Derek/Behind the Scenes

Television Series
Derek is a fictional standard gauge diesel created by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and David Maidment working on the North Western Railway.

In 1998, Derek made his debut in the fifth series of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends in the episode, Double Teething Troubles. The engine is only known as "the new diesel" or “the diesel” in that episode; his name was not revealed until his merchandise was released after his debut. He later appeared in the special, Calling All Engines!, during the song's music video, Trying.

According to Sharon Miller, Derek was originally going to appear in the sixteenth series episode, Bust My Buffers!. But it never materialized due to "Paxman" in the script being mistaken for "Paxton".

Derek is based on a BR Class 17.

Gauge 1 Model
Derek’s model was custom built to run on gauge 1 track. The model was built from perspex and was painted using glossy car body paint.

The chassis was constructed from scratch (CNC). It had a motor powered by electricity from the track via the pickups on the metal wheels.

Present Day
After production of the model series wrapped in 2008, most of the models and sets would be put into storage, with some being put on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park. All other models would be logged and referenced in 2009 by HiT Entertainment, from this HiT would decide on which models were to enter storage once again, which would be given to crew members and which to be disposed off. Due to only having one model made in gauge 1 scale, Derek's model would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership.

Derek's model is currently in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton England.

Voice Actors

 * Hisao Egawa