Freddie

"Fearless" Freddie is an old narrow gauge tank engine on the Skarloey Railway.

Biography
After many years of absence, Freddie returned to the hills of Sodor. Although the reason for his absence is not stated, it is most likely that Freddie was either on loan to another railway or undergoing an extensive overhaul. He and Sir Handel were close friends when they were younger.

Upon returning home, Sir Handel greeted Freddie, having not seen him for years. Rheneas and Skarloey, both of whom Freddie did not recognize, raced into the wharf and declared themselves the fastest engines in the hills, so Freddie challenged them to a series of races up and down the mountain. After realising that he was not as strong as he once was, Freddie used his knowledge of the mountain routes and shortcuts to secure victories. However, when his cheating placed Rheneas in danger, Freddie was forced to put his knowledge to better use.

When Mr. Percival's new bike was delivered to the Wharf without a bell on it, Freddie decided to find a bell - even though he did not know where to find one until he saw Thomas taking an old foghorn and decided that the bell from the old bike could be used for the new one.

One Christmas, Freddie tried to reorganize a party so that Colin could take part. Despite his best efforts, Freddie left telling Mr Percival about his idea until the last minute. Luckily, Freddie's idea was sorted out with the party taking place at the Wharf for Colin.

Personality
Freddie is the warhorse engine of the Skarloey Railway. In his youth, he was known as "Fearless Freddie," and he was the daredevil of the hills, known for being fast, fun and of course, fearless. As a result of having worked on the narrow gauge line many years before, Freddie knows the route, as well as many hidden tracks, like the back of his buffers and he can use this to his advantage. Although he is now a much older engine, Freddie is still full of boyish charm, has his wits about him and is always game for a competition. He is chucklesome, will never forget a friend and is still very much capable of giving the other engines a run for their money.

Basis
Freddie is based on Russell, a Hunslet 2-6-2T locomotive, with added buffers. Russell is most famously associated with the original Welsh Highland Railway in North Wales. The locomotive was built in 1906 by the Hunslet Engine Company.

Unlike his basis, Freddie has 2-link couplings, buffers and lamp irons and the brake pipes and air pump are removed. His gauge is also 2ft 3in, as opposed to the gauge of his basis, ‎1 ft 11 5⁄8 in (597 mm).

Livery
Freddie is painted grey with black and red lining and has a bronze dome. He has black name and number plates with gold writing.

Appearances
Television Series= {{Scroll box|

Thomas & Friends

 * Series 10 - Fearless Freddie
 * Series 11 - Cool Truckings, Wash Behind Your Buffers and Ding-a-Ling
 * Series 12 - Mountain Marvel, The Party Surprise and The Man in the Hills
 * Series 13 - Steamy Sodor

Specials

 * 2008 - The Great Discovery
 * 2009 - Hero of the Rails
 * 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery

Music Videos

 * Series 10 - There's Always Something New and Responsibility
 * Series 11 - The Narrow Gauge Engines
 * The Great Discovery - There's a Job for Everyone and Thomas, You're the Leader

Learning Segments
}} {{Scroll box|
 * Series 10 - Up and Down the Hill
 * -|Other Media=

Books

 * 2007 - Freddie and Thomas Makes His Wish
 * 2009 - Colin, Thomas the Tank Engine Owner's Workshop Manual, Trainloads of Fun and Watch Me Draw Thomas & Friends
 * 2011 - My Thomas Party Book, The Big Book of Engines and Freddie the Fearless Engine
 * 2012 - Copy the Stickers Colouring Book and Full Steam Ahead!
 * 2014 - Trainloads of Color

Magazine Stories

 * 2007 - Ding-a-Ling!
 * 2008 - Fearless Freddie
 * 2009 - The Party Surprise!
 * 2011 - Ready Steady Freddie

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

Whistle
Freddie shares and reuses Emily's original whistle sound with Peter Sam.

Trivia

 * In the UK narration of the twelfth series, Freddie gains an Irish accent.
 * Freddie was originally intended to return in full CGI in either Blue Mountain Mystery or the sixteenth series and was to be voiced by Bob Golding. However, most likely due to his basis going through an overhaul at the time, this did not happen.
 * This is possibly the reason why he had a lot of merchandise around the time, some even featuring full CGI renders of his face.
 * Peter Sam's Ertl Die-cast Prototype's face coincidentally looks a lot like Freddie's smiling face.

Merchandise

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