Frank

Frank is a grumpy but kind diesel who works on the Arlesdale Railway.

Biography
Frank was built at Arlesburgh Works circa 1967 out of bits and pieces from several other engines. He is powered by a Perkins diesel engine, and was named after its creator. Frank is a shunter who is used for maintenance work and empty carriage workings across the Arlesdale Railway.

When The Railway Series' twenty-second book, Small Railway Engines was first published, Frank became infuriated when he found out that he had been left out due to the Thin Clergyman not being aware of his presence. He then refused to come out of the shed the next morning, but when he did, he only resulted in running into the back of the shed, cracking a shed support. He then felt ashamed of what he had done, but later redeemed himself by rescuing Rex when his steam pipe leaked and taking his train. Believing Frank should not have to do rescues, the Small Controller realised the railway needed another engine, which came in the form of Jock.

Thomas & Friends
While Frank never appeared in the Thomas & Friends television series, he appeared in Thomas & Friends merchandise. Ertl and Wooden Railway toys of him had been made.

Personality
Frank is often described as being inclined to be grumpy and becomes irritable quite easily, especially when he feels left out of things. When in a bad mood, Frank tends to be uncooperative, leading to mishaps such as his incident with the shed wall. Though he may have a bad attitude at times, Frank knows the importance of friendship and teamwork and will always help a friend in need.

Basis
Frank is based on Perkins, an engine who works on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Unlike Perkins, Frank has added round buffers.

Livery
Frank is painted light grey with a red stripe around his body. He has a red nameplate with a gold border on his sides with his name on them, also in gold. His buffer beams are painted red with silver buffers.

Originally, when he was intended to be a steam-outline diesel, Frank was specified as being green.

Appearances
Railway Series= {{Scroll box|

The Railway Series

 * Jock the New Engine - We Need Another Engine and Teamwork

Companion volumes
{{Scroll box|
 * 1972 - Narrow Gauge Rails in Sodor
 * 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
 * 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection}}
 * -|Other Media=

Learning Segments
Frank's basis, Perkins, appeared in Mr. Perkins' Railway segments - Miniature Railway and Wash Down.}}

Official Description
2001-2002= From Official Media:

From Official Media:
 * -|2002-2004=

Audio Files
Whistle

In James and the Diesel Engines and Other Stories Frank is portrayed with a whistle despite being a diesel. It is the same stock train whistle used for Rainbow Sun and Rocky.

Trivia

 * Frank is named after Frank Perkins, the engineer who created the Perkins diesel engine.
 * Frank is the only Arlesdale Railway diesel not to be mentioned in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways.
 * Frank's basis, Perkins, used to be painted grey to resemble Frank at Days Out with Thomas events.

Merchandise

 * Ertl
 * Wooden Railway