Ernest

Ernest is a narrow gauge mountain-climbing engine who works on the Culdee Fell Railway. Like the other mountain engines, he has his own coach used for passenger services.

Biography
Ernest was built at the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur, Switzerland, in 1900. Soon afterwards, he arrived on Sodor alongside the other four engines in time for the railway's inspection and opening.

Following Godred's accident shortly after opening, Ernest and the three other engines worked the line successfully for 60 years. They were carefully maintained and sent back, in rotation, to the builders in Switzerland for overhaul.

When Culdee returned from the works in Switzerland, Ernest and Wilfred informed him about the changes that happened to the Culdee Fell Railway while he was away.

Ernest and Wilfred were superseded by the more modern Nos. 6-8 in 1964.

Personality
It is implied that Ernest is an old and wise mountain engine. He is good friends with Wilfred and Culdee.

Basis
Ernest is based on No. 2 Enid, an engine who works on the Snowdon Mountain Railway.

Livery
Ernest is painted in the Culdee Fell Railway's livery of purple with orange lining. His number (2) is painted on the sides and back of his cab in yellow and he has a red nameplate with a gold boarder on the sides of his tanks with his name (Ernest) on them, also in gold.

Appearances
Railway Series= {{Scroll box|

The Railway Series

 * Mountain Engines - Mountain Engine, Bad Look-Out , Danger Points and "Devil's Back"

Companion Volumes
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 * 1970 - Twelve Happy Engines
 * 1972 - The Railway Series: Surprise Packet
 * 1976 - Famous Engines and Railway Map of the Island of Sodor
 * 1979 - Annual
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
 * -|Other Media=

Annual Stories

 * 1990 - Thomas and the Sunday School Outing

Video Releases

 * 2015 - Secret Journey of Thomas the Tank Engine

Quotes
"Later, Culdee met two old friends. Ernest, number two, and Wilfred, number three. After some happy gossip, Culdee asked. "Who is Lord Harry?" "He's one of the new engines," they said, "who came while you were away; he's number six. Alaric and Eric are seven and eight, they're nice quiet engines, but old Harry's a terror!"

- Ernest and Wilfred talking about the new engines, Danger Points, Mountain Engines

Trivia

 * Like the other engines of the Culdee Fell Railway, Ernest has a face at each end.