Tractors (RWS)

There are many types of tractors on Sodor, built for different purposes.

Ford Tractors
The Ford Tractors are used for ploughing fields and hauling trailers. The trailers carry farm products, such as hay bales and wool and are delivered to markets.

James once had to shunt a goods train of these tractors on well wagons. Two of the wellwagons were later involved in an accident, where they found themselves traveling sideways accross the points and knocking a signal over.

Basis
These tractors are based on various blue Ford tractors built by the Ford Motor Company between 1954 to 1984.

Livery
These tractors are painted blue.

Appearances
Railway Series= {{Scroll box|

The Railway Series

 * The Twin Engines - The Missing Coach
 * Tramway Engines - Mavis
 * James and the Diesel Engines - Crossed Lines

Companion Volumes
}}
 * 1994 - James the Red Engine and the Signal
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection

Trivia

 * The Farmer's Tractors that appear in Tramway Engines are illustrated with faces.

Nuffield Tractors
The Nuffield Tractors are used for ploughing fields and hauling trailers. The trailers carry farm products, such as hay bales and wool.

Once at Killdane bridge, a tractor's load of hay bales had caught fire and begun spread to the grassy banks. Gordon witnessed the blaze and was able put the fire out using the waterhose inside his cab.

Basis
These tractors are based on various Nuffield Universal tractors built by Morris Motors Limited between 1948 to 1969.

Livery
These tractors are painted bright red-orange, officially referred to as "Poppy Orange".

Appearances
Railway Series= {{Scroll box|

The Railway Series

 * Small Railway Engines - Useful Railway
 * Really Useful Engines - Stop Thief!
 * Thomas and Victoria - Toby's Vintage Train
 * Thomas and his Friends - Gordon’s Fire Service

Companion Volumes
}}
 * 1995 - Thomas the Tank Engine Catches a Thief
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection

Willie's Tractor
Willie owns a tractor that he drives alongside the Arlesdale Railway. It is accompanied with a green trailer.

Biography
Once, Willie and his tractor were late to deliver a load of wool and he did not secure the bales properly. Unfortunately, due to Willie's carelessness and an overloaded trailer, the load slipped onto the line, causing Rex to crash into it and derail at Arlesdale Green.

Basis
Willie's tractor resembles a Fordson Dexta tractor from the 1960s.

Livery
Willie's tractor is painted dark blue.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Small Railway Engines - Useful Railway

Companion Volumes

 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Trivia

 * In the Railway Series, the tractor is depicted with a dark blue face and had headlight eyes.
 * In the Television Series adaptation of Useful Railway, the tractor was replaced by a non-sentient green Fordson Tractor.

The Farmer's Tractors
These tractors reside at a farm in Ffarquhar. They are owned by an angry farmer.

Biography
The Quarry Tramroad runs through a farm lane, and in wet weather, the tractors make the lane muddy and slippery. This makes it difficult for an engine to grip its wheels onto the rails.

On one occasion, the lane was blocked by Mavis, who got stuck in the middle of the level crossing. A blue cab tractor and all other traffic were forced to wait until Toby came to free Mavis from her predicament. An angry farmer (who was the tractor's driver) told Mavis "just what she could do with her train".

Basis
The tractors are based on the Ford 5000 model. Dan the Front Loader shares the same basis.

Livery
The tractors are painted dark blue.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Tramway Engines - Mavis

Companion Volumes

 * 1979 - Thomas the Tank Engine: Annual 1979
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * -|Television Series=

Videos

 * Mr. Perkins Storytime - Toby's Tightrope

Trivia

 * In the Railway Series, the tractors are depicted with black faces and have headlight eyes.
 * In the Television Series adaptation of Mavis, the tractors' role were replaced by Terence and Bertie.

Allchin Traction Engine
The Allchin Traction Engine was a steam-powered tractor that lived at Ulfstead Road near the Mid Sodor Railway.

Biography
In 1920, the traction engine hauled Stuart from Cronk to the Mid Sodor Railway’s station at Peel Godred.

Once, a farmer was distracted and his cows wandered onto the station premises at Ulfstead Road. So the traction engine and its driver were called to heard the cows back. The traction engine's driver and the cow farmer were described as rivals.

In 1987, Terence mentioned to Percy and Toby that steam engines did plough fields and run on roads once.

Basis
The traction engine is based on a Allchin 7 NHP traction engine. Whereas, Trevor is based on a 1927 William Foster & Co. Traction Engine named "Fiery Elias".

Livery
The traction engine is painted dark green with brass fittings and dull red wheels.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Toby, Trucks and Trouble - Toby Takes the Road

Companion Volumes

 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1995 - The Thomas the Tank Engine Man
 * 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection

Trivia

 * The traction engine model featured on Awdry's Mid Sodor layout is actually Matchbox "Models of Yesteryear" die-cast model based on a 1925 Allchin 7 NHP traction engine.