The Pump Trolley (known as a Handcar or Pump Car in the United States) is a railway vehicle with a pivoting arm mounted on it, which is pushed down and pulled up for propulsion by one or two people standing on either end.
History
When Henry accidentally ran his train into a landslide near Hawin Lake, Old Bailey used the pump trolley to get to the site of the accident.[1]
In the CGI Series, it is used by the workmen for maintenance work and shunting small trains. Sir Topham Hatt and his assistants would occasionally use the pump trolley as a private mode of transportation when the engines were not available, most notably around Misty Island.
An old disused pump trolley was left sitting at Sir Robert Norramby's estate. It was later used by a pair of thieves in an attempt to steal King Godred's crown.[2]
Technical Details
Basis
The pump trolley is based on real pump trolleys, which were often used for maintenance of way. Several examples of pump trolleys are preserved around the world.
A real pump trolley is featured in 10 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends during the Day Out with Thomas event. Some Day Out with Thomas events in the United States also included pump trolley rides as part of the experience.
Livery
The pump trolley is painted dark green with black wheels.
Appearances
Magazine Stories
Books
My Thomas Story Library
Video Games
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Official Description
From Official Media:[1]
| “ | Handcar: The Handcar helps Sir Topham Hatt and the engineers travel easily around the grounds of the railroad. | ” |
Trivia
- In the CGI series, the Pump Trolley has been reduced in size compared to its model counterpart.
- All merchandise of the pump trolley labels it with the American terminology "hand car".
- One prototype for the Wooden Railway pump trolley carries the number 9 on its sides.
- The graphic for the number is reused from Donald's tender.
- All Wooden Railway releases of the pump trolley depict it in a different livery to the one it carried in the series.
Merchandise
- ERTL (discontinued; released with Old Bailey)
- Wooden Railway (blue/red - retired; reintroduced in 2009 - retired)
References
- ↑ T&F S5 #11 "Haunted Henry"
- ↑ T&F S23 #5 "Heart of Gold"