BoCo

BoCo

Background information

**First episode**
"The Trouble With Trucks"

Character information

**Full name**
* BoCo the Diesel Engine
* BoCo the Big Friendly Diesel

**Other names**
* Buzz-box diesel (*by James*)
* BoCo the Brave

**Age**
Unknown (*Engine*)

**Home**
Island of SodorEngland (*formerly*)

**Friends**
* Duck
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Edward
* Bill and Ben
* Derek

**Quote**
"We're sorry Mr-er...""Never mind, call me BoCo. I'm sorry I didn't understand about the trucks."

**BoCo** is a green mixed-traffic diesel engine, who primarily works on Edward's Branch Line and occasionally on the Main Line.

Personality
BoCo is a tame diesel engine, who is sensible, kind, and has a decent sense of humour. He is also very disciplined, as seen as he stops Bill and Ben from their pranks. Upon his arrival, he was unfortunate enough to be set upon by the mischievous Bill and Ben, when, thinking he had intentionally stolen their trucks, they pretended to be one engine and nearly made his eyes pop out. BoCo is now wise to the tank engine twins' pranks though he still somewhat humours them to a point. He is also good friends with Bill, Ben, Edward, and Duck. He is a true friend and is often willing to stick up for the underdog. BoCo is firm, but fair and friendly in his nature, not being afraid to speak his mind. Even Gordon soon thought of him in high regard when he "saved" him from Bill and Ben's antics. BoCo upholds a more praiseworthy and respectable, likeable image for diesel engines everywhere, being happy to show the more pompous steam engines that diesels have their uses. BoCo helps bring good order across Edward's Branch Line, even occasionally pulling Main Line trains, as the Fat Controller recognises how versatile he is.

Technical Details
Basis
BoCo is based on a British Rail (BR) Class 28 Co-Bo diesel-electric engine. These engines were initially used on the "Condor" express freight services but the class's Crossley engines quickly proved problematic. They suffered frequent failures, and in 1961 the entire class was handed back to the manufacturer for remedial work on the engines, and to cure problems with cab windows falling out while running. Upon return to service in 1962, all members of the class were allocated to Barrow-in-Furness. BoCo was susceptible to the mechanical failures of his class - according to the Awdrys, however, the Fat Controller eventually found a fix to prevent these malfunctions. The real engines were not so fortunate, and most were withdrawn and scrapped by 1969.
BoCo's number belonged to a real BR Class 28. The real D5702 was built on 29th September 1958, and was withdrawn on 7th September 1968, before being scrapped at J. Cashmore Scrapyards the following year.
In the annuals, BoCo mentions a brother of his - D5705, a real preserved engine, who is the last surviving Class 28. In another annual, BoCo claimed to have a twin called "CoBo" in order to play a trick on Bill and Ben.

BoCo's basis
Livery
BoCo is painted green with red bufferbeams. His number (D5702) is painted on the sides of his cab in white.

Appearances
Television Series* **Season 1** - The Trouble With Trucks, Toby and the New Engine, The Trouble With Spencer (cameo), Lorry Takes A Tumble (cameo), Duties of The Diesels (cameo), Wilbert to the Rescue (cameo), Wilbert, Frank, and the Milk, Thomas' 4th of July (cameo) and Gordon Plays a Trick (cameo)
* **Season 2** - Thomas Helps a Friend, Disaster on Sodor (cameo) and The Daring Duel
* **Season 3** - Cranky's Delivery and Mike's Ice Cream Party
* **Season 4** - Naughty Engines (does not speak)
* **Season 5** - A Windy Day For BoCo
* **Season 6** - The Haunted Shed and An Opportunity of a Lifetime
* **Season 7** - Rails on Fire
* **Season 8** - Sir Spencer of Sodor and The Almighty Alfie
* **Season 9** - Hankenstein (cameo) and Tender Bender
* **Season 10** - Scruff and S.C.Ruffey, Bee Yourself, James and Coal Crisis
* **Season 11** - Fergus' Day Off, Duncan in the Dumps (cameo), Just Duck's Luck, Spencer Goes Too Far (cameo), Holly Jolly Molly (cameo), Trembling Trevor and BoCo and the Cocoa
* **Season 12** - Greetings, Montague!, Scottish Blues, The Mavis Matrix and The Mystery Train
* **Season 13** - Bert's Arlesdale Fail (cameo), Rust or Bust, Sideplates and Skirmishes and How Gator Stole Christmas (cameo)
* **Season 14** - Quarry Quest, James in a Jam, S.C.Ruffey's Sweet Tooth (cameo) and Hatt Trick (cameo)
* **Season 15** - Roundhouse Roulette (cameo), The Crosby Coalition (cameo) and Ice Ice Daisy
* **Season 16** - Marion Had a Little Lamb, Luke Dukes It Out (cameo), Painting the Rosie's Red (cameo) and Throw Topham from the Train
* **Season 17** - Tender Love and Care, Dustin the Really Useless Engine (cameo), Sidney Transplant, Big Trouble on the Little Western (cameo), Diesel Gets the Bronze (cameo) and Rocked by a Hurricane
* **Season 18** - Santa Claws and One Is The Loneliest Engine (mentioned)

Specials* Saving Pirate Ryan (cameo)

Trivia* BoCo's name is often mis-capitalised as "Boco". One example of this is on his nameboard.
* On the cover of the My Thomas Story Library, BoCo's wheel arrangement shows a Co-Co wheel arrangement. This was fixed in the 2011 re-release.
* In the television series, BoCo and Daisy shared some of the same faces, with Daisy's face having added make-up. They also share the same chassis and powered "Bo" bogie.
* BoCo is the first of two characters to mention their own real-life basis in the television series, the other being Merlin.
* Four of BoCo's face masks are now owned by Twitter user TomsProps.
* In a 2015 interview with Sodor Island Fansite (SiF), railway consultant Sam Wilkinson expressed interest in reintroducing BoCo into the CGI Series, if this had happened, this would have become his first appearance and speaking role since the fifth series episode Double Teething Troubles.
* BoCo's name is a joke on his wheel arrangement, Co-Bo.