Cranky (T&F)

"You're/You are useless little bugs! If you put these trucks/freight cars on the inside lines, then I wouldn't have so far to travel!"

- Cranky to Thomas and Percy Cranky is an olive green tower crane that works at Brendam Docks.

Biography
Cranky bullied Thomas and Percy by delaying their loads and calling them "bugs". He learnt his lesson after a tramp steamer crashed into him and he had to be rescued by the two tank engines. Afterwards, he promised never to insult them again. However, he still teases the engines occasionally, such as when Percy complained that there was too much work and when Henry arrived at the Docks in a barge full of fish.

Despite his lack of sleep, Cranky works very hard, but his working attitude makes the engines cross whenever they think that Cranky is too slow - as a result of their insults, Cranky can sometimes cause accidents.

Although he is naturally grumpy, Cranky has shown that he has a kind side too. He once helped Thomas out of trouble when he and Percy were playing "Hide and Peep" by finding Percy in the dry dock.

He has befriended a seagull that often visits him and has named it, rather fittingly, Seagull. Cranky is not fond of all animals though and is shown to have a fear of elephants.

Cranky has an intense dislike for Salty's stories and Charlie's jokes. According to one of Salty's tales, Cranky is "the Monster of Brendam".

In the seventeenth series, Cranky needed some help, so Kevin was sent to help him. However, Cranky refused the help, leading Kevin to fall into the sea. Cranky rescued Kevin and apologised for being so mean. He later called Charlie silly when he told him about the elephant on the line and warned Thomas about the icy tracks.

In Tale of the Brave, Cranky attempted to stop a ship that Gator was on after Thomas thought that Percy was on board the ship. However, this resulted in Cranky breaking, forcing the ship to turn back.

Cranky was later unloading a crate from a ship at Brendam, but accidentally dropped the crate to the ground. Fearing the contents inside of the crate were broken, Cranky hid the crate out of sight, though it was later found and taken to the Town Hall.

In the twentieth series, Cranky teased James while he was pouting by saying he looked crankier than himself.

In The Great Race, Cranky accidentally loaded a crate with Diesel in it into a boat after the devious diesel shunter's plan to enter the Great Railway Show was foiled.

In the twenty-first series, Cranky believed he would be replaced with a big new fancy crane and so he began working hard all through the night. Unfortunately, this resulted in him making several mistakes. This led The Fat Controller to buy a big, new, shiny crane named Carly. Although liking Carly at first, Cranky believed she was competitive as she had unintentionally left him with no work to do as Carly was doing all of it. Cranky frantically tried to outdo her until their hooks became entangled and they found themselves stuck fast and unable to move. After Salty told a story of a two-headed monster that worked together, he and Carly started working together and welcomed Big Mickey to their team after many years of silence.

Personality
As his own name would imply, Cranky is extremely grumpy because he is initially kept working day and night without rest. Although nowadays he is able to sleep properly, he still maintains his cranky attitude. Cranky loves teasing the engines and has an intense dislike for Salty's stories. He rarely pays attention due to his perpetual bad temper. According to Big Mickey, throughout all the years he has been at the docks, Cranky has never said a single word to him.

However, Cranky has at times shown a bit of kindness, such as when he sympathised for Percy after Thomas went missing on Misty Island and also when he used a large reflective mirror to show Henry his glowing paint. He has started to become friends with the engines working at the docks. Although Cranky is now easier to befriend, he still does not take criticism well, and grew insulted when Professor Friedrich opted to check the Blastbooster-7 after he unloaded it, despite taking all the care in the world to unload it safely.

Although he has a serious and typically unflinching demeanour, Cranky has shown that despite his cynicism, he is able to have fun. However, he often attempts to hide signs that he is enjoying something to try and keep his grumpy image. These usually go fairly poorly, but on numerous occasions he actively chooses to join in the fun and not hide anything.

Basis
According to an interview with Robert Gauld-Galliers, Cranky is based on photographic references of various cranes from the 1920s to the 1950s.

According to his 2015 trading card, Cranky is a hybrid design, based on various Tower Cranes that were mainly manufactured by the Stothert & Pitt Company of Bath, England.

Livery
Cranky is painted olive green with black and brown pulleys amongst his mechanism. He also has two nameplates on his sides that display his name in yellow lettering.

