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| “ | Now Trucks are silly and noisy. They talk a lot and don't attend to what they are doing and I'm sorry to say they play tricks on an engine who is not used to them. | „ |
| ~ The narration from Thomas and Friends episode Thomas and the Trucks. |
The Troublesome Trucks, also referred to as the Foolish Freight Cars, are the central antagonists in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry, and its TV show adaptation, Thomas and Friends. As their nickname implies, they are mischievous trucks who are known for creating trouble for the engines on the Island of Sodor, often by delaying their journeys, causing them to crash or derail, or otherwise causing destruction. They are occasionally used by Diesel and other antagonists as part of their plans.
It is unknown what the trucks' real names are or if they have any. However, there were a few trucks that have real names such as their leader, S.C. Ruffey, Fred Pelhay, Rickety and Old Bennett.
Personalities[]
All engines who are wise and really useful know that trucks cannot be trusted. Trucks are considered the troublemakers of all rolling stock on the railway as most of them love causing mischief and trouble. Unless they get told off by their engine or controller, they do not show remorse for anything they do, even if it means derailing, damaging, or even destroying themselves.
The Troublesome Trucks, as their names describe, are naughty, mischievous and troublesome due to playing tricks on the engines and intentionally causing them to crash.
Despite causing engines or trains to crash, the trucks are frightened of some of the engines such as Donald, Douglas and Oliver because Douglas caused the Spiteful Breakvan to be smashed into pieces (even though it was an accident) and Oliver caused S.C. Ruffey, the leader of the Troublesome Trucks to come apart causing him to break into pieces.
There are also a few engines that the trucks do not play tricks on at all, such as Edward, Stepney, Oliver (After the events of Toad Stands By), Salty, Hiro and Rebecca, as well as Toby and Mavis from fifth series onwards.
Trucks can also be considered territorial. When the trucks get used to certain engines pulling them, another engine in the yard taking them may cause the trucks to get angry and confused, especially if the new engine is overbearing and bossy. For example, in an episode called Percy's Predicament, an episode of the second series, Toby and Percy switched jobs. Percy began rudely ordering the trucks about, making Toby's trucks furious and they caused Percy to crash in retaliation. In Oliver Owns Up, an episode of the third series, the trucks refused to let Oliver take them, and they demanded that Duck, Donald or Douglas took them instead. However Oliver too was a little bossy and overconfident and paid the price for ignoring the warnings of how troublesome the trucks were from the other engines when the trucks pushed him backwards in the turntable well (it's important to note this occurred before the trucks feared Oliver after pulling S.C.Ruffey apart).
However in the episode The World's Strongest Engine, Diesel comes to the docks to show off and hopefully get rid of steam engines once and for all. The Trucks craftily use their tricks to allow Diesel's pride to be his undoing by egging him on pull just as many trucks as their engine Henry. Diesel gets as many as he can, but the Trucks haven't had their brakes undone, so Diesel can't move them. In the end he pulls so hard that his coupling snaps and he runs off the quay. The Fat Controller then sends him away in disgrace. After seeing everything Thomas and Percy admit that even Trucks can be useful if it means getting rid of someone like Diesel.
Sometimes, the Trucks behave and cooperate when they need help from an engine to get rid of something even they cannot stand, such as when they asked Percy to move them in a siding to be done with Bulstrode, a grouchy barge who does nothing but complain, only to end up in his hull when Percy accidentally pushed them off the quayside. While they were sad that this resulted in the demise of several trucks, they believed it to be worth it to get rid of Bulstrode.
In other countries around the world, some trucks act very differently than the ones on Sodor as some are very polite and they were even willing to help the engines instead of causing trouble.
Appearances[]
In season 1, the Troublesome Trucks' eyes and mouths were made of paper. However, in season 2, their faces have changed into the same type of faces that the engines have.
In some episodes, the troublesome trucks had faces that resemble a few characters' faces such as S.C. Ruffey, Toad, Bulstrode and the Spiteful Brake Van.
Quotes[]
| “ | ♫Trucks/Cars are waiting in the Yard; Tackling them with ease'll, "Show the world what I can do", Gaily boasts the Diesel. In and out he creeps about, Like a big black weasel. When he pulls the wrong trucks/cars out – Pop goes the Diesel!♫ | „ |
| ~ The Trucks singing "Pop Goes the Diesel" mocking Diesel. |
Trivia[]
- The audio clip of the trucks laughing heard from the second to seventh series is actually Junior Campbell's high-pitch laughing sound, and so is the clip of the trucks singing "Pop Goes the Diesel".
- The materials for the wagons and Troublesome Trucks used in the television series from the first to fifth series were vacuum formed plastic Tenmille gauge 1 kits.
- A troublesome truck named Rickety, who is a merchandise exclusive character in the Thomas Wooden Railway merchandise, was thought to appear in the Railway Series as a blue truck. However, it's possibly not true as the blue truck in the Railway Series could be just a random unnamed one.
- Rickety was only named so because of its ability to rattle as it moved.
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Fireman Sam Pingu The Magic School Bus Wild Kratts Cyberchase Berenstain Bears Maya and Miguel Bob the Builder WordGirl Super Why! The New Electric Company Odd Squad Pinkalicious & Peterrific Let's Go Luna! Hero Elementary See Also | ||
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 Villains
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Engines Humans Others | ||