Top 10 Best Thomas and Friends Characters

The Top Ten
1 Edward

Henry and Edward are my favorite characters in seasons 13-19. They shouldn't have written them off the show (I know they still appeared, but were pretty much replaced). 11/10

He's the one who used to crack me up a lot. I would rank him as my second favorite engine. He is old and worn out, but still does hard work

He's really great friend everyone, he's really wise and caring, and he's a hard worker, I also like how in The Adventure Begins he acts almost like a father figure to Thomas, he's the OG in the Thomas series!

2 Henry

Henry's last ever book about him Super Rescue is a favorite of mine I wish they could have done it in the model series. They probably wouldn't do it in the CGI series since that doesn't ever recreate most of the books.

Henry is my favorite character because he's so dang great. I also really like him in the cgi series, because he's not just a green version of Gordon like in the earlier seasons.

Even though he does have a lot more problems throughout his life, he does a lot of work. He pulls the flying kipper, he pulls the express when Gordon's not there, he helps Hiro up Gordon's hill, and is brave

3 Gordon

Incredibly entertaining to watch, it's always fun to see him get his comeuppance but watch him grow at the same time. He looks cool, has an iconic voice, has a load of the best episodes, and an air of authority around the other engines. He comes across as rude and arrogant but is a good guy underneath it all.

Gordon has been my favorite since I was a child. I still have all of the old original Thomas tapes from way back when their mouths didn't move! The new streamlined engines can stay on the mainland. I like Spencer too he's cool.

4 James

James was my favorite ever since I was 2. I don't know if it was because of his fiery red coat or snooty behavior but whatever the reason I was drawn to him.
James is arrogant and vain but cares deeply about Sir Topham Hatt's praise and approval and will work hard to get it. He is also very relatable to the other engines because like Gordon, he can be quite proud. Like Edward and Henry, he can sympathize to others even if he does or does not help. He is like Thomas where he can be mischievous and bump a few annoying freight cars here and there. And like Mavis, he is quite bossy with coaches and the troublesome trucks.
Also, I always thought his advetures were the best, I.e. getting stung on his nose, almost getting burnt alive by Diesel 10's claw, getting stuck in a dense fog, falling off tracks, and needing Jeremiah Jobling's bootlaces to tie a busted pipeline. Those are not even half.
James is the smaller of the 3 main tenders ( the others being Gordon and Henry) so he can chunt like Edward and Thomas and pull nice coaches like the other tenders.
For these reasons I pick James. He is hardcore engine and a good friend.

5 Thomas

While I am slightly annoyed with how the T.V. series tries to feature Thomas wherever possible, this is because he is the most popular character, which I'm not surprised about. I think there is a little bit of Thomas in quite a few people I know. He's cheeky, naughty, quick to do the wrong thing when in a bad temper, and tends to let advice from older, more experienced engines such as Edward slip through one cab door and out the other (he doesn't listen). But he is also kind, sympathetic, brave and willing to help anyone out of trouble. While his appearing in episodes in which his role clearly suits other characters frustrates me (the original books, 'The Railway Series', was an ensemble series, and the 'friends' part of the title suggests a larger main cast of characters akin to the books), it is clear that the character has gone on a visible journey in his 70-year working life as a children's character. At the start, Thomas was overexcited and bored with his work as a station pilot. This led to multiple embarrassing incidents during his time (being pulled along by Gordon and the Express, leaving coaches at the platform, letting trucks push him down the hill), but he proved himself to be a mature and responsible engine when he rescued James after the latter came off the line. There have always been many lessons for Thomas to learn, such as working together with others, believing in yourself, accepting everyone for their differences since it makes them who they are, and he has come out of each and every one of them a better engine than before. There is so much more to Thomas's cheeky personality that people don't see, which is kind of a shame. I always held that the characters in the book reflect every aspect of a person, and this especially goes to Thomas. He is not a perfect character, but neither are we perfect people. Thomas teaches us to learn and improve from our faults and be the best that we can be. The fact that he resonates with me on a personal level is... more

