis

BoCo is based on a BR Class 28 Co-Bo diesel-electric engine. His name is derived from his Co-Bo wheel arrangement, though reversed as the Reverend W. Awdry thought "BoCo" sounded more affectionate. These engines were initially used on the "Condor" express freight services but the class's Crossley engines quickly proved problematic. They suffered frequent failures, and in 1961 the entire class was handed back to the manufacturer for remedial work on the engines, and to cure problems with cab windows falling out while running. Upon return to service in 1962, all members of the class were allocated to Barrow-in-Furness. The real engines were so unfortunate, and most were withdrawn and scrapped by 1969 with only one member of the class preserved, that being D5705. BoCo's number is that of a real Class 28. The real D5702 was built in October 1958 and was withdrawn in September 1968, before being scrapped at J. Cashmore Scrapyards the following year.

## Appearances

### The Stories of Sodor

#### Season 1

* Preview *(mentioned)*
* Prologue *(cameo)*

#### Season 3

* Choices *(cameo)*
* Fog *(does not speak)*

#### Season 4

* Prototypes
* Secrets
* Dieselisation *(cameo)*
* Return

#### Season 5

* Enthusiasts
* Preservation *(cameo)*
* Fallout *(cameo)*

#### Sodor Shorts

* Mistake *(cameo)*
* Justice
* Tutorial *(cameo)*
* Siege *(cameo)*
* Slogan *(does not speak)*
* Prank *(thumbnail only)*
* Remake *(mentioned)*
* Mood
* Reddit *(cameo)*
* Tyranny *(cameo)*
* Propaganda *(cameo)*