Murdoch

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> Please, I want some peace and quiet. I don't want to share a shed with chatterboxes! - Murdoch complaining
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**Murdoch** is one of Sodor's largest and strongest tender engines, who is somewhat shy, a gentle giant and prefers the quiet countryside to the constant noise of the industry. He hauls goods trains on the Main Line and lives at Knapford Sheds.

## History

### Thomas & Friends

Murdoch was brought to help out the engines with their heavy workloads. Because of his size and strength, Salty and Harvey were eager to learn more about him. Murdoch, however, disliked the noise of their chatter and he ended up getting cross with them. The next day, Murdoch finally had a chance to pull a train through the quiet countryside. Unfortunately, his journey was interrupted by a flock of sheep. Murdoch had to wait with the noisy sheep until Toby could bring the farmer to lead them away. That night, Murdoch found Salty's and Harvey's company a relief.

Murdoch was happy but shy about being decorated for the May Day festivities.

One windy autumn day, a large red carpet landed on a goods wagon from Murdoch's goods train, unbeknownst to Murdoch. Percy briefly chased after it, until the heavy winds blew it away again.

When Whiff first arrived on Sodor, Murdoch (alongside Molly and Neville) laughed at Emily because she was showing Whiff around Sodor.

Emily once needed Murdoch's help when she became stranded in the mud and near the end, Emily asked him which track should she take. Murdoch told Emily that the tracks on Gordon's Hill were being cleared and told her to take the valley route instead.

Murdoch shunted Rocky while helping Thomas recover the lost materials for the Sodor River Bridge's restoration.

## Personality

Murdoch is a mighty, powerful engine with ten drive wheels. He is one of the largest engines working on Sodor and was brought to the Island to help with the heavy workload and pull heavy goods trains across the Main Line. Murdoch is as shy as he is strong, as he is actually a gentle giant. He can often be found seeking peace and quiet, away from the bustle of the yards and the Docks. He enjoys long hauls through the countryside and although he can get short of patience and a little annoyed if he does not get some alone time, he can be quite a reserved engine. Although he can be an independent worker, Murdoch is often content to join in, help and offer advice where he deems it worthy, but, despite being hard to miss due to his defining strength and size, he will not jump to put himself at the centre of attention.

## Livery

Murdoch is painted dull orange with green and red lining. He has smoke deflectors, on which he wears red nameplates with his name in gold.

## Appearances

* Season 1 - Bad Luck Emily (*flashback*)

## Trivia

* Murdoch's name is often misspelt as *Mordoch*, The Motor Road and Rail system previously spelt Murdoch's name incorrectly as "Murdock".
* Even though Murdoch's tender wheels are black, most merchandise ranges have them orange, excluding Ertl, Tomica, Tomy, TrackMaster, Take-N-Play and Hornby.
* Murdoch is the first character introduced in *Thomas & Friends* to have smoke deflectors, the second being Hiro, although if *Gordon Goes Foreign* was made, the Big City Engine would've been the first and Murdoch the second.
* Michael Angelis gives Murdoch a Scottish accent in the twelfth series, while Michael Brandon gives him an English accent.
* The Halloween Engine in the eighth series episode, *Halloween*, used Murdoch's cylinders.