Bruce (Engine)

"*Despite his appearance, The Midis numberless engine is not in fact a BR class 08 diesel.*"
— Edward, Sting

## Character Information

### Works at:

London, Midland and Scottish Railway (1931-1948)
 North Western Railway (1948-present)

### Basis:

BR Class 08Paxman V1 Diesel (series)

**Bruce Alejandro**, also commonly known as **Diesel**, is a prototype diesel engine for the North Western Railway, and formerly the Midis. He was also the first diesel engine to arrive on Sodor.

## Biography

Diesel was built in 1931 by Mr. Walter Paxman as a Paxton V1 experimental unit by the London, Midland, & Scottish Railway to test the viability of diesel-powered propulsion. While he was working on the mainland, Duck had taught him how to shunt and gave him advice. He became very boastful, hoping that the LMS would start building more of him. However, his breakdown revealed the true shortcomings of diesel locomotives. His repairs took a long time to complete, so the LMS did not go forward with dieselisation. Soon afterwards, he was transferred to the LMS division on the Island of Sodor. According to Adam, Diesel was still very antagonistic towards the steam engines, but the Midis and Nor'easters helped him change his opinions.

On Sodor, Diesel did mean well, but he did play tricks on the Nor'easters, such as throwing a truck into the back of Percy, which gave him fifteen days in Rail Gate. He also helped Geoffrey in sabotaging the Nor'easters' trains with the same van. He took their rivalry with the Nor'easters very seriously and would call out others for helping them, such as Colin and Peter.

In 1955, when the Modernisation Plan was announced, Diesel was surprisingly against the proposal of replacing steam locomotives with diesels, because he claimed he would never give up the glory of being the only diesel on Sodor. Around this time, Mr. Walter Paxman visited Sodor and Nor'easter engines such as Edward, learned of Diesel's real name: Bruce. That night, he told his friends on the Brendam Branch Line about his backstory.

When Adam was diagnosed with metal fatigue, Diesel was strongly against him doing the final firing because to him, Adam was almost like his best friend and mostly thanks to him, he got over his prejudice towards steam locomotives. However, he eventually learned to accept Adam's decision.

In 1960, Diesel decided to help Duck, Percy and Toby with the Waterton Project after Oliver's accident, as he knew how important it was to get hung up on the past. However, Duck still didn't trust him, and soon after hearing the trucks sing the song he'd heard back on the Hao Zowin, he attacked Duck and Percy. That night, regretting his actions that day and everything else bad he did, he apologised to Duck and Percy about his actions and he and Duck both confronted S.C.Ruffey, who had wanted revenge after both engines had bumped him. Once Oliver returned from the works, Diesel served his thirty day sentence at Brendam and returned to work a more enlightened engine.

When more diesels start appearing on Sodor, Diesel helped them see sense into the steam engines. He even taught Daisy to stand up to Francis, who was bullying Derek.

## Persona

Diesel is devious, scheming, and full of ideas to get revenge. He had viewed himself and any other Midi as high above the LNER. However, despite his antics, Diesel still wants to prove himself to be a really useful engine and has some good in him, even if he is a little reluctant to show it at times. He is also very proud to be the only one of his class and the first diesel on Sodor.

After Season 2 and Stories of War, he has matured and shied away from being devious. Until attacking Duck and Percy out of fury, he hadn't regretted any of his actions, and after doing his time, he became much more of a source of inspiration.

## Livery

Diesel is painted in the British Railways' black livery. His livery originates from British Railways in the 1950s, during the time when all shunting engines were painted black. His side rods are black.

## Basis

Diesel is based on a BR Class 08. Over seventy members of this class survive today in preservation, while around 100 remain in service on the national rail network. They were, in fact, the most successful shunting engines in the world, with 996 of them built.

In Victor Tanzig's series, he is a Paxman V1 Diesel which does not exist in real life. Though there is a real locomotive that looks similar to Diesel, a British Rail Class D3/7 built in the 1930s by the LMS. There is another diesel shunter built by the LMS which Diesel looks similar to, the British Rail Class D3/6.

