Hurricane

**Hurricane** is a large tank engine who works at the Steelworks on the Mainland along with Frankie.

## Biography

Hurricane was built in 1902 by Startford Works. At that time he was known as 'Decapod' and was an experimental locomotive with a wheel arrangement 0-10-0. The reason he was built like that is because of political purposes in order to block the passage of a new rival scheme by British parliament of a new rival scheme for an electric railway. The aim for him was the ability to accelerate passenger trains at a rate comparable to electric traction and electric trams. Whom the Great Eastern Railway (GER) were in competition with due to a suburban crisis.

Hurricane's name came from a successful acceleration trial that he had done in Feb. 1903 from Startford to Romford and return after pulling eighteen suburban four wheeled coaches with pig iron inside weighing 335 tons in less than ideal of weather of wind and rain. He ran a light engine test run of 55mph the previous month. Despite his success, the suburban crisis decreased due to the introduction of electric tramways. It also came to the fact that Hurricane was too heavy for bridges and too long for points and curves. So he was later converted to a 0-8-0 goods tender engine because of that in 1914. He had hauled coal trains on the Cambridge line until his standard boiler needed repairs and was then sent to scrap in 1913.

Later on the Stocksbridge Steelworks were in need of an bigger engine and luckily Hurricane was chosen for the job. He was bought by the steelworks and was converted back to his original self, except with a new wheel arrangement of 0-6-4. The first and only one of his kind. Later on in 1958, he began working with a diesel shunter named 'Frankie' a charming and intelligent diesel and the two became friends ever since. In 1968 however there was a large shipment of steel that needs to be taken to Bridlington goods yard and and no one even bothers to help them because they also have too much work too. That was until NWR No.1 'Thomas' came while travelling to Bridlington with a goods train that was destined for NWR No.5 'James' after NWR No.3 'Henry', who originally took the train first, had an accident at Vicarstown. The two engines however kept him at the steelworks with forced labor but it wasn't out of bad intention, they just wanted help and had enough of everyone rejecting their offer of help.

Later on, the steelworks had retired 'Hurricane' from service in 1972 and when Sir Charles Topham Hatt had heard he was up for sale, he immediately bought for the works station and he still works there ever since. His friend, Frankie, had retired the steelworks later on and is now preserved at the North Western Railway.

## Personality

Hurricane is a very big tank engine. Although he is named after the name of a dangerous storm, Hurricane is gentle, level-headed and kind. He is happy to see Thomas and treats him from the start like a new friend.

He is however very loyal to Frankie, and follows her lead, trying his best to keep up with her plans and help her realise her schemes. Hurricane turns a bit of a blind eye to the mean side of Frankie, preferring instead to see her as a loyal companion.

He is hard-working, easy-going, generally cheery and his kindness cannot help but show through. He also proved very brave and selfless as he put himself in danger to save Thomas when he was dangerously close to moulted slag, getting his front wheels melted in the process.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Hurricane is based on the GER Class A55 "Decapod", an experimental tank engine named so for its ten driving wheels. It was designed to prove that steam locomotives could compete with emerging electric locomotives. It achieved its goal on 26th April 1903, during stormy weather. It never entered regular service and was rebuilt to an 0-8-0 tender engine in 1906, being assigned to haul coal trains for GER's March district, remaining the only eight-coupled steam locomotive to work on GER. It was later scrapped in 1913 due to being non-standard.

### Livery

Hurricane is painted reddish brown with a black running board, red lining, steam pipes and wheels. He has brass nameplates on either side of his running board, the number "20" painted on his front buffer beam in yellow and brass and red number plates on either side of his coal bunker.

## Appearances

### Season 7

* Toby's Easter Egg Hunt (cameo)
* Bill and Ben's Christmas Rescue (cameo)