Peter Sam (RWS)

Peter Sam, named after the Skarloey Railway 's previous controller, Mr Peter Sam and originally known as Stuart, after his builder, Kerr Stuart, is a red (originally green) narrow gauge saddle tank engine who lives and works on the Skarloey Railway.

Biography
Stuart was built by Kerr Stuart & Co at their California Works in Stoke-on-Trent, England in 1920 to their standard industrial pattern. He was delivered by rail to Cronk and hauled from there to the Mid Sodor Railway's station at Peel Godred by traction engine. Following a pattern of the MSR naming its engines after their builders, he was named "Stuart".

While living on the Mid Sodor Railway, he was cheeky and occasionally made fun of Duke until he was told about what happened to Stanley. One time, he teased Duke because of his age and had to take him and his train to Arlesdale after the tender engine failed. Stuart received his comeuppance during the journey when Duke gave a tremendous effort in helping to pull the train. Stuart was embarrassed by the whole ordeal especially when a boy asked why two engines were working together, to which his father replied that Stuart needed assistance and so Duke came to help.

When the Mid Sodor Railway closed in 1947, he and Falcon were sold to the Sodor Aluminium Company at Peel Godred for an expansion project. Following the project's completion in 1951, they were oiled, greased and sheeted under tarpaulins ready for disposal and stood for a year in the Company's yard. In 1952, they were purchased for the knockdown price of £50 (£25 each) by Sir Handel Lloyd Brown for service on the Skarloey Railway, overhauled and repainted in SR livery at Crovan's Gate Works and renamed Peter Sam and Sir Handel respectively.

Since arriving, Peter Sam has had many adventures. When he was new to the railway, he had a mishap with Henry who jokingly threatened to leave without Peter Sam's passengers if he was late. He left so quickly that he left the Refreshment Lady behind, who explained that Henry was only joking and that he has to wait, as he was a guaranteed connection. One of his more notable story arcs involved his funnel, which was severely damaged after an accident at the incline in 1958 with the Slate Trucks. In 1961, the funnel was knocked-off as he passed under a tunnel and it was temporarily replaced with a rusty pipe. Peter Sam was soon given a new funnel, a Giesl ejector, which suits him much better and has improved his performance.

When Skarloey and Rheneas' centenary was to feature a duke to open a new part of the line of the railway, Duck told Peter Sam that all Dukes were scrapped, causing Peter Sam to fear that the centenary would be ruined. It was not until the real duke came to open the new loop line that proved him wrong, although Peter Sam was left disappointed as it was not the Duke he and Sir Handel knew. Their Duke was later discovered in 1969 and brought to their railway.

In 1982, Peter Sam, not wanting to miss James' train, damaged his valve gear after he recklessly ploughed through some branches, which got caught in it. Although the passengers and the guard managed to cut him out, his front was left sore for several days.

For most of the 1990s, Peter Sam visited the Talyllyn Railway in Wales. During his visit, he took on bad water and when he got to the station, it sprayed sludge out of his funnel. Unfortunately for him, he had to stay in a siding while Talyllyn took his train, as the visitors wanted to see him. He soon learned that the water used on the Talyllyn Railway had a special powder that was used to enhance its flavour and too much of it was used. Peter Sam was soon cleaned and when he got back home in 1996, he told his story to two young volunteers named Kathy and Lizzie, who found the story very funny.

Personality
Peter Sam, named Stuart in his younger days while being brought up under the instruction of Duke, is extremely enthusiastic, eager and bubbly. He can be occasionally cheeky, but is kind-hearted, well-meaning and well-mannered. He can also be somewhat prone to being a little naive at times and perhaps take things a little too literally. With an infectious attitude and high spirits, Peter Sam is kind and hard-working to a fault and seldom grumbles about late hours and/or extra work. Although these traits can get him into trouble sometimes, he still accepts whatever job he gets and is always nice to the coaches and trucks, unlike Sir Handel.

Despite being friendly with everyone, when the bigger engines, such as Henry, tease him or cause him to misunderstand something, he can get very angry and wish to go crook on them.

Basis
Peter Sam is based on the Talyllyn Railway's Edward Thomas, a Kerr Stuart Tattoo Class 0-4-2ST that originally worked on the Corris Railway. Interestingly, Edward Thomas only donned the Giesl ejector funnel for a limited time, while Peter Sam has used it since he first received it. Four other Tattoo locomotives are also preserved, including a replica on the Corris Railway.

Livery
Peter Sam is painted in the Skarloey Railway (SR)'s standard red livery with blue lining and black wheels. His name is written on his tanks in yellow, while his number (4) is placed on his bunker in black-backed brass plates. He has a black running board and red bufferbeams.

On the Mid Sodor Railway, Peter Sam (then named Stuart) was painted green with black lining. He also had gold nameplates on the sides of his saddle tanks.

Appearances
Railway Series= {{Scroll box|

The Railway Series

 * Four Little Engines - Skarloey Remembers, Sir Handel, Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady and Old Faithful
 * The Little Old Engine - Trucks, Home at Last, Rock 'n' Roll and Little Old Twins
 * Gallant Old Engine (book) - Special Funnel, Steam Roller, Passengers and Polish and Gallant Old Engine (story)
 * Very Old Engines - Crosspatch and Duck and Dukes
 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff, Bulldog, You Can't Win! and Sleeping Beauty
 * Great Little Engines - Patience is a Virtue, Peter Sam and the Prickly Problem and Sir Handel Comes Home
 * New Little Engine - Sir Handel's Plan, Dirty Water and I Name this Engine...

Companion Volumes
}} Other Media=
 * 1972 - The Railway Series: Surprise Packet
 * 1976 - Famous Engines and Railway Map of the Island of Sodor
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1995 - The Thomas the Tank Engine Man
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
 * 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection

Annual Stories

 * 1985 - Whistle Trouble

Books

 * 1987 - Thomas's ABC

Quotes
"I'm Peter Sam, I'm running this line! I'm Peter Sam, I'm running this line!"

- Peter Sam singing happily, Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady, Four Little Engines

"Peter Sam's said again and again, his new funnel will put ours to shame. He went into the tunnel lost his old funnel. Now his famous new funnel's a drain!"

- Sir Handel teasing Peter Sam, Special Funnel, Gallant Old Engine