Rheneas

**Rheneas** is a vermillion narrow gauge well tank engine and the Skarloey Railway's second engine. Dolgoch from the Talyllyn Railway is his twin and Skarloey is his brother.

## Biography

Rheneas has been called a "gallant old engine" before and deserves such a title; he is highly determined, brave and courageous. Rheneas is a tough, committed worker despite his age and takes great responsibility in his work. He is keen to keep his friends smiling and, although he is a level-headed engine, he can be a bit of an adventurer too. Though he may often try to struggle on alone, Rheneas knows when it is time to call on the help of his friends. Nevertheless, Rheneas is always highly dedicated to the task at hand.

Unlike Skarloey, Rheneas was stern and thoughtful and fell out with Skarloey after the latter called him a "stick-in-the-mud" following an argument over cabs. The two reconciled after Rheneas saved Skarloey from his fear of the trestle bridge in 1866.

Rheneas’ long wheelbase enabled him to ride steadily, but it also made him hard on the track and this, together with the initial absence of a cab, made Skarloey the more heavily used of the two. Unlike Skarloey (and Dolgoch), Rheneas never returned to Whitehaven. Such repairs as were needed, including the fabrication of a cab at an unknown date. Like Dolgoch, Rheneas enjoys "peculiar motion," which did not make life any easier for the workshop staff.

Rheneas saved the railway by keeping services going through a very lean period in the early 1950s. By 1951, Skarloey was in need of desperate repairs, leaving Rheneas to run the line alone. He managed to pull a full train home one windy day despite having a jammed valve gear and was rewarded with an overhaul. When Sir Handel and Peter Sam arrived to the railway in 1958, he was sent to England for a heavy overhaul. While there, he was reunited with his twin Dolgoch. Money, however, was tight on both their railways and their repairs could not be completed immediately. Skarloey often felt lonely to know he was not there, but he often used his story of when he saved the railway to teach younger engines how to behave, like Duncan. His overhaul was finished in 1959, putting him back into good condition and he returned to the Skarloey Railway soon after. Because of his bravery, he earned the nickname "Gallant Old Engine" by the railway staff.

## Basis

Rheneas is based off of the Talyllyn Railway's Dolgoch, a Fletcher Jennings Class Bb 0-4-0WT. Dolgoch is Rheneas’ twin.

## Livery

Rheneas is painted vermilion with black and gold lining and brass fittings. He has black and brass name and number plates (2) on the sides of his boiler and coal bunkers respectively.

At the end of Blue Mountain Mystery, he was repainted yellow with blue lining, not only to play a joke on Thomas, but because the SteamWorks had no vermillion paint left. He kept this livery for a while until some more vermillion paint was delivered and Rheneas had been painted back into his original livery since then.

## Appearances

### Season 4

* A Bad Day For Sir Handel *(does not speak)*
* Four Little Engines (does not speak)
* Passengers and Polish *(does not speak)*
* Gallant Old Engine
* Fish *(cameo)*

### Season 6

* Faulty Whistles
* Dunkin’ Duncan

### Season 7

* The Trestle Bridge
* The Runaway Elephant
* The Grand Opening *(cameo)*
* Harold and the Flying Horse *(cameo)*
* Toby’s Windmill *(cameo)*
* The Refreshment Lady’s Tea Shop

### Season 9

* The Magic Lamp *(cameo)*
* Wash Behind Your Buffers
* The Great Discovery *(does not speak)*

### Season 10

* Blue Mountain Mystery
* Don’t Bother Victor

### Season 11

* King of the Railway
* Luke’s New Friend
* The Switch

### Season 12

* Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger
* Emily Saves the World
* Samson At Your Service
* Duncan the Humbug

### Season 15

* Mountain Engine
* Bad Look-Out

## Trivia

* His name is Sudric for "Divided Waterfall".
* Rheneas' relationship to Skarloey as brothers is the only time that engines of different classes are referred to as such.
* Rheneas was built at Fletcher, Jennings & Co. at Whitehaven, the same place where Skarloey, Talyllyn, Dolgoch and Smudger were built.