The Little Blue Tank Engine

"Here are your trucks, James. Have you got some bootlaces ready?"

- The Little Blue Tank Engine The Little Blue Tank Engine was once seen shunting trucks at Tidmouth Yards.

Biography
The tank engine once shunted James' goods train for him and teased him about the incident he had with some bootlaces when he needed some to mend a hole in his coaches. He ran off laughing rudely, which made James very cross.

It is unknown what happened to the engine afterwards, although it can be assumed was either scrapped or relocated to a different part of the Island.

Basis
The tank engine's basis is unknown. He appears to have a 0-4-4T wheel arrangement with inside cylinders. He bears some resemblance to the Midland Railway 690 class, so it is possible he may be one of the Midland Railway Engines or a loaned engine. He could also be based on an NER Class O, especially since some extended side tanks are visible in the illustrations.

Livery
The tank engine is painted bright blue with red lining, similar to the North Western Railway's livery of the same colour scheme.

Appearances
The Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * James the Red Engine - Troublesome Trucks
 * Toby the Tram Engine - Dirty Objects

Companion Volumes

 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine (Est. 1945): Style Guide
 * -|Other Media=

Books

 * 2003 - James
 * 2011 - James the Red Engine

Trivia

 * The tank engine's role was replaced in the adaptations:
 * In the first series episode, "Troublesome Trucks" and the magazine version of it, the tank engine's role was replaced with Thomas.
 * In the pop-up book, James the Red Engine and the Troublesome Trucks, the tank engine's role was replaced with a dark green tank engine.
 * In the Engine Adventures book, "James", the tank engine's role was replaced with Charlie.
 * A similar-looking engine appears to be pulling the Breakdown Train after James collided with some tar tankers. It is unknown whether or not this is Thomas, the same engine or a different engine completely.