Express Coaches

There are many types of express coaches used for fast trains on the Main Line.

BioEdit
Express coaches form the fast and important passenger trains and are normally pulled by Gordon, James, or Henry. Several of these coaches form the express, known as the "Wild Nor' Wester" - usually pulled by Gordon, although Henry, James, and Bear take the train when Gordon is busy - other coaches form the "Limited", which was pulled by Bear in Enterprising Engines. D261 was supposed to pull the express in Bowled Out, but he broke down.

LiveryEdit
In the Railway Series, the coaches were primarily painted yellow-orange until circa 1984, when they were repainted maroon with a yellow stripe.

In the television series, the coaches are painted either green or red with custard-yellow or white window surrounds. The green versions have appeared since the first season and are primarily used for the express, while the red versions did not appear until the second season and are generally used for other fast trains, but occasionally used for the express.

Between the thirteenth and sixteenth seasons, the green express coaches seem to be exclusive to Gordon as he was only ever seen pulling them. However, since the seventeenth season, other engines have been seen pulling them again.

A white express carriage with orange lining was seen in the 2006 magazine story, Splendid Sight.

Basis
The express coaches are based on SR Maunsell Stock, LNER Gresley and GWR suburban with added corridor sections onto the ends of the coaches and the larger windows of corridors stock on the far sides. Occasionally, British Railways Mark 1 coaches could be seen as well.

Voice Actors

 * Shinobu Satouchi, Kōzō Shioya, Yasunori Masutani, Toshio Kobayashi, and Yasuhiro Takato (Japan)

TriviaEdit

 * In the magazine story, Airship, Gordon's express carriages are once referred to as "Pullman Coaches".
 * In the first and second seasons, the express coaches had the ability to talk, despite not having visible faces. This is also featured in the Railway Series.
 * Five express coach models are currently on display; two red and two green at Drayton Manor and one green coach in Canada at Nitrogen Studios.
 * Since the CGI series, the coaches have been much taller and thinner. Also, the red express coaches seem to have been retired as they have not been seen since the twelfth season.
 * In the CGI series, the coaches have only bay windows on either side.