Frank

**Frank the Snappy Diesel** is one of the deuteragonists of the Seventyverse and the fifth engine of the Arlesdale Railway.

## Backstory

Frank was bought by the Arlesdale Railway to assist with track maintenance. When *Small Railway Engines* was published, Frank asked if he was in it but the Thin Clergyman did not known about Frank when he wrote the book as the stories were about Rex, Bert and Mike's mishaps. Frank was in a foul temper after this and his bad mood only worsened when he learnt that Sigrid and the Blister Twins weren't in the book either. That evening, Frank' temper got the better of him as  he suddenly jerked forwards and hit one of the shed supports head on. Frank was told off by both his driver and Mr. Duncan, the latter of whom sent Frank to work at the ballast mines for the next few days. Whilst there, Ivy and Idina explained to Frank how steam engines were becoming rare these days, which made them all the more popular and that gave Frank something to think about. Meanwhile, Rex had failed at the Green with a leaking steampipe whilst covering for Bert who had trouble steaming up so Frank was sent to rescue him. Whilst there, Frank apologised for his behaviour the previous night. Frank got the passengers home safely and they sang his praises. Mr. Duncan was also pleased with Frank and the broken shed support was also easily replaced so they both agreed to say no more about it so long as it remains an isolated incident.

## Relationships

### Rex

When Rex's steampipe failed, Frank was sent to rescue his train. Rex was very grateful for it.

### Mike

After Frank's mishap with the shed, Mike was fuming about it and mocked Frank for it.

### Sigrid

Sigrid stuck up for Frank when Mike was complained about his tantrum.

## Personality

Frank has a tendency to be moody and snappy. He can also be rather careless as his temper caused him to crash into the shed. However, Frank does have a gold of heart and will help his friends as was shown when Rex' steampipe failed.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Frank is based on Perkins, an engine who works on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Unlike Perkins, Frank has added round buffers. Perkins started life as NG 39, who was the second Muir-Hill Fordson tractor to be bought by the railway for quarry traffic. She arrived in 1929, two years after the original tractor, and was rebuilt as a steam-outline diesel 0-4-4 in 1931 for use on passenger trains. In this guise it was named the Passenger Tractor and nicknamed Pretender. She worked through the war and the first passenger services after the end of the conflict.

In 1975, the petrol engine was replaced with a Perkins P6 diesel, giving the loco a modern radiator grill at the front. In 1984, the engine was rebuilt again, however this time she lost her fake steam outline and became similar to an industrial diesel shunter. She was named Perkins in 1985 and was re-engined again in 1990. Her main use is on permanent way trains.

### Livery

Frank is painted light grey with a red stripe around his body. He has a red nameplate with a gold border on his sides with his name on them, also in gold. His buffer beams are painted red with silver buffers. He wears his number (5) on his sides.

## Differences between the books and the series

* In the books, Frank's accident in the sheds happened during the morning. In this series, the accident happened in the evening.

## Trivia

* The preferred voice actor for Frank is Gavin Langelo who voiced Gallus from *My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic*.