Arthur

**Arthur** is a large mixed traffic tank engine originating from the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. He is very organised, making sure everything is precise and accurate and constantly offering input to others. He also had a "Spotless Record", which he was very proud of.

## Biography

Arthur originally worked on a small branch line on the Mainland with Murdoch, Emily and Samson. Around the early 1960's, their branch line was affected by British Railways nationalisation and was closed down. The 4 were due to be scrapped until discovered by Henry, and a rescue operation was organised by James, unbeknownst to Sir Topham Hatt, to bring them to Sodor. The operation went successfully, but the engines were now stolen property of the Mainland, making Sir Topham Hatt furious, especially at James for organising it, as he couldn't buy them due to lack of money and too high a price, but he couldn't send them back either as they'd be scrapped, therefore being stolen property indefinitely.

The 4 were eventually kept on the railway, but were still BR property until they could be bought. Murdoch and Arthur were set to work at the Lumber Company, with Murdoch pulling the trains and Arthur arranging them. Following the completion of the job, Arthur was sent to Brendam Docks to help with the goods traffic there. He kept the yards running like clockwork, until he ran into Bill and Ben when he was due to take a train of clay. The 2 fed him false instructions about bumping the trucks when they misbehaved, which he did. This caused the trucks to make him a runaway, and he collided with Douglas' fruit train on the points to Edward's Branch Line. This made him distraught, as his Spotless Record was broken. However, Douglas told him not to worry, as British Railways would scrap him all the same, Spotless Record or not. This made him feel much better.

When the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre and Tidmouth-Arlesburgh Branch reopening projects began, Arthur was assigned to the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre site with Emily and Edward, along with Bill and Ben, much to Arthur's dismay. Many weeks later, there was a fire on the Main Line, and Arthur was one of the engines delayed. During this delay, his, Murdoch, Emily and Samson's owner, Dr. Beeching, arrived and to force Topham into a deal, along with threatening to scrap Arthur and Murdoch. When an outcry broke out, Arthur helped in wheeshing him away.

Arthur attended the opening of the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre, and was also asked to attend a meeting later that day. There, it was announced that he, Murdoch, Emily and Samson had been purchased by one of Sir Topham's colleagues until Topham himself had the money to buy them for his railway.

## Personality

Arthur is a very organised, precise engine, who loves organising yards and arranging trains. He takes pride in his work ethic, and constantly runs to time. The other engines, especially Henry and James, sometimes find his attitude annoying, but they're still good friends with him.

Despite all this, Arthur can sometimes become quite cocky and takes advice too seriously. This often takes a turn for the worst, as shown when Bill and Ben fed him false instructions and caused him to smash into Douglas' goods.

Arthur seems to have some sort of case of OCD, which explains why he is so organised.