Dennis

"Thomas has shown me that being a really useful engine is much better than being really lazy."

- Dennis to Sir Topham Hatt Dennis is a lazy diesel who dislikes hard work, but enjoys making other engines do it for him.

Biography
When Dennis was new to the railway, he tried to take advantage of Thomas by getting him to do all his work for him. He soon learned his lesson when he reversed into a ditch. With Thomas' help, he was able to finish his work and promised to be a Really Useful Engine from then on.

In The Great Discovery, Dennis and a number of other diesel engines were waiting in the quarry yard upon hearing that Thomas had been found in the days leading up to the reopening of Great Waterton.

Personality
Dennis is considered to be a very lazy diesel who tries to take advantage of others and depend on them to do his work instead. Dennis will often create excuses to get out of work and is infamous for the fact that, unlike most of the engines on Sodor, he does not make an effort on being really useful, and slacks off on a regular basis. As a result of his laziness, he is very unpopular with other engines, but they are forgiving enough to let him redeem himself, depending on how motivated he really is. He usually gets caught in his lies and always says sorry - but whether or not he means it is the question.

Basis
Dennis is based on British Rail (BR) 11001, a prototype Bulleid diesel built at Ashford Works, England in 1949 and scrapped in 1959. He also carries his basis' number. Dennis' twin, Norman, is also based on the BR 11001.

Livery
Dennis is painted two-tone grey with dark grey wheels, gearboxes, roof, and front. His number 11001 is painted on his sides in white, and his jackshaft is red.

Appearances
Television Series= {{Scroll box|

Thomas & Friends

 * Series 9 - Thomas' Day Off

Specials

 * 2008 - The Great Discovery
 * 2011 - Day of the Diesels

Music Videos

 * Series 10 - There's Always Something New

Learning Segments
}} Other Media= {{Scroll box|
 * Series 10 - Diesels and Steamers
 * Series 12 - Thomas' Favourite Friends - Neville and Dennis

Books

 * 2007 - Dennis
 * 2009 - Trainloads of Fun and Watch Me Draw Thomas & Friends
 * 2011 - The Big Book of Engines and The Ultimate Diesel Guide
 * 2012 - Full Steam Ahead!
 * 2015 - Thomas the Helpful Engine
 * 2018 - Character Encyclopedia
 * My Thomas Story Library - Dennis

Magazine Stories

 * 2006 - Dizzy Dennis, Justice for James and The Lazy Diesel
 * 2007 - Easy for Edward
 * 2008 - Come Back, Please!
 * 2011 - Salty's Surprise!
 * 2012 - Bubbling Boiler

Dennis also appeared in the magazine stories, Diesel Display, Do-Nothing Dennis, and Speedy Dennis.

Video Games
Dennis also appeared in DVD Bingo. }}
 * 2008 - Begins Educational Learning

Official Description
2010-2012= From Official Website

From Official Website
 * -|2013-2021=

Voice Actors

 * Tsutomu Densaka

Trivia

 * According to a magazine article, Dennis lives at Vicarstown Dieselworks with Diesel 10, possibly an idea from the early stages of production for Day of the Diesels.
 * Dennis was originally intended to return in Day of the Diesels, however, he was later dropped and replaced by Norman, who is also based on the same engine as Dennis and is known as his twin.
 * Dennis and Norman are the only twins to never appear onscreen together.
 * Dennis' horn sound comes from a stock sound effects pack and as such can be found in many other pieces of media. It was also mistakenly reused for 'Arry in the eleventh series episode Hide and Peep and Flynn in the twenty-third series episode Steam Team to the Rescue.
 * Excluding the new characters introduced in the twelfth series, Dennis is the only character introduced in the HiT Entertainment model era without a Capsule Plarail toy.
 * Dennis had a total of six facial expressions, one of which (a drowsy face) was never shown on-screen.
 * A character face checklist from the tenth series reveals that Dennis was originally going to be named Denzel.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway
 * Take Along
 * Take-n-Play
 * Motor Road and Rail
 * TrackMaster
 * My Thomas Story Library