LNER 12 Ton Vans

LNER 12 Ton Vans are rolling stock used for transporting goods and materials on the railways, such as the North Western Railway.

They are also simply known as vans or trucks in the UK narration or box cars or cars in the US narration. These vans are the most common type of vans to have appeared in the television series.

The Railway Series
When Diesel came to the North Western Railway on trial, he attempted to shunt some old, rusty vans. He found it difficult to move the vans and used excessive force on them, not realising the vans' brakes were on. Soon Diesel pulled the trucks so forcefully that he accidentally overturned some when their brakes finally snapped. He could not move the remaining trucks and was forced to give up. As a result, Diesel was a laughing stock to the other trucks.

Thomas & Friends
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. Two vans which were 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[0].

Percy once had to deliver vans of sugar to the chocolate factory, but on the way, he slipped on an oily track and crashed through the entire factory.

Arthur once had to take some vans of fruit and vegetables, but he sped down Gordon's Hill and caused the vans to be destroyed.

One of these vans had been seen near the Sodor Ironworks, where 'Arry and Bert work, as part of scrap metal.

The LNER 12 ton 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. Since the eighth series, the vans have been known to transport other things, such as fireworks equipment and ice cream.

In Journey Beyond Sodor, Thomas took some of these trucks to the Mainland in place of Henry who had derailed with them prior. The trucks mocked and teased Thomas for not knowing his way around the Mainland. They later aided James who went searching for Thomas.

During his visit to Africa, Thomas met some of the African counterparts of these trucks. Unlike the Troublesome Trucks on Sodor, these proved to be very helpful.

Fed up of Bill and Ben's tricks, Edward decided to give the twins a taste of their own medicine. He hid a special van loaded with decorations for the annual Christmas party at Ulfstead Castle and the twins initially believed they had hidden the truck themselves. They frantically searched all over the Island for the "missing van".

Personality
The trucks on Sodor are described as being Troublesome Trucks. The African trucks are depicted as quite the opposite; somewhat silly, polite, helpful and enjoy singing peaceful and uplifting songs.

Types of sentient vans in the Railway Series:

Basis
The LNER 12 ton vans are based on the real LNER Diagram 102 12 Ton Vans that are used on the railways, such as British Railways.

Livery
In the Railway Series, The LNER 12 ton vans are painted in different liveries, such as brown, grey, maroon, green, orange and yellow, all in either the same or different shade. Sentient vans had their faces in their bodies and it matched their livery.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duck and the Diesel Engine - Domeless Engines and Pop Goes the Diesel
 * Enterprising Engines - Escape
 * Wilbert the Forest Engine - Percy's Porridge

Companion Volumes
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 * 1980 - Annual
 * -|Television Series=