Appearances
Television Series= {{Scroll box|

Thomas & Friends

 * Series 5 - Cranky Bugs, Horrid Lorry, Baa!, Put Upon Percy , Double Teething Troubles , Something in the Air and Make Someone Happy
 * Series 6 - Harvey to the Rescue, No Sleep for Cranky, The Fogman and Thomas the Jet Engine
 * Series 7 - Edward's Brass Band, Salty's Stormy Tale, Something Fishy and Peace and Quiet
 * Series 8 - Thomas to the Rescue, Squeak, Rattle and Roll , James Gets a New Coat , Percy's Big Mistake, Thomas and the Circus , Spic and Span , As Good as Gordon , Fish and Percy and the Magic Carpet
 * Series 9 - Thomas and the Rainbow, Thomas and the Birthday Picnic , Thomas and the Toy Shop, Toby Feels Left Out , Thomas Tries His Best , Thomas and the Statue, Henry and the Flagpole , Thomas' New Trucks , Saving Edward , Thomas and the Golden Eagle , Keeping Up with James and Flour Power
 * Series 10 - Toby's Afternoon Off, Seeing the Sights, Edward Strikes Out and Thomas and the Treasure
 * Series 11 - Thomas and the Spaceship, Thomas Sets Sail, Don't be Silly, Billy , Hide and Peep, Thomas and the Runaway Car , Thomas in Trouble , Thomas and the Stinky Cheese and Percy and the Left Luggage
 * Series 12 - Steady Eddie, Rosie's Funfair Special , Henry Gets it Wrong , Heave Ho Thomas! , Excellent Emily and Tram Trouble
 * Series 13 - Creaky Cranky, The Lion of Sodor, Slippy Sodor, The Early Bird, Percy's Parcel , Thomas and the Runaway Kite , The Biggest Present of All and Buzzy Bees
 * Series 14 - Thomas' Tall Friend, James in the Dark, Thomas in Charge , Being Percy , Merry Winter Wish , Thomas' Crazy Day, Thomas and Scruff , Merry Misty Island and Henry's Magic Box
 * Series 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand, Toby and Bash , Percy's New Friends, Up, Up and Away! , Henry's Happy Coal , Surprise, Surprise , Stop That Bus! and Percy the Snowman
 * Series 16 - Percy and the Monster of Brendam, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Percy and the Calliope , Salty's Surprise , Sodor Surprise Day, Emily's Winter Party Special and Happy Birthday Sir!
 * Series 17 - Kevin's Cranky Friend, Steamie Stafford, Henry's Hero , Not Now, Charlie!, Too Many Fire Engines , Santa's Little Engine, Away From the Sea, Gone Fishing , The Afternoon Tea Express , The Smelly Kipper and No More Mr. Nice Engine
 * Series 18 - Flatbeds of Fear, Disappearing Diesels, Thomas the Quarry Engine, Missing Gator, No Steam Without Coal, Spencer's VIP , Toad's Bright Idea , Long Lost Friend, Emily Saves the World and Timothy and the Rainbow Truck
 * Series 19 - Who's Geoffrey?, The Truth About Toby, A Cranky Christmas, Toad and the Whale, Salty All at Sea, The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead , Diesel's Ghostly Christmas, The Other Side of the Mountain and No Help at All
 * Series 20 - Toby's New Friend, Henry Gets the Express, Diesel and the Ducklings, Bradford the Brake Van , Saving Time , Pouty James, All in Vain and Henry in the Dark
 * Series 21 - Dowager Hatt's Busy Day, Stuck in Gear, Cranky at the End of the Line, New Crane on the Dock, Philip's Number, A Shed for Edward , The Big Freeze  and Emily in the Middle
 * Series 22 - Forever and Ever, Seeing is Believing, Apology Impossible , Thomas' Animal Ark , Rosie is Red, Counting on Nia and Hunt the Truck
 * Series 23 - Chucklesome Trucks, Diesel Do Right , Steam Team to the Rescue, Panicky Percy , Out of Site and First Day on Sodor!
 * Series 24 - Emily's Best Friend, James the Super Engine , A New Arrival, Sonny's Second Chance, Kenji on the Rails Again and Thomas' Animal Friends
 * Other - Thomas & Friends in 4-D: Bubbling Boilers

Specials

 * 2000 - Thomas and the Magic Railroad
 * 2005 - Calling All Engines!
 * 2008 - The Great Discovery
 * 2009 - Hero of the Rails
 * 2010 - Misty Island Rescue
 * 2011 - Day of the Diesels
 * 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery
 * 2013 - King of the Railway
 * 2014 - Tale of the Brave
 * 2015 - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure
 * 2016 - The Great Race
 * 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor
 * 2018 - Big World! Big Adventures!

