Fred

Fred is a narrow gauge diesel engine who works on the Skarloey Railway. He is the railway's No. 9 engine.

Biography
In the 1980s, the Skarloey Railway bought two worn out Hunslet Diesels from the National Coal Board and using parts from both engines, constructed one good engine; Fred. He was put into service in 1989 as a secondary diesel (to Rusty) and is used exclusively for maintenance and engineering work.

Once a year, Rusty and Fred have to pull a slow train that spreads weedkillers on the tracks. One holiday weekend, Fred was supposed to pull the weedkilling train, but claimed he felt ill, forcing Rusty to do the job instead. For unknown reasons, he and Rusty did not attend Ivo Hugh's naming party in 1996.

Personality
Very little is known about Fred. Rusty's response to Fred being ill has led many fans to assume that he is lazy like Dennis and trys to stay out of work by pretending to be ill, but it is possible that Fred was legitimately ill and Rusty was just in a bad mood since Fred was his only chance of avoiding the weedkilling job. It is also possible that Fred was pretending to be ill not out of lazyness, but a similar distaste for the weedkiller train due to its monotonous nature.

Basis
Fred is based on the Talyllyn Railway's No.9 locomotive "Alf", a 0-4-0 diesel engine with a maximum speed of 9mph. The diesel locomotive was constructed in 1950. Like Fred, Alf was built out of parts from another diesel engine, the spare engine being stored at Brynglas.

It has often been seen disguised running as Fred for Skarloey Railway related events at the Talyllyn Railway.

Livery
As all the Skarloey Railway steam engines (bar Duke) share the same liveries in The Railway Series, it is assumed Fred is painted in the same livery as the only other diesel, Rusty, charcoal-black with yellow lining and lettering.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * New Little Engine - Speedkiller

Companion Volumes

 * 1976 - Famous Engines
 * 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
 * 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection

Trivia

 * It is probable that Fred, like his basis, Alf, was named after Lord Alfred Robens, a politician and Chairman of the National Coal Board between 1961 and 1971.
 * In the RWS, Fred is likely the slowest engine on Sodor, with a top speed of under 9 mph.
 * In the magazines, there is a fogman who works for the Skarloey Railway who shares the same name, Fred.

Quotes
"The weedkiller train was only used once a year, but that was once too often for Rusty. He had hoped that Fred, the other diesel, would pull the train today. But Fred was ill. "So he says!" muttered Rusty darkly."

- Rusty, "Speedkiller, "New Little Engine"