Bill and Ben the Tank Engine Twins
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Bill and Ben are characters from the Railway Series childrens books by the Rev W Awdry and its spin off TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They are twin tank engines who work for the Sodor China Clay Company. They are young and cheeky, and love playing jokes on the big engines, but are kept in order by Edward the Blue Engine and BoCo the Diesel Engine. Apart from their nameplates, they are absolutely identical- which can be confusing to engines who don't know them well. They work in the china clay quarry and at Brendam Docks, where they are kept busy shunting trucks. The Fat Controller sometimes allows them to carry out special jobs, like taking BoCo's heavy goods train and running 'Brake van Specials' for visitors, who often come to the quarries especially to see the twins.
Bill and Ben are 0-4-0 tank engines built by Bagnall's of Stafford. They were based on Alfred and Judy. They are unusually low-slung, which allows them to fit through tunnels that taller engines could not. They are based on two locomotives which worked at Par in Cornwall which had lowered cabs in order to fit under a low bridge. The real examples are both preserved at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.
TV Apperances
Bill and Ben were introduced in Season 2, and have made many appearances and 2 or 3 cameos throughout the TV Series. Despite being absent in Season 8, they do appear in Season 9.
External Links
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