Music Videos

 * Series 5 - Come for the Ride
 * Series 6 - Down by the Docks and Boo! Boo! Choo-Choo
 * Series 7 - Salty
 * Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - The Work Song and One Friendly Family
 * Series 8 - Emily, A World Around You and Determination
 * Calling All Engines! - Trying
 * Series 9 - Party Time, Pride and Togetherness
 * Series 10 - Doing it Right, Favourite Place and Responsibility
 * The Great Discovery - Where, oh Where is Thomas? and Thomas, You're the Leader
 * Series 13 - Roll Along, Thomas, You're the Leader, Sounds, Determination and Engine Roll Call
 * Day of the Diesels - Day of the Diesels
 * Series 15 - Hear the Engines Coming
 * Blue Mountain Mystery - Blue Mountain Mystery
 * Series 16 - Thomas and Percy and Go, Go Thomas
 * King of the Railway - Working Together and It's Gonna be a Great Day
 * Series 17 - Hey, Hey Thomas! and On a Journey Today
 * Series 18 - The Best Friends Express
 * Thomas' YouTube World Tour - Down by the Docks, Navigation, Never, Never, Never Give Up, The Island Song, Rules and Regulations and That's What Friends are For
 * Series 19 - There's Snow Place Like Home and Down by the Docks
 * Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure - We Make a Team Together
 * Series 20 - It's Halloween, James the Really Splendid Engine and Accidents Will Happen
 * The Great Race - Will You Won't You and Full of Surprises
 * Series 21 - Set Friendship in Motion, Doing it Right and Little Engines
 * Big World! Big Adventures! - Where in the World is Thomas?
 * Series 22 - Big World! Big Adventures!, Engine Roll Call, All the Girls Around the World and The Steam Team
 * Series 23 - Don't Stop
 * Series 24 - Party Train and How Does it Work?
 * Nursery Rhymes - Six Little Trains, The Wheels on the Train, Hickory Tickory Tock, Twinkle, Twinkle Sodor Sky and My Name is Thomas

Learning Segments

 * Series 8 - Steamies and Diesels Sounds and Which Way Should Thomas and Emily Go?
 * Calling All Engines! - Which Job for Which Engine? and Thomas Looks for Mavis
 * Series 9 - Which Route Should Thomas Take?, Percy in the Dark, Where Can Neville Find Salty? and Sir Topham Hatt's Helping Hand
 * Series 10 - Help From Your Friends, Which Load for Rosie? , What Makes Salty Happiest? and What is Henry Thinking?

Videos

 * 2015 - A Friendly Farewell
 * 2017 - Shark Escape
 * 2020 - Top 5 Cranes, Top 5 Songs, Top 5 Silliest Characters , Thomas the Submarine, Thomas & Percy Learn About Different Vehicles , Thomas & Percy Learn Why It's Good to Clean Up and Thomas & Percy Learn About Shapes

Storytime
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 * Series 1 - Kevin's Cranky Friend, Who's Geoffrey?, Toad and the Whale, The Story of Cranky the Crane, and Thomas and the Dinosaurs

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 * -|Other Media=

Magazine Stories
Cranky also appeared in the magazine stories, Company for Cranky, Fish and Fog!, Fun With Friends, Sea-Bound Salty and The Camel Train.
 * 2001 - Henry
 * 2002 - Henry Helps
 * 2003 - Flying Fish!, Crane Strain!, New Year Promise!, Harvey to the Rescue!, Cruise Control! and Revving Racers
 * 2004 - Ship Ahoy!, Henry to the Rescue, Dockers' Dinner, Snake's Alive! , A Fishy Adventure, Rocket Power , Salty Gets Wet and Sparks Fly
 * 2005 - Percy and the Magic Carpet, Passenger Pick Up, Trying Time and Sorry Lorry
 * 2006 - Heavy Load and Surprise Visitor
 * 2007 - Playful Passengers, Surprise Visitor, Edward Strikes Out and Hooked Up
 * 2008 - Giant Puffer, Fast and First!, Hide n' Peep!, Perfect Promise and New Year Promise!
 * 2009 - Swing King Cranky
 * 2010 - Creaky Cranky, Steam Roasted, Surprise Visitor, Early Bird, Bubble Trouble , Rope Rescue and Buzzy Bees
 * 2011 - Being Percy, Fuss and Fumes, Too Tired, Thomas' Crazy Day , Winter Wish , A Lion on Sodor, Playful Passengers , Slowcoach Diesel and Creaky Cranky
 * 2012 - Early Bird, Henry's Happy Coal , The Flying Teapot , Thomas' Tall Friend, The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 644), Fish and Ships , The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 646), Blue Mountain Mystery, City of Truro and Playful Passenger!
 * 2013 - Hover Bother!, Sodor Surprise Day, Early Bird! , Steamie Stafford and Kevin's Cranky Friend
 * 2014 - Salty's New Friend, Happy Birthday, Sir!, No More Mr. Nice Engine , Swanky Cranky!, Henry's Hero , Harvey the Crane Engine and Not Now, Charlie!
 * 2015 - Emily Saves the World, Missing Gator, Don't Be Late, Percy! and Not Now, Charlie!
 * 2016 - Who's Geoffrey?
 * 2017 - Emily Saves the World, Not Now, Charlie! and Diesel and the Ducklings

