Bulstrode (T&F)/Behind the Scenes

Background Information
Bulstrode is a fictional barge created by Christopher Awdry.

Bulstrode first appeared in the fourth series episode Special Attraction, which first aired in 1995. His last appearance was in the sixth series episode No Sleep for Cranky, which was released in 2002.

In 1995, Bulstrode was introduced in the fourth series of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, reprising his role from the Railway Series. In the Railway Series, his face was dark yellow, but in the television series, he has a grey face to match the other characters. His only appearance was in the episode, Special Attraction. He made brief appearances in the fifth series, but he had no face.

Gauge 1 model
Bulstrode's fourth series model was made using a red fishing boat from Tugs. The boat in it's original form appeared briefly in the third series episode All at Sea.

Between Thomas and the Magic Railroad and the sixth series, his original model became too damaged for use on screen and had to be replaced. His new model only appeared in a deleted scene image of the sixth series episode, No Sleep for Cranky.

Present Day
After production of the model series wrapped in 2008, most of the models and sets would be put into storage, with some being put on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park. All other models would be logged and referenced in 2009 by HiT Entertainment, from this HiT would decide on which models were to enter storage once again, which would be given to crew members and which to be disposed off. Due to only having one model made in gauge 1 scale, Bulstrode's model would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership.

Bulstrode's model used to be on display at Drayton Manor. He wore his shocked face from 2009 to late 2019. In February 2020, the model was given his unused happy face. When the exhibit closed and a new layout was constructed elsewhere in the park, the model was returned to storage.

Faces
Five different facial expressions were sculpted for Bulstrode, although only four were used on-screen and one of which a happy face for his newer model was unused. The faces were sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mould.

Voice Actors

 * Ryōichi Tanaka