6 Percy

He's been my favorite character since I first watched the show. I used to have a little TrackMaster toy of the little green engine, along with some others. I'm still surprised that he only had the lead role in two movies, like Day of the Diesels and Tale of the Brave. I'm still hoping that they'll make a sequel to The Adventure Begins where Percy is the main protagonist. I also like him because of his personality. While some don't like him being a coward even after the events of Tale of the Brave, I don't mind that. Given how accident-prone he is and how he doesn't get the spotlight as much as Thomas does, he reminds me of Luigi from Super Mario. He may be a little timid sometimes, but when things get serious or his friends are in need of help, he's always willing to be there to help those in need. Overall, Percy is my number one favorite character in the series. He's a precious cinnamon roll that must be protected. I still remember that scene in Day of the Diesels where Flynn stays in his spot in Tidmouth Sheds next to Thomas and it feels like he's been replaced as his best friend. There's even a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment where he starts to tear up, almost like he's going to cry. It made me feel so bad for him; I just wanted to hug and comfort him. Heck, I would jump in front of a moving truck for this little green angel of a tank engine. That's how much I love him as a character, and that's why Percy is my favorite character.

7 Toby

Toby is similar to Edward but they have their diffrences. Toby's the one who sits back and watches the engines make a fool of themselves, before he tells them what to do.

I hate the way he was treated in season 19. I mean, he only got three speaking roles in that season! I mean, come on!

Did the Toby the tram engine events took place in 1949 before the events of Gordon the big engine (1950)?

8 Duck

Ok, let me settle everything down, Duck is very special to me because Britt Alcroft had no desire what so ever to have, mm mm, Montegue into the series, even though he was in the railway series,"Mainline Engines". But one day Britt was just walking down the road when she saw a Britsh Great Western Painnier tank engine. She decided that it actually was a good idea just to settle in a awkward vain great western engine. Duck was also supposed to be introduced a little more down the road, but Britt and the Reverand himself wanted fans to see what thomas and friends could do and wanted more viewers. But this is what I don't understand, why do some people hate Duck because he dose' the do anything or he just talks about how amazing being great western is. Well people like Oliver and he always talks about how awesome being great western is. And I am going to be very honest right now, I don't think that Duck is that bad in the CGI series. You can make all your opinions because I don't care, this is my comment and I say that I really like Duck from thomas and friends!

9 Oliver

This dude is one of the amazing characters in the show. He has a brake van named Toad who got scrapped with him. And that he's Duck's counterparts

He has the best character development and some of the best episodes like Escape and Toad Stands by. What I love about him is that he's flawed and three dimensional unlike most of the new series characters. He's an underrated character that needs more love(his break van has more episodes than him).

One of the best arcs of any character.

Runs away from scrap, escapes from the diesel depot with Douglas, gets too big for his boiler, trucks push him into a turntable and so he goes and fricking pulls their gangleader apart.

10 Salty

Perhaps one the strongest characters as well; never complaining and always finding the bright side in everything he does and everything that happens to him. I feel that if the other engines could figure out his secret with the Troublesome Trucks and take his advice, Sodor would be a much happier place

The Contenders
11 Donald

Donald and Douglas have been my favorite characters since I started watching the show when I was 2. Wish they had more appearances though. Infinity/10

Donald has also been one of my favorites since I was 5. I'm glad that he's the first one of the two Scottish twins and that he's number 9 too!

Donald was my favorite character when I was little. I love the theme song and how he is 1 out of 2 Scottish characters is the hole entire franchise

12 Douglas

I love that Douglas is nice to everyone. Especially his brother. I also like the time that he helped Oliver escape from scrap. Along with Toad and Isabel

I absolutely love Donald and Douglas. There personality's were really good. As well as George Carlin's Scottish impressions were hilarious.

