Albert

Albert is a red tank engine who worked on the Furness Railway with his two coaches, Victoria and Helena.

Biography
Albert worked on the Lakeside branch on the Furness Railway running to Windermere with his two coaches, Victoria and Helena. One snowy day (likely between 1900 and 1924) after boasting about snow, Albert had stopped outside the mouth of a tunnel while collecting passengers at Haverthwaite. When he started, he gave off so much steam that he caused an avalanche and became buried in snow. After he was rescued, he learnt to take more care in wintry conditions.

Victoria later mentioned Albert to Edward, while they were being mended at Crovan's Gate Works. She noted that Albert only ever had one accident. Albert’s fate is unknown, but it can be assumed that he was scrapped between 1919 and 1924.

Personality
Albert's character appears to be like that of Thomas - Victoria described him as being gentlemanly and polite. However, Albert has a slight tendency to be boastful and cocky.

Basis
Albert is based on a Furness Railway (FR) Class J1 2-4-2T. These were first built as the E1 class, an 'off the peg' Sharp, Stewart and Company design. In 1891, seven of these engines were rebuilt as tank engines under the supervision of Locomotive Superintendent Richard Mason and were reclassified as J1s. To suit branch line service, the frames were extended to carry a coal bunker, supported by a pair of trailing radial wheels while their tenders were replaced with side tanks, that combined had a capacity of one thousand gallons. The J1s did not originally have coal rails on their bunkers. The class members were withdrawn between 1919 and 1924. The real Parker J1 tank engines were all scrapped so it can be assumed that Albert was as well.

Livery
Albert is painted in the FR Indian red with black lining livery. The initials "F R" are painted on the sides of his tanks in yellow with blue countershading and the lining around his cab windows are also painted yellow. He has a gold builder's plate on the sides of his coal bunker.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Thomas and Victoria - Avalanche

Companion Volumes

 * 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection

Trivia

 * The line Albert worked on is part of the now preserved Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.
 * Albert is named after Albert, Prince Consort, the husband of Queen Victoria, after whom Victoria is named.
 * Albert is the last non-human character introduced in The Railway Series.