Rheneas

This redirect is about the fictional locomotive. For the fictional station, see Rheneas (station).

Rheneas
Thomas & Friends character
File:Rheneas 1995.jpg Rheneas in the television series.
First appearance	Four Little Engines (1955)
Created by	Rev. W. Awdry
Voiced by	UK/US Ben Small (2012–2015) John Hasler (2016-present)
In-universe information
Gender	Male

Rheneas (/rəneɪ.əs/, rə-NAY-əs) is a fictional narrow gauge tank locomotive from the Railway Series by the Reverend W. Awdry and its television adaptation Thomas & Friends. He is one of the oldest engines on the Island of Sodor. Rheneas lives and works on the Skarloey Railway as engine No.2, and is known as the "Gallant Old Engine" because he saved the railway from closure. He is Skarloey's brother.

Railway Series History

He arrived shortly after his brother Skarloey, and was the more sensible of the two engines. He was a hard worker right from the start, and when Skarloey became too ill to work, he took charge of the line on his own. It was at this time that he saved the railway when he took a train full of passengers home despite having a jammed valve gear and was rewarded with an overhaul. When Sir Handel and Peter Sam arrived in 1952, the Thin Controller was able to send him away for repairs. He returned better than ever, and these days he mainly pulls passenger trains. In 1965, he celebrated his hundredth birthday with Skarloey.

Rheneas in the TV Series

Rheneas was introduced in Season 4 of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a minor character, and he only spoke in one episode of the fourth Series. He played only one role in Season 5 and major roles in Season 6, and had two major roles in Season 7.

When Rheneas returned to the Series in the 9th Season in 2005 after an absence in Season 8, he was depicted with a more childlike attitude. His first major role of the New Series, Rheneas & The Dinosaur featured him and Skarloey having a dispute when Rheneas gets to pull a dinosaur skeleton, but can't manage on his own. Skarloey and Rheneas have never been referred to as brothers in the TV Adaptation, being called "friends" in the more recent episodes.

After the events of Blue Mountain Mystery, he was temporarily painted yellow as a surprise for Thomas who had been looking for a "yellow engine". In subsequent appearances, he returned to his vermillion color.

In the latest Season 17 episodes "Luke's New Friend" and "The Switch", he has shown a dislike to deer, due to "the Quarry is not a place for animals" and he sub estimated Millie's Capability, due to him thinking she is used to do small jobs, but he was then proved wrong by the latter.

In the Japanese Version of Seasons 4-7, Rheneas was voiced by Ryōtarō Okiayu. His new voice actor in Season 9 is Daiki Nakamura.

Rheneas appeared in the Specials The Great Discovery, Blue Mountain Mystery, King of the Railway, The Great Race, and Journey Beyond Sodor.

Voice actors

From Spring 2012 to 2015, Rheneas was voiced by Ben Small (UK/US) (who also voiced Thomas and Toby) in the CGI Version of the series on both sides of the Atlantic, respectively. From 2016 onwards he is voiced by John Hasler (who also voices Thomas in the UK).

Merchandising

Commercial models of Rheneas character

Model range	Type	Color
Ertl	die-cast metal	Normal and Metallic
Take Along/Take n Play	die-cast metal	Normal
Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway	wood	Normal
TrackMaster	plastic motorized	Normal & "Greatest Moments"
Bachmann	HOe scale plastic model	Normal

Prototype

Main article: Dolgoch (locomotive)

Dolgoch, basis for Rheneas

Rheneas is based on the 1866-built locomotive Dolgoch who works at the Talyllyn Railway in Wales, and is Rheneas' twin.