Emily (Thomas the Tank Engine)

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Emily, from the TV Series ''Thomas and Friends

'' Emily is a fictional locomotive from the television series Thomas and Friends. She is also the first female steam engine to be featured on television, and is the only female member of the "Steam Team", the eight core characters of the series. She is painted dark green and has large driving wheels, of which she is very proud.

When she first arrived on the Island of Sodor, she took Thomas' coaches Annie and Clarabel by mistake, much to Thomas' dismay. However after she rescued Thomas and Oliver from an accident Thomas forgave her. Sir Topham Hatt (the "Fat Controller") rewarded her with two coaches of her own. From Season 8 onwards she has been depicted as a rather bossy character, which can make her difficult to work with at times. She is sometimes a 'big sister' figure to little engines like Thomas and Percy.

Emily is unique among the Steam Team in not originating in the Railway Series, the books that form the basis of the television series. She is a relatively recent addition to the television series, arriving in Season 7.

Criticism

Emily has divided fans and critics of the series. Some have lauded the fact that there is now a major female character in the series. The television series and the original books have often been accused of sexism because of their shortage of female characters. These criticisms may also be the reason for Emily having her own coaches, as this effectively puts her on an equal footing with Thomas (whose coaches, Annie and Clarabel, have been attacked as overly submissive females working for their male master).

However, she has also been attacked as a "token female" who is treated as a central character purely because of her gender rather than her popularity with viewers. Some fans have even argue that her presence as a central character has pushed older, more established characters out of the series, like Duck.

Prototype

Emily is based on a Stirling 4-2-2 of the Great Northern Railway. These engines were used on high-speed express services from York to London in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Great Northern Railway used a green livery on their locomotives similar to that carried by Emily.

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