Neil

Neil is a dark green tank engine with an unusual box shape and a heavy Scottish accent, originating from the Sodor and Mainland Railway.

Biography
Neil was built at Neilson and Company's Hyde Park Works in Glasgow, Scotland around 1861, for the Sodor and Mainland Railway and was a typical contractors' engine of the period. The details of his acquisition have sadly been lost. In 1865, he helped to ferry Skarloey from the harbour of Kirk Ronan to his home at the Skarloey Railway terminus of Crovan's Gate. He warned Skarloey about trucks and the two became friends.

Neil was later sold to the Crovan's Gate Mining Company to raise funds for the struggling Sodor and Mainland Railway once it stopped carrying freight, to bring slate from the transhipment sidings at Crovan's Gate to the harbour at Kirk Ronan. Neil survived past the formation of the North Western Railway and is still around to this day, however his current occupation or whereabouts are unknown.

Personality
Neil is a kind, simple and gentle engine who helps work the docks transporting engines and other goods being unloaded from ships to the rest of the island. Although he may look a little strange, he is extremely hard working and the other engines like him for it.

According to Skarloey, Neil befriended him when he was young, and can be described as "ugly but kind".

Basis
Neil is based on a Neilson 0-4-0 box tank, a simple and robust class of engine built in Glasgow, Scotland and sold all over the world. This basis is reflected in his name and class. His country of origin also explains his accent. All members of this class were withdrawn and scrapped.

Livery
Neil is painted a dark green color with his company's initials (S&M) and his number (2), painted on the sides of his box tank in yellow.

Appearances
Railway Series= {{Scroll box|

The Railway Series

 * Very Old Engines - Crosspatch and Bucking Bronco

Companion Volumes
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 * 1972 - Narrow Gauge Rails in Sodor
 * 1976 - Railways of Sodor and Famous Engines
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1995 - Thomas the Tank Engine Book Club
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines

Books
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 * 2003 - Skarloey
 * 2008 - Thomas' Sticker Express
 * 2011 - Skarloey the Strong Engine

Official Description
2002-2009= From Official Media

Trivia

 * Neil, alongside his brothers, are the very first known engines to ever arrive on Sodor in the RWS.
 * In the original unpublished second illustration of the story "Bucking Bronco" in the book "Very Old Engines", Neil was depicted as having blue eyes, technically making him the first and only engine or vehicle character to be depicted with an eye-color other than black, until All Engines Go!

Merchandise

 * Ertl
 * Wooden Railway
 * Trading Cards