## Trivia

* In The Stories of Sodor episodes based on episodes from TUGS, Bruce takes the role of Zorran from TUGS. Both of these characters are Victor's favourite from their respective series.
* It's revealed in Diesel that his real name is Bruce. His full name is Bruce Alejandro, as revealed in Election.
* Despite what many think, Diesel is not a BR Class 08 Shunter, but rather an experimental prototype that strongly resembles it.
	+ However, the BR Class 08 Shunter was developed **from** him, **not** the other way round.

## Appearances

### The Stories of Sodor

#### Season 1

* Prologue *(cameo)*
* Percy
* Legality
* Fire
* Goods
* Branch Lines
* Mainline
* Scrap *(cameo)*
* Ghost
* Cows
* Quarantine
* Carriages *(cameo)*
* Sting
* Luck *(cameo)*

#### Season 2

* Visitor
* Inspection *(cameo)*
* Thief
* Trapped
* Strike
* Spectre
* Sabotage
* Smuggling *(mentioned)*
* Prejudice
* Maintenance
* Shunted
* Armaments
* Affection
* Parade

#### Stories of War

* Evacuation *(cameo)*
* Blitz
* Combat
* Espionage
* Atrocity *(cameo)*

#### Season 3

* Aftermath
* Replacements
* Management
* Reshuffle *(does not speak)*
* Books
* Amends *(cameo)*
* Industry *(cameo)*
* Services
* Trial
* Extension
* Fog

#### Season 4

* Diesel
* Modernisation
* Robbery
* Diagnosis
* Secrets
* Aviation *(cameo)*
* Treasure
* Diplomacy
* Animosity
* Revelations *(cameo)*
* Relationships *(cameo)*
* Beeching
* Storm
* Dieselisation
* Return

#### SCPs of Sodor

* Prologue
* Path of the Dead
* Fortune Favours the Lucky
* The Nartwin *(cameo)*
* A Troublesome Engine
* The Standing Stones

#### Season 5

* Enthusiasts *(cameo)*
* Revenge
* Munitions
* Fallout

#### Sodor Shorts

* Bruce
* Sound
* Monster
* Busters
* Song
* Storytime
* Mistake *(cameo)*
* Schadenfreude
* Rap
* Marc
* Switch
* Bridge
* Costume
* Teacher
* Bludger
* Castle
* Chef
* Why
* Preview *(in the preview)*
* Bequeath
* Blackout
* Fable
* Remembrance *(does not speak)*
* Epiphany
* Instagram
* Restaurant
* Australia
* Travel
* Siege *(does not speak)*
* Nerds
* Canada
* Zombie *(cameo)*
* Spoiled
* Update
* Sins
* Pets
* Triggers
* Adaptation
* FRANKenstein
* Resolution
* Remake
* Words
* Advertisement
* Imposter
* Production *(mentioned)*
* Possessed *(cameo)*
* Job
* Catfished
* Windfall
* Valentine
* Stereotypes
* Insult *(mentioned)*
* Government
* Monarchy
* Oligarchy
* Matriarchy
* Candidate
* Constituency
* Election
* Coup
* Dictatorship
* Revolution
* Anarchy
* Idiom
* Strangers
* Hypnotised
* Shakespeare
* X-Ray
* Style
* Glitch *(as a midget)*
* Pregnancy
* Childbirth *(mentioned)*
* Toddler
* Brave
* Reddit
* Disguise
* Gimmick
* Outcry
* Like
* Dislike
* Club
* Overreaction *(cameo)*
* Dibs
* Duel
* Injury
* Sued
* Lawsuit
* Shylock
* Framed
* Macho *(not seen)*
* Misinformation
* WTF
* Valuable
* Backfire
* Payback

#### Sodor Specials

* Non-Faceless Vehicles *(cameo)*
* A History of its Railways *(cameo)*

## See Also

**LMS**

**Rail Gate Prison**

*\* = Crime Unknown*

 Residents/Workers