I like Donald and Douglas especially in season 3. Douglas is the more serious guy and likes to get work done.

13 Sir Handel

When Sir Handel was new he was bossy, rude and arrogant. After about a year of this he was sent to the quarry as punishment. While he was there The Thin Controller took over the Skarloey Railway and in 2006 he was invited back home, a changed engine.

I like Sir Handel, he's like the narrow-gauge version of James.

Such a heart-warming dynamic with Duke & Peter Sam.

14 Skarloey

Oh yeah! Here we go. The Narrow Gauge engines. Skarloey is named after the island he lives on. (The Skarloey Railway) I love his coaches and his cool red paint.

He is my favourite narrow gauge and at the start of an unlucky tug video he showed skarloey saying I'm tired. Love that part.

He's a badass old man he never gives up.

15 Duke

He is a great character and needs to return!

An engine who's terrifically wise and grand.

Narrow gauge version of Emily.

16 Peter Sam

No way. Peter Sam is nothing like Gordon. Here's how I match up the standard and narrow gauge engines:
Ivo Hugh - Thomas
Skarloey - Edward
Rheneas - Henry
Duke - Gordon
Sir Handel - James
Peter Sam - Percy
Rusty - Toby
Freddie - Duck
Duncan - Donald
Bertram - Douglas
Luke - Oliver
Mighty Mac - Bill and Ben
Smudger - Diesel
Go by personality, not by numbers.

The only episodes he appears in that I hate are Snow (Even though he only made a cameo appearence in that episode, the ending was not funny at all! ) & Duncan Gets Spooked (He never spoke, give him a speaking role! )

17 Duncan

Finally! My favorite narrow gauge engine in the franchise! Duncan is my favorite because he has nice yellow paint. Despite his rudeness to other engines, he loves to Rock N' Roll and will never stop!

Guess what everyone! Duncan is now in full CGI! Look up Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger and Duncan the Humbug for him in full CGI! You're welcome!

This guy I like because Thomas1Edward2Henry3 gave him a great like I'm not scared of this engine and when he sees the engine he's like AH! and that's why I likes him.

18 Sir Topham Hatt

More than an authority figure he is like a father to all of his engines, he cares deeply for them and for his family too.
In the hit era he is a little bland but that aside he is a great character

I can watch this guy scold his trains for hours and not die due to cringe.

Sir Topham Hatt is better than Mr. Percival.

19 Bill

Ahh Bill and Ben trolling since the 1980s... They should be a bit higher up on the list

Double trouble equals double fun.

20 Ben

Double trouble equals double fun.

21 Boco

Boco is the Edward version of Diesel 10 but with a slanted front and back. Also I would have D199 or Class 40 on this list but I don't know if they are on this list.

I don't really have a reason why I like him. I just do. Although he was (and this is my opinion) the diesel version of Edward.

Anyone thought what ever happened to BoCo? He stopped appearing early in the Classic Series for no reason.

22 Rheneas

Rheneas is better than Skarloey and Toby.

Rheneas is better than Smudger & Stanley.

Why is Rheneas this low? He saved the Skarloey Raiilway! Should be in the top ten.

23 Emily

Honestly, even though she's got some major bossy moments in season 8, Emily I feel is one of the strongest characters in the entire series. Unlike many of the engines on Sodor, she's not afraid to put her ego aside when it comes to caring for others.

Because she was not introduced until Season 7. In all the seasons before that she didn't appear because she didn't exist.

I Like her because, her basis and her voice, that she's the leading female engine.

24 Arthur

Love his livery. Just wish he would have returned in CGI.

My favourite non railway series character.

Arthur is better than Murdoch.

25 Lady

Her name, Lady, literally means "female lord" like the female equivalent/equivalence of lord just like what she truly really is herself.

Sorry, but the magic she represents doesn't fit in with the world that the Rev. W. Awdry created.

Magic never existed on Sodor before she came along, but everything else about her was okay.

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