Stanley (narrow gauge)

Stanley, nicknamed Number 2 (No. 2), was an American narrow gauge pannier-tank engine who formerly worked on the Mid Sodor Railway up until he was turned into a pumping engine.

Biography
Stanley was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works sometime around 1917 and apparently worked in the United States before being sent to France to work on the trench railways during World War I. Following the war's end, he was sold as surplus to the Mid Sodor Railway in 1920, and was re-gauged.

However, Stanley proved to be a bad bargain. As he had not been re-gauged properly, Stanley was prone to riding roughly along the track and often derailed, though he believed this was no big deal. Repeated attempts to cure this habit failed, and Stanley was stripped of his wheels and became a pumping engine behind the engine sheds at Arlesdale.

Duke later lectured Stuart and Falcon about Stanley's downfall and they became "unusually good for several days".

Stanley was later relocated to Cas-ny-Hawin to pump out water from the mines, but by December 1946 he was becoming worn-out and broke down, causing the mines to flood. With no reason to stay open, the Mid Sodor Railway was permanently closed. It's unknown if Stanley survived the flood, and his fate after this point is unknown, but it can be presumed he was scrapped.

Personality
Stanley was arrogant, careless, and refused to listen to advice. This carelessness eventually led to him being converted into a pumping engine.

Basis
Stanley is based on a Baldwin Class 10-12-D 4-6-0 pannier tank engine, built at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States for service in the First World War. They were shipped to England and Wales and the British War Office chose them to be the principal military steam engine for the trench railways. However, they were rough riders and had a tendency to derail.

After the war ended in 1918, various railways, such as the Welsh Highland and the Snailbeach District Railway acquired them as surplus. Five of these engines are known to be preserved by heritage railways, such as the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. Stanley had been re-gauged from 1ft 11 5/8in to 2ft 3in.

Livery
Not much can be seen of his livery in the illustrations, but from what can be seen, he is painted red. Awdry's model of him was black with "Stanley" on his sides in gold lettering. It is possible that the red paint is rust.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff and Bulldog

Companion Volumes

 * 1976 - Famous Engines
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Trivia

 * Stanley's second appearance, in the back of the shed in "Bulldog" creates a continuity error. According to the story "Granpuff", Stuart and Falcon did not know about Stanley, implying Stanley's arrival and rebuild occurred before their arrival. However, Stanley is seen in the same shed as Falcon, meaning Falcon would have known about Stanley and what happened to him. Also, it has been confirmed that Falcon was built and came to the railway before Stanley, while Stuart was built and came to the railway before Stanley was turned into a pumping engine.
 * Stanley was the first and only engine of an American class in The Railway Series. Other engines from the United States are seen in the television series.
 * According to the Rev. W. Awdry, Stanley was never officially named Stanley as it was only his nickname. He is regularly referred to by his number (No. 2).
 * The Rev. W. Awdry's model of Stanley, for his Mid Sodor Railway layout, was painted black with yellow lettering and briefly had sideplates on the right side to hide the lack of a valve gear. The constant derailing of the model caused Awdry to cut it up and convert it into a static pumping engine, which served as inspiration for Stanley's story in "Granpuff".
 * Stanley was replaced by Smudger in the television series.
 * Unlike Smudger, Stanley has not received any merchandise.
 * In The Daily Telegraph (February 27th 1995) newspaper article, he is referred to as Bud the American Engine.

Quotes
"No. 2," said Duke. "Was American and very cocky. He rode roughly and often came off the rails. I warned him to be careful!" "Listen, bud!" he drawled. "In the States, we don't care a dime for a few spills!" "We do here! I said, but he just laughed. But he didn't laugh when the manager said he was going to take away his wheels and said he was going to make him useful at last." "W-w-why? What did he do?!" "He turned him into a pumping engine, that's what! He's still there behind our shed." Stuart and Falcon were unusually good for several days."

- Duke lecturing Stuart and Falcon about Stanley