Drake

**Drake** was a D2 class express locomotive that was owned by the Wellsworth & Suddery Railway (W&S) from 1876 to the formation of the North Western Railway (NWR) in 1915. He was one of the railway's two flagship express locomotives until the arrival of the B4s Buxton and Burton in the 1890s.

## Biography

Drake was built at Brighton Works for the W&S as a batch of two Stroudley D2s in September 1876 for express duties between Crosby to Suddery (later Brendam). He replaced the five G class 2-2-2s delivered the year before and proved his worth to the railway, resulting in him and his brother Derek becoming the W&S' flagship locomotives because of their impressive speed and power.

## Personality

Drake is an arrogant locomotive who choses what he believes in but can get tired very easily if challenged. He can also get angry if something he doesn't approve of appears in his sights such as more powerful "replacements".

## Livery

Drake is painted in the standard Wellsworth & Suddery Railway Maroon livery.

## Basis

Drake is based off a LB&SCR D2 class 0-4-2 tender locomotive. They were built at Brighton Works from September 1876 to October 1883 for suburban passenger duties and were developed from the successful D/D1 class 0-4-2T "D-tanks" of 1873. They were built to handicap on duties that the D class couldn't handle and were frequently placed on lightly loaded continental boat trains between London and Newhaven, resulting in the class being named after European cities but were commonly known as the "Lyons class" due to the first member of the class, No. 300 'Lyons'. The class was replaced the more powerful C2 0-6-0s and B2 4-4-0s with withdrawals occurring from November 1902 to March 1907, with none preserved.

## Trivia

Drake's number (13) is normally seen as "unlucky" and is known in some cultures as a bad luck charm.

Drake, along with his brother Derek, is often mistaken for a Stroudley B1 class 0-4-2. Depsite the W&S owning no B1s, the D2 does have a slightly similar appearance due to both designs being 0-4-2 tender locomotives designed by William Stroudley, only difference is the B1 has larger driving wheels and different design of splasher at the front.

Drake's usage as a primary express locomotive could be seen as a paradox since the D2 class was built for suburban passenger duties but were used on light boat trains on occasion.

Drake appears to have a "berserk button" when someone calls him "small" or "underpowered", unlike his brother Derek.

Despite his actual build date being unknown, Drake's age can be calculated as follows:

* In Rivalry (set in 1894), Drake was 17-18 years old.
* In German Spy (set in August 1915), Drake was 38 years old
* In Fast Goods (set in November 1902), Drake was 26 years old.
* If Drake is still alive when Gwen told her stories, he would be around 106-120 years old.

Drake's fate after being sold to a mainland contractor is unknown. According to official documents, Drake is listed as "Missing since 1942 following the Manchester Blitz" but many presume that he was scrapped or perished in the air raid while few believe that he's still alive.

* If Drake is still alive, this would make him the last D2 left inexistence.

Drake hates the feeling of being replaced by newer locomotives. This is shown through is yelling at Goliath (who's much stronger and larger than him despite being a tank engine) in Brighton Baltic.

Drake is a hybrid of the personalities of Gordon from Thomas & Friends plus Lizzie and Louise from the Newton Abbot Saga.

Drake's name comes from his class, **D**2.