Hugo

**Hugo the Rail Zeppelin** is a supporting character in the Seventyverse and is a visitor from Germany.

## Backstory

Hugo was built in Germany in 1929 as an experimental design. In 2007, Hugo visited Sodor where his driver Franz reunited with Sir Robert Norramby and Sir Topham Hatt asked Hugo to help out on the Harwick branch. Whilst there, Daisy felt threatened due to the presence on another railcar and assumed she was being replaced. However, after Daisy ran out of fuel in an attempt to prove herself, Hugo was sent to rescue her. When Daisy explained her concerns, Hugo explained that he wasn't modern and up-to-date, being built in 1929, well before Daisy's time. Daisy then apologised to Hugo and the two became good friends. Some time later, when Gordon's safety valve was not fitted after his streamlining for the Great Railway Show, Hugo was sent to take it to him. After Gordon damaged himself whilst protecting Flying Scotsman from Vinnie, Hugo took his place in the Great Race and came second to Connor.

## Relationships

### Daisy

At first, Daisy didn't get on with Hugo as she feared he was going to replace her. However, when Hugo revealed he had no intention of being so, Daisy apologised and the two soon became good friends.

### Gordon

When it was discovered that Gordon was missing his safety valve, Hugo agreed to head over to the Great Railway Show to warn him. Fortunately, Hugo got there just in time and after Gordon withdraw from the race as a result on him protecting Scotsman from Vinnie, Hugo took Gordon's place in the race, coming second behind Connor.

## Personality

Hugo is a kind and gentle engine. He loves to be useful, but is also a bit sensitive. This was shown when his feelings were hurt by Daisy ostracizing him, out of fear that her would replace her; but she soon realized that she was wrong and apologized to him.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Hugo is based on the Schienenzeppelin, known as "the Rail Zeppelin" in English, an experimental German propeller driven railcar built in 1929. It set several speed records, including the world rail speed record in June 1931 at 143 mph, which was not surpassed until 1954. It still holds the world speed record for a petrol powered rail vehicle. Due to safety concerns about having a moving propeller in crowded stations and its inability to haul rolling stock, it did not enter regular service and only a single example was built. It was scrapped in 1939 due to its material being needed by the German Army during the Second World War.

The Schienenzeppelin was rebuilt several times during its short career; Hugo is based on its appearance "as-built".

### Livery

Hugo is painted silver, with a two-tone blue strip beneath his windows and a thin blue stripe above them. He has blue nameplates on the sides of his cab with his name in white and he has blue wheels. The area around his front lights is painted black.

## Differences between the episodes and the series

* In the episodes, Hugo was ostracized by all the engines except Percy for fear he may replace them. In the series, Daisy is the only engine who feels being replaced, despite Hugo being older than her whilst the other engines were all welcoming.
* In the episodes, Hugo has no number. In the series, his number is D29, a reference to the year his real-life basis, the Schienenzeppelin was built: 19**29**.