Thomas & Friends

 * Series 2 - Thomas, Percy and the Coal, Saved from Scrap, Old Iron, Percy and the Signal, Duck Takes Charge, The Runaway, Pop Goes the Diesel, Dirty Work, Better Late Than Never, Break Van, The Deputation, Thomas Comes to Breakfast, Daisy, Percy's Predicament, The Diseasel, Woolly Bear and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree
 * Series 3 - A Scarf for Percy, Time for Trouble, Gordon and the Famous Visitor, Donald's Duck, Thomas Gets Bumped, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon, Diesel Does it Again, Henry's Forest, The Trouble with Mud, No Joke for James, Thomas, Percy and the Post Train, Trust Thomas, Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party, Buzz, Buzz, All at Sea, One Good Turn, Escape, Oliver Owns Up, Bulgy, Heroes, Percy, James and the Fruitful Day and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure
 * Series 4 - Bulldog, Four Little Engines, A Bad Day for Sir Handel, Trucks, Steam Roller, Rusty to the Rescue, Thomas and Stepney, Train Stops Play, Bowled Out, Henry and the Elephant, Toad Stands By, Fish, Special Attraction and Mind that Bike
 * Series 5 - Cranky Bugs, Horrid Lorry, A Better View for Gordon, Lady Hatt's Birthday Party, James and the Trouble with Trees, Bye George!, Baa!, Put Upon Percy, Toby and the Flood, Haunted Henry, Something in the Air, Thomas and the Rumours, Oliver's Find, Happy Ever After, Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday, A Surprise for Percy, Make Someone Happy and Busy Going Backwards
 * Series 6 - Salty's Secret, Harvey to the Rescue, It's Only Snow, Twin Trouble, The World's Strongest Engine, Percy and the Haunted Mine, Gordon Takes a Tumble, Percy's Chocolate Crunch, Thomas the Jet Engine and Edward the Very Useful Engine
 * Series 7 - Emily's New Coaches, Percy Gets it Right, Edward's Brass Band, What's the Matter with Henry?, James and the Queen of Sodor, The Spotless Record, Bad Day at Castle Loch, Salty's Stormy Tale, Snow Engine, Something Fishy, Fergus Breaks the Rules, Bulgy Rides Again, Harold and the Flying Horse and Three Cheers for Thomas
 * Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - Mud Glorious Mud
 * Series 8 - Thomas and the Tuba, Percy's New Whistle, Thomas to the Rescue, Henry and the Wishing Tree, James Gets a New Coat, Percy's Big Mistake, Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough, Don't Tell Thomas, Emily's New Route, Thomas and the Firework Display, Gordon Takes Charge, Spic and Span, Squeak, Rattle and Roll, Thomas and the Circus, Thomas Gets it Right, As Good as Gordon, Fish, Halloween, You Can Do it, Toby!, James Goes Too Far, Chickens to School and Percy and the Magic Carpet
 * Series 9 - Percy and the Oil Painting, Thomas and the Rainbow, Molly's Special Special, Respect for Gordon, Thomas and the Toy Shop, Toby Feels Left Out, Henry and the Flagpole, Emily Knows Best, Thomas' New Trucks, Saving Edward, Thomas and the Golden Eagle and Flour Power
 * Series 10 - Follow that Flour, The Green Controller, Thomas' Tricky Tree, Toby's Afternoon Off, It's Good to be Gordon, Seeing the Sights, Toby's New Shed, Sticky Toffee Thomas, Which Way Now?, Thomas and the Shooting Star, Edward Strikes Out, Wharf and Peace, Thomas' Frosty Friend, Emily and the Special Coaches, Thomas and the Colours, Missing Trucks, James the Second Best and Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out
 * Series 11 - Dream On, Hector the Horrid!, Gordon and the Engineer, Henry's Lucky Day, Thomas and the Lighthouse, Thomas and the Big Bang, Smoke and Mirrors, Thomas Sets Sail, Don't be Silly, Billy, Edward and the Mail, Hide and Peep, Toby's Triumph, Thomas and the Runaway Car, Thomas in Trouble, Percy and the Left Luggage and Ding-a-Ling
 * Series 12 - Thomas and the Billboard, Henry Gets it Wrong, Toby's Special Surprise, The Party Surprise, Tram Trouble, Don't Go Back, Gordon Takes a Shortcut, Thomas Puts the Brakes On and Best Friends
 * Series 14 - Victor Says Yes, Thomas in Charge, Being Percy, Merry Winter Wish, Thomas' Crazy Day and Thomas and Scruff
 * Series 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand, Happy Hiro, Up, Up and Away!, Henry's Happy Coal, Surprise, Surprise, Stop that Bus!, Stuck on You, Kevin the Steamie, Wonky Whistle, Tree Trouble and Fiery Flynn
 * Series 16 - Race to the Rescue, Ol' Wheezy Wobbles, Express Coming Through, Percy and the Monster of Brendam, Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Thomas Toots the Crows, Bust My Buffers!, Salty's Surprise, Sodor Surprise Day, Emily's Winter Party Special, Muddy Matters, Whiff's Wish and Happy Birthday Sir!
 * Series 17 - Calm Down Caitlin
 * Series 19 - Who's Geoffrey?, The Truth About Toby, Lost Property, Henry Spots Trouble, A Cranky Christmas, Snow Place Like Home, The Beast of Sodor, Very Important Sheep, Salty All at Sea, Reds vs. Blues, The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead, Philip to the Rescue, Diesel's Ghostly Christmas, Rocky Rescue and The Other Side of the Mountain
 * Series 20 - Bradford the Brake Van, Pouty James, Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks, Tit for Tat and Henry in the Dark
 * Series 21 - Hasty Hannah, A Shed for Edward and The Big Freeze
 * Series 22 - Trusty Trunky, An Engine of Many Colours, School of Duck, Tiger Trouble, Seeing is Believing, Apology Impossible, Runaway Truck, Rosie is Red and Hunt the Truck
 * Series 23 - Chucklesome Trucks, The Other Big Engine, Gordon Gets the Giggles, Thomas Makes a Mistake, Grudge Match, Steam Team to the Rescue, Diesel Glows Away, Laid Back Shane, First Day on Sodor!, Too Loud, Thomas! and Diesel Glows Away
 * Series 24 - Emily's Best Friend, The Great Little Railway Show, Thomas and the Forest Engines, Shankar's Makeover, Nia's Bright Idea, Sonny's Second Chance, Gordon and Rebecca, Coming Through!, Kenji on the Rails Again and Thomas' Animal Friends
 * Other - Thomas & Friends in 4-D: Bubbling Boilers

Specials
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 * 2000 - Thomas and the Magic Railroad
 * 2005 - Calling All Engines!
 * 2008 - The Great Discovery
 * 2011 - Day of the Diesels
 * 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery
 * 2014 - Tale of the Brave
 * 2015 - The Adventure Begins and Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure
 * 2016 - The Great Race
 * 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor
 * 2018 - Big World! Big Adventures!
 * -|Other Media=

Annual Stories

 * 1989 - Post Early for Christmas

Trivia

 * A Chinese van named Lei is the only known van of this design with a name.
 * After the eighth series, the vans were faceless. They regained faces in the twentieth series, although the faces were raised and the front vent was removed. In the fifth series episode, Haunted Henry, a van had a rectangular face because its vents were removed.
 * In the seventh series, scratch-built vans were made, albeit with their vents raised and smaller than their previous counterparts. These vans coexisted alongside the regular type until the show's transition to CGI.
 * The Salt Vans in the CGI era are modified from these vans.
 * All scratch built vans from the seventh series to the twelfth series have raised vents; this was most likely done to allow for easier use of the larger face masks. Many more of these vans were built for the eighth series, although they were not used as much due to the fact that open wagons ended up being used for all Troublesome Trucks.
 * Oddly enough every van starting from the CGI series has a wet stain on one side.
 * One of the vans used to be on display at Drayton Manor. Three of these vans were for a time on display at Drayton Manor during construction, and a tenmille van used to be on display at Nitrogen Studios.

Merchandise

 * Thomas Engine Collection Series
 * Nakayoshi
 * TrackMaster
 * Bachmann
 * Minis