Buses (T&F)

A bus is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. There are many types of buses that have appeared in Thomas & Friends media.

AEC Regal Bus
These are half-cab single-decker buses that are owned by Sodor Roadways and provide a guaranteed connection with the North Western Railway. They reside at Knapford Bus Yard.

The buses have been commonly spotted at Timouth, Tidmouth Hault, and Brendam Docks. Some of these buses have also been seen at special events, such as when City of Truro arrived at Tidmouth Sheds during his visit to Sodor, or when a welcome party was held for Stepney at the Bluebell Valley where a welcome for Stepney was held.

Basis
These buses are based on the AEC Regal "T Class" London Country Area bus. Eight of these are known to survive in preservation. One of these, T31, is believed to have been the first bus to be privately preserved in the UK. Bertie is another member of this class.

Livery
These buses are commonly painted red with silver hubcabs. Like Bertie, their livery is based on the famous red bus livery used by London Transport.

In The Great Race, Thomas briefly envisions himself as one of these buses, maintaining his blue livery with red and yellow lining. In the annuals, a lime green bus with a big white stripe on his sides appeared in the story "You Never Know". In the magazines, a dark green Hospital bus with yellow hubcaps appeared in the story "Important Passengers!", and a red bus with yellow arrows on its sides appeared in the story "Diesels and Steam Engines".

Appearances
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Thomas & Friends

 * Series 1 - Thomas and Bertie and Toby and the Stout Gentleman
 * Series 2 - Saved from Scrap, The Deputation and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree
 * Series 3 - Time for Trouble, Gordon and the Famous Visitor, Donald's Duck, The Trouble with Mud, No Joke for James, Trust Thomas, Buzz, Buzz, All at Sea, Escape and Bulgy
 * Series 4 - A Bad Day for Sir Handel, Trucks!, Rusty to the Rescue and Bowled Out
 * Series 7 - Toby's Windmill

Specials

 * 2016 - The Great Race

Music Videos

 * Series 4 - Let's Have a Race and Thomas' Anthem Grand Finale
 * Series 5 - It's Great to be an Engine and Come for the Ride
 * The Great Race - You Can Only Be You

Videos
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 * 2015 - Original 70th Anniversary History Time Travel

Books

 * 1985 - Big Story Book and Thomas and Bertie and Thomas Down the Mine
 * 1986 - Four Great Stories
 * 1993 - Trust Thomas
 * 2004 - Edward
 * 2006 - Jack
 * 2011 - Edward the Blue Engine and Jack the Front Loader
 * 2013 - Thomas and Friends Story Treasury
 * 2015 - Thomas' New Friend
 * 2016 - The Engine Shed Story Collection

Magazine Stories
A bus also appeared in the magazine story, Holidays.
 * 1996 - Important Passengers!
 * 2002 - Sodor Goes Pop! and Diesels and Steam Engines
 * 2004 - Thank You, Thomas! and Duck's Little Joke!
 * 2013 - Bulgy's Back

Annual Stories

 * 1986 - You Never Know
 * 1992 - Bertie to the Rescue

Video Games
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 * 1993 - Thomas the Tank Engine Adventure Series (Super Nintendo)

Audio Files
Horns

Trivia

 * Three Gauge 1 models of these buses were made for the Television Series. The models are distinguishable from Bertie, as they have raised headlights and silver hubcaps. They also lack faces, black lining, indicator and tail lights.
 * Bertie is the only known bus of this design to be officially named.

AEC Regent Bus
These are double-decker buses that are owned by Sodor Roadways.

In Australia, Ace had planned to jump over 25 double-decker buses in the Outback for a super show. However, two of these buses were not confident with Ace's rehearsal and the other buses did not arrive at the event.

Basis
These buses are is based on the AEC Routemaster double-decker bus. Bulgy, his friend, the Special Bus Service, the Open Top Bus, and the Australian Buses are also members of this class.

Livery
These buses are commonly painted red, based on the famous red bus livery used by London Transport. Bulgy had cream window-surrounds, and his friend is painted similar athough he has a light grey middle section. In the magazines, the Special Bus Service is red all-over.

