NER Vans

The North Eastern Railway Vans are rolling stock used for transporting goods and materials throughout the railways, such as the North Western Railway.

They are also simply known as vans or trucks in the UK narration or cars in the US narration.

Thomas & Friends
One of these vans was loaded with fruit and vegetables and James pulled the train for market day. When James' brakes failed, Percy had to push the train instead. Unfortunately, due to a points failure, Percy and the train were diverted into a siding. He then accidentally crushed the rear of the van and was covered in squashed fruit. .

One of these vans (along with other Troublesome Trucks) tricked Bill and Ben as to where to shunt them. As a result, the yard was in a terrible mess causing the twins to be late with their evening duties.

When Oliver fell into the turntable well, they were one of several trucks who teased him when he returned from the works. They stopped their teasing towards him, when he pulled S.C. Ruffey, their leader, apart.

A van which was a part of Henry's train once teased him for being scared. However, after some suspicious events happened at Hawin Lake, the trucks became spooked too. They charged forwards, crashed through the gates and hit a landslide. The trucks ran over the rubble and plunged into a ravine below.

Another van later encouraged Diesel to pull a line of 20 trucks, with their brakes on unbeknownst to Diesel. He pulled so hard that he broke loose a coupling and fell off the quay and onto a barge.

Some time afterwards, one of these vans was used to transport garden gnomes from the abandoned mine to Lower Tidmouth for the "Most Beautiful Station" competition. Percy bumped into the van and the gnomes fell out; this startled him.

One of these vans have often been used for the Flying Kipper and have been involved in many accidents and adventures of Henry, Duck or Thomas whilst being a part of the train.

Personality
These trucks fit into the category of Troublesome Trucks.

Types of sentient vans in the television series:

Basis
Despite having "N.E." on their sides, these vans are based on LNWR 6 ton refrigerated vans that are used on the railways, such as British Railways.

Livery
The NER vans are painted in either the same or different shade of black. Some of them have "N.E." painted in light grey on both sides.

Appearances
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 * Series 1 - Thomas and Gordon, Edward and Gordon, Thomas' Train, Thomas, Terence and the Snow, Tenders and Turntables, The Flying Kipper and Down the Mine
 * Series 2 - Thomas, Percy and the Coal, Duck Takes Charge, Break Van and The Diseasel
 * Series 3 - A Scarf for Percy, Time for Trouble, Donald's Duck, Thomas Gets Bumped, Henry's Forest, The Trouble with Mud, No Joke for James, Thomas, Percy and the Post Train, Trust Thomas, All at Sea, Oliver Owns Up, Bulgy, Heroes and Percy, James and the Fruitful Day
 * Series 4 - Home at Last, Bowled Out, Toad Stands By and Fish
 * Series 5 - Cranky Bugs, Horrid Lorry, Haunted Henry, Double Teething Troubles, Something in the Air, Oliver's Find and Busy Going Backwards
 * Series 6 - The World's Strongest Engine, Percy and the Haunted Mine and Gordon Takes a Tumble
 * Series 8 - Percy's Big Mistake and James Goes Too Far

Trivia

 * Two models of this van existed. However, Its appearance has been altered throughout the years and was not always depicted with a face. The second debuted in Series 6 and replaced the original from then onwards.
 * The van's model was on display at Nitrogen Studios.
 * The model is believed to have been bought secondhand around the time of the unaired pilot along with the LMS and North Eastern 4 plank trucks.
 * The second van mentioned above was scratch built.

Voices

 * Kari Tamminen