Bulstrode (T&F)

Bulstrode is a self-propelled barge who used to work at Knapford Harbour. He now resides on a beach as a children's play structure.

Biography
Bulstrode used to carry coal and stone to Knapford Harbour, but always complained about not being loaded fast enough, which annoyed the trucks. One day, Bulstrode's role as a barge came to an end when Percy accidentally pushed some Trucks off the quay and into Bulstrode's hold. He was then towed to a beach, where he was turned into a children's play structure. He remains there today, most likely still grumbling.

Personality
Bulstrode was grumpy, rude, and always found something to complain about. Judging from the way he treated the trucks, he was not above bullying others for things beyond their control.

Basis
Bulstrode is based on a 1920s self-propelled coastal barge.

Livery
Bulstrode is painted with a cream cab, light brown deck, a black hull and a red keel. His name is painted on his bow in white. In the "My First Thomas" range he is painted blue, red and yellow.

Appearances
Television Series= {{Scroll box|

Thomas & Friends
Faceless
 * Series 4 - Special Attraction
 * Series 6 - No Sleep for Cranky
 * Series 5 - Something in the Air, Oliver's Find, Happy Ever After and Make Someone Happy

Music Videos

 * Series 4 - Thomas' Anthem Grand Finale, Gone Fishing and Don't Judge a Book By its Cover
 * Series 5 - Accidents Will Happen, Night Train and Percy's Seaside Trip
 * Series 6 - Little Engines
 * Series 7 - Troublesome Trucks

His faceless model made numerous appearances at the Norramby Fishing Village in the fifth series. His surprised face was also used on some trucks in the eighth and tenth series episodes, Fish and The Green Controller respectively. }} {{Scroll box|
 * -|Other Media=

Books

 * 1999 - Thomas the Really Useful Engine
 * 2000 - Thomas and the Magic Railroad (manga)
 * 2004 - Bulstrode
 * 2010 - Let's Go, Thomas!
 * 2013 - The Secret of the Mine

Magazine Stories

 * 1998 - The Big Speech! and Bulstrode the Engine
 * 2001 - Down at the Docks and Bulstrode the Hero
 * 2002 - Take Cover!, The Beach and Safe as Houses!
 * 2003 - Shipwrecked! and Tour of Sodor
 * 2004 - On the Beach
 * 2005 - Too Wet
 * 2006 - Wait with Freight and Caroline's Cruise

Bulstrode also appeared in the magazine stories, Boat Afloat, Gone Fishing and Pirate Passengers. }}

Official Description
2004= From Official Website:

Horn
In Something in the Air, Bulstrode's faceless model shares its horn sound with the Salvage Tugboats.

In the video game, Thomas Saves the Day, Bulstrode seems to have a stock horn of unknown origin.

In the flap-book, Find That Freight, Bulstrode has a horn that is sourced from a stock sound effect, which is also used in the 2021 reboot, Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, albeit at a lower pitch.

In the book, 10 Stories from Thomas & Friends, Bulstrode has yet another stock horn sound.

Trivia

 * Bulstrode's appearance in the television series is rather different from his appearance in The Railway Series: in The Railway Series he has two square cargo holds, six bumpers on each side, and his face is the same colour as his cab and rectangular, while in the television series he has only one rectangular hold with three bumpers on each side and a square standard grey face.
 * Bulstrode was the only non-human character created by Christopher Awdry to be introduced into the television series.
 * According to Abi Grant, Bulstrode was meant to have a large scale model built for the Wharf, but this never happened due to budget concerns.
 * Bulstrode is one of the few characters to have a happy face that was never used in an episode. It was, however, used for the Rocking Bulstrode rides at Drayton Manor and Thomas Land, merchandise such as his TrackMaster and 2013 Wooden Railway toys and his actual model on display at Drayton Manor as of 2020.
 * Bulstrode's original model had windows with lights at the back of the model. When the model was replaced after Thomas and the Magic Railroad, these windows were removed.
 * In the Norwegian VHS dub, Bulstrode is called "Sinnataggen", which could translate to "grumbler" or "crosspatch".
 * Bulstrode is frequently paired with Cranky in merchandise, magazines, and video games, despite having been written out of the series before Cranky's introduction.
 * Bulstrode is depicted with his shocked face in almost all promotional material and merchandise, much like Annie. Following the introduction of CGI-styled merchandise of Bulstrode, this appears to have ceased.
 * In instances where a happy expression was required he would be depicted with either Cranky's face or a rectangular version of Percy's.
 * Bulstrode had a nameboard but it was never used in any of the intermission segments along with Toad's nameboard.
 * Bulstrode is the only character from Thomas & Friends to appear in the spinoff series Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go without appearing in the CGI era of the original series.
 * He is also the only character created by Christopher Awdry to do so.