Parker

Parker is a green engine

Bio
One of Sodor’s oldest surviving engines, Parker is a witty and experienced example of an old time and style. Loaned to help finish building the railway to becoming Sir Topham’s own personal Inspection engine, he was forgotten about in storage at Crovan’s Gate, until he was discovered decades later. Despite his design faults and failures since he was found, he’s still a valued and popular fixture of the Vicarstown Railway Museum amongst visitors and other exhibits.

Personality
Thomas Parker build four Class 3D’s in the 1880’s, one of which gained the unofficial name after his surname. Despite their young age, the class performed poorly at high speeds due to their design, and it looked like their time was short in the early 1900’s. Parker was lucky. In 1915, he was loaned to Sir Topham Hatt for the fledgling North Western Railway, and joined Edward in the celebrations of the Walney Channel Lift Bridge’s opening.

He stayed on in the line’s early years, and after proving himself as an asset, he was bought by the railway outright. Despite some raised eyebrows with his age and faults, he was a personal favourite of Sir Topham’s, until he was forced off regular passenger services. But he found a new use as the dedicated Director’s Saloon locomotive, taking Sir Topham around the railway in a Saloon coach.

This ended when he returned to full service alongside Edward and Albert on the Wellsworth branch line, in additional to Inspector duties, in the dawn of WWII. He worked hard despite his weak nature and small size, and performed well on suburban trains despite his rough riding. But the work took its toll on his already poor condition, and he was officially withdrawn in 1949. It was hoped that he would be preserved on the Mainland, but a position at the York Railway Museum fell through, and he was left in storage outside Crovan’s Gate Works.

He was shown respect in 1956, following Sir Topham’s passing. He was restored to service to help run the Funeral Train alongside Edward and Gordon. It was a solemn occasion, but Parker kept the atmosphere optimistic, both to keep spirits up and to have his last run be a respectful one. After this, he was returned to Crovan’s Gate, covered in tarpaulins and partially tarred to preserve his parts.

Years passed, and he was rediscovered in 2008. Squaddie found him when in for major repairs, meeting Parker under the nickname ‘Nosey’, before alerting the Sir Stephen Hatt of his existence. He was soon tested, and while he could steam and run, his rough riding was still present. After helping rediscover Emmeleia further back in the sidings, he was told he was to become the first exhibit at the newly founded Vicarstown Railway Museum.

Life in preservation was far from dull. In the museum’s early days, he had trouble adjusting to modern practices and terms, such as ‘red tape’. He attended the Kirk Ronan railway anniversary soon after, discovering a preserved engine posing as one of the box-tanks, Sharpe. He joined the growing museum fleet, but soon after again suffered a major failure on his demonstration duties with Neil.

The damage to his boiler tubeplate was extensive, and he was taken off demonstrations. These were given to the newly acquired Warrior, and he’s been placed in the roundhouse as a static exhibit. His future is uncertain, but his place in the collection is secure. He doesn’t mind his new life – he enjoys resting and reminiscing with the other engines, from the haughty Sharpe, to the silent Zelda, and also another Saloon coach Penelope.

Trivia

 * Parker was debut characters introduced under ERS
 * Parker share with Arthur's face.