Annie and Clarabel

## Clarabel

**Annie** and **Clarabel** are a pair of orange-brown coaches who work on the North Western Railway. The pair usually work on the Ffarquhar Branch Line - or as part of "The Local" on the Main Line - with Thomas, who loves them dearly.

## Biography

Annie and Clarabel are respectful to all of the engines, but most of all Gordon and Thomas. The only exception to this is Daisy, who they respect least of all for insulting them and Henrietta. They show a kind and caring side to everyone on the railway. However, despite their kindness and sweetness, they can be stern when needed, especially Annie. For instance, they scolded Thomas for teasing Gordon after his accident, although they are no saints themselves. Once when Daisy was rude to them, they naughtily tricked her into thinking there was something wrong with her which caused her to leave them and their passengers alone at Maithwaite. Annie and Clarabel are best friends, but like all friends, sometimes they fall out. Despite this, they always try to make things right in the end.

Although the two respect Gordon, both Annie and Clarabel do not tolerate his arrogance more than other engines and like others they seek to teach him a lesson, as Annie was shocked by Gordon's rude comments about Edward. Additionally, when Gordon begged Thomas to speed up on Gordon's Hill, Clarabel smiled smugly at the express engine both before and after he got stuck on the hill. Furthering their morals, though, they do have a sense of humour, and did not hesitate to laugh at Gordon when he told them and Thomas about his trousers mishap.

When Thomas received his branch line after rescuing James, Annie and Clarabel were given to Thomas in 1925 when he was given his branch line after rescuing James, the two coaches were given to him to use. They operate as a push-pull set. They have had several adventures, such as losing their guard and becoming runaways. At times when Thomas is away, James, Percy, Toby, Duck, Stanley and Ryan have all taken his place to pull them.

## Basis

Annie and Clarabel are based on LBSC Stroudley Coaches built between the early 1870s and late 1880s.

## Livery

Annie and Clarabel are painted in a bright orange livery with their names painted on their sides in white. In summer 1960, they were refurbished, repainted and their buffer shank housings became red at the request of Lady Hatt.

## Appearances

### Season 1

* Thomas and the Breakdown Train *(do not speak)*
* James and the Coaches *(do not speak)*
* Thomas and the Guard
* Thomas Goes Fishing *(do not speak)*
* Thomas, Terence and the Snow
* Thomas and Bertie
* Tenders and Turntables *(do not speak)*
* Trouble in the Shed *(do not speak)*
* Percy Runs Away *(do not speak)*
* Thomas Saves the Day
* Coal *(do not speak)*
* Thomas in Trouble *(cameos)*
* Thomas’ Christmas Party
* Down the Mine

### Season 2

* Thomas, Percy and the Coal *(Clarabel does not speak)*
* Thomas and Trevor
* The Runaway
* Percy’s Promise *(do not speak)*
* Better Late Than Never *(do not speak)*
* The Missing Coach *(do not speak)*
* Thomas Comes To Breakfast *(cameos)*
* Daisy
* Percy’s Predicament *(do not speak)*
* Ghost Train *(do not speak)*
* Woolly Bear *(cameos)*
* Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree *(cameos)*

### Season 3

* Time For Trouble *(cameos)*
* Thomas Gets Bumped *(do not speak)*
* Trust Thomas *(cameos)*
* Tender Engines *(cameos)*
* Bulgy *(cameos)*
* Percy, James and the Really Fruitful Day
* Thomas and Percy’s Christmas Adventure *(cameos)*

### Season 4

* Thomas and Stepney *(do not speak)*
* Henry and the Elephant
* Thomas and the Special Letter
* Stop Thief!
* Mind That Bike! *(cameos)*

### Season 5

* Gordon and the Gremlin *(cameos)*
* Thomas and the Rumours *(cameos)*
* Baa! *(cameos)*
* Put Upon Percy
* The Fat Controller’s Holiday
* Make Someone Happy *(cameo)*

### Season 6

* James and the Red Balloon *(cameos)*
* Percy’s Chocolate Crunch *(cameos)*
* Thomas, Percy and the Squeak *(do not speak)*
* Twin Trouble *(mentioned)*
* Edward the Very Useful Engine *(cameos)*
* The Fogman *(do not speak)*
* Jack Frost *(cameos)*

### Season 7

* Emily’s New Coaches
* Harold and the Flying Horse *(cameos)*
* Gordon and Spencer *(cameos)*
* Toby’s Windmill *(cameos)*
* Not So Hasty Puddings *(do not speak)*
* Three Cheers for Thomas *(do not speak)*

### Season 8

* Emily’s New Route *(cameos)*
* James Goes Too Far *(cameos)*

### Season 10

* Hero of the Rails *(do not speak)*
* Play Time
* Too Many Fire Engines
* Don’t Bother Victor *(cameo)*
* Blue Mountain Mystery

### Season 11

* King of the Railway
* Wayward Winston *(do not speak)*
* Gordon Runs Dry *(do not speak)*
* Percy’s Lucky Day *(cameo)*
* Santa’s Little Engine
* No Snow For Thomas
* Scruff’s Makeover
* Not Now, Charlie! *(cameo)*
* No More Mr. Nice Engine *(cameo)*
* Thomas’ Shortcut

### Season 12

* Scrambled Eggs *(cameo)*
* Tale of the Brave
* Old Reliable Edward
* Not So Slow Coaches
* Thomas and the Emergency Cable
* Emily Saves the World
* Duck and the Slip Coaches *(cameo)*
* Samson At Your Service
* Spencer’s VIP
* Last Train For Christmas *(cameo)*

### Season 13

* Who’s Geoffrey?
* The Truth About Toby
* Very Important Sheep
* Lost Property
* Thomas the Babysitter
* Toad and the Whale *(cameo)*
* Salty All At Sea *(cameo)*
* No Help At All *(cameo)*
* Reds Vs Blues
* Two Wheels Good
* Slow Stephen
* Diesel’s Ghostly Christmas
* The Other Side of the Mountain

### Season 14

* Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure
* Sidney Sings
* The Way She Does It
* Letters To Santa *(cameo)*
* Love Me Tender *(cameo)*
* The Railcar and the Coaches
* Cautious Connor
* Hugo and the Airship
* Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks *(cameo)*
* Three Steam Engines Gruff
* The Christmas Coffeepot
* The Big Freeze

### Season 15

* The Great Race
* Dowager Hatt’s Busy Day *(cameo)*
* Philip’s Number *(cameo)*
* P.A Problems *(cameo)*
* Unscheduled Stops
* Terence Breaks the Ice
* Daisy’s Perfect Christmas *(cameo)*

### Season 16

* Off to See the World
* Rebecca the Substitute
* Nia’s Arrival *(do not speak)*
* Washout

## Gallery

Annie’s current livery (1910’s - present)Annie’s painted initials (1910’s - present)Clarabel’s current livery (1910’s - present)Clarabel’s painted initials (1910’s - present)
## Trivia

* Annie and Clarabel, along with Henrietta, are the only coaches and the only female characters to appear in every series.
* Up until the debut of the Slip Coaches in the twelfth season, Harold, Annie and Clarabel were the only characters with embedded faces ever since that practice had phased out.
* The first official female characters created by the Rev. W. Awdry and as such, are the first female characters of the entire series and the first named rolling stock to appear in the series.