Books

 * 2001 - The Special Delivery
 * 2003 - Down at the Docks
 * 2008 - Thomas and the Great Discovery
 * 2010 - Lost at Sea!
 * 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery
 * 2018 - Character Encyclopedia

My Thomas Story Library

 * 2003 - Cranky
 * 2004 - Bulstrode
 * 2006 - Harvey
 * 2007 - Arthur

Engine Adventures

 * 2016 - Cranky
 * 2017 - Thomas' New Friend

Really Useful Stories
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 * 2018 - Delivery at the Docks
 * 2021 - Being Kind

Official Description
1997-2000= From Official Website:

From Official Website:
 * -|2000-2009=

From Official Website:
 * -|2010-2021=

Audio Files
In the book Camera Tour, Cranky has a horn.

Trivia

 * Cranky can be dismantled and shifted to different locations, despite it never being mentioned or shown in the show; however, there are some cases where Cranky has not been seen at Brendam or seen elsewhere.
 * Before the script was cut, Cranky was to have a much larger role in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, where he would be seen in an early sequence loading Henry's trucks, and another scene where he accidentally drops a crate of fruits and vegetables on Splatter and Dodge.
 * In the aforementioned film, although he is not a major character, his model can still be seen in the background as Diesel 10 sneaks away from the sheds. In this case, he was located in the yards at Knapford Station rather than Brendam Docks.
 * In the Serbian dub, Cranky's name is Mrgud, which is also Bulgy's name in the same language.
 * In the French dub, Cranky's name is Felix. It is intended to be an ironic name as Felix is Latin for "happy".
 * One of Cranky's models used to be on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios and wore his content face. It is now on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park and still wore his content face. In July 2022, he is now wearing his cross face.
 * Cranky's crew can access him by a floor hatch underneath his body. This is also annotated in his concept art.
 * Cranky's hook moving sound was heard in various pieces of other media such as the Madagascar penguin game and Treasure Planet.
 * Originally, Cranky was to have a grey livery; this would explain why Cranky's original Plarail and Wooden Railway toys were painted light grey instead of olive. The vast majority of his merchandise is also forest green instead of olive. Promotional renders made by Nitrogen Studios also depict him in a very deep shade of forest green. Also, the My First Thomas toy of Cranky is incorrectly painted blue.
 * Cranky was the first non-Awdry character introduced in the television series who was not Railway Series-related with a freelance basis.
 * According to an interview with Sodor Island Forums, Cranky is one of Mark Moraghan's favourite characters alongside Percy.
 * Cranky has two seagull friends named Seagull and Stuart.
 * In the Learning with Thomas short, Thomas & Percy Learn About Recycling, Cranky is shown with a grabber attachment as opposed to his hook attachment.
 * Cranky had a total of nine facial expressions during the model series era, all of which were used on-screen.
 * Since his introduction, Cranky has spoken in every series, excluding the twelfth series.

Quotes
"You're/You are useless little bugs! If you put these trucks/freight cars on the inside lines, then I wouldn't have so far to travel!"

- Cranky's first dialogue, Cranky Bugs, fifth series

"These ships can't be kept waiting. They have important cargo. If they miss the tide, they will be delayed in the docks. You should look up to the ships and show more respect. You are, after all, only little."

- Cranky's second appearance, Horrid Lorry, fifth series