The Australian buses are painted dark green and yellow, akin to Bulgy when he was a vegetable bus. Unlike Bulgy, their roofs are light grey. A yellow the Open Top Bus was introduced in the Magazines.

Appearances
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Thomas & Friends

 * Series 3 - Bulgy
 * Series 24 - Ace's Brave Jump

Videos
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 * 2020 - Top 5 Jumps

Books
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 * 2003 - Bulgy
 * 2011 - Bulgy the Double-Decker Bus
 * 2013 - Thomas and Friends Story Treasury
 * 2016 - The Engine Shed Story Collection

Trivia

 * These buses use Dunlop branded tires.
 * Bulgy is the only known bus of this design to be officially named.

AEC Routemaster Bus
These are double-decker buses that are owned by Sodor Roadways.

One of these buses was once seen at Elsbridge station. It later delivered passengers to the annual church fête at Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard. On the Mainland, they are commonly found in the streets of London. Etienne once saw these double-decker buses during his visit to London.

Basis
These buses are is based on the AEC Routemaster double-decker bus.

Livery
One of these buses was painted with a lime green upper-half and a dark green lower-half with silver hubcabs. It had banners advertising "CHANCE & HUNT" on its sides.

In real life, these buses are primarily painted in the famous red bus livery used by London Transport.

Appearances
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Thomas & Friends

 * Series 1 - Thomas and the Guard
 * Series 2 - Saved from Scrap

Videos
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 * 2017 - Etienne Visits London

Books

 * 1986 - Thomas, Percy and the Coal and Saved from Scrap

Board Games
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 * 1984 - Thomas the Tank Engine: Magic Turntable

Trivia

 * One Gauge 1 model was made for the Television Series. It was sourced from a Rosedale Toys "Routemaster Bus" No. 5488. The grill and radiator were modified to be narrower and taller, and indicators were also added.
 * The bus had Chance & Hunt banners on its sides. This was a British company that handled chemicals, on railways they used special plank wagons with acid jars.
 * The AEC Routemasters have been used to protray Bulgy at various Days Out with Thomas events.

Leyland Tiger Bus
These are single-decker buses that are owned by Sodor Roadways.

These buses worked alongside Toby's Old Tramway and were often known to have accidents. Henrietta was envious of the buses as they took most of her passengers away. Eventually, Toby's line went bankrupt, with the lorries and buses taking over most of the work.

Basis
Algy's original design is an example of a half-cab Leyland Tiger bus. In the My Thomas Story Library and Engine Adventures books, one of these buses is based on the 1949 Leyland Tiger PS2/3 full-cab type bus.

Livery
Algy was originally painted yellow with a red stripe on both sides. The full-cab bus is painted red and has cream window surrounds along with a curved cline on its sides in cream.

Appearances
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Books

 * 1993 - Colouring Book
 * 1996 - Bumper Colouring Book
 * 2003 - Toby
 * 2011 - Toby the Tram Engine
 * 2013 - Thomas and Friends Story Treasury
 * 2016 - The Engine Shed Story Collection and Toby (Engine Adventures)

Annual Stories
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 * 1985 - Bertie Saves the Day

Trivia

 * Algy was the only known bus of this design to be officially named.

Albion Victor FT Bus
These are full-cab single-decker buses that are owned by Sodor Roadways. They reside at the Wellsworth Bus Yard.

Basis
These buses are based on the 1947–1959 Albion Victor FT. These were once a common sight on the Guernsey Railway. Algy is a member of this class.

Livery
These buses are painted light blue with a black stripe on both sides. On the otherhand, Algy has a white stripe.

Appearances
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Annual Stories

 * 1992 - Bertie to the Rescue
 * 1993 - Bertie the Snow Bus

Trivia

 * Algy is the only known bus of this design to be officially named.

The School Bus
The School Bus is operated by the school district on Sodor. It is regularly used to transport students to and from school.

On one occasion, the school bus broke down near Dryaw Goods Station. So Thomas had to take the school children home instead.

Basis
The school bus is based on the International-Harvester S-Series "Schoolmaster".

Livery
The school bus is painted light blue. In another magazine story, it was painted yellow.

Appearances
Television Series=

Thomas & Friends

 * Series 3 - Thomas Gets Bumped
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Magazine Stories

 * 1987 - Hello, Thomas!