Wilbert the Forest Engine
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Wilbert the Forest Engine is a fictional character, featured in the eponymous volume 38 of the Railway Series. He is based on a real engine from the Dean Forest Railway (Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST, works No. 3806 of 1953) which was so named in 1987 after the Author of the Railway Series, Rev. W. Awdry. In gratitude for this, Wilbert's son Christopher Awdry wrote a volume featuring the engine.
The stories are:
- 150. Percy's Porridge
- 151. Cab Over Wheels
- 152. Foaming at the Funnel
- 153. Wired Up
He was brought to Sodor because Donald and Douglas were feeling overworked, and the Fat Controller needed another engine. He thought that an engine of Wilbert's class would be ideal. Luckily, he was friends with Wilbert's controller, and so was able to arrange a trial visit.
Wilbert was to work on Duck's branch line - making Percy unhappy as he wanted to meet Wilbert on Thomas' branch line. But after Percy had an accident with some porridge, Wilbert was in fact sent to work there. Whilst there, he told Thomas and Toby the story of Sixteen, a steelworks engine who disobeyed a warning notice and had an accident. Then he made the mistake of accidentally filling his water tank with milk thanks to a mix-up at the dairy.
When Percy was repaired, Wilbert was sent to Duck's branch line, where he swiftly proved his worth on ballast trains. The engines were all sorry when it was time for the big tank engine to leave, but the Fat Controller was very satisfied with Wilbert's work, and decided that that type of engine would indeed be perfect.
The real Wilbert
The real Wilbert was originally a shunter at a colliery in Staffordshire, built in 1953. It was working until 1976, when the it was purchased by the Dean Forest Railway. In 1981 it was given the name G. B. Keeling, but in 1987 it was renamed Wilbert after the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, the creator of the Railway Series books and then president of the Railway. In 1983, the locomotive had the honour to haul a Royal Train for the Duke of Gloucester and in 1991 attended the opening of the line to Lydney Lakeside with City of Truro. A popular locomotive with children visiting the line, but currently out of service awaiting an overhaul.
External links
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