Neville

Neville is a black tender engine with an unusual square shape.

Personality
Neville is gentlemanly, highly enthusiastic and kind, if a little naive. Neville never holds a grudge, but can be easily hurt by unkind comments or not being accepted by others who judge him only by his appearance. Otherwise, he is bubbly, ready to pull together and happy to make new friends.

According to Jamie Thomason, he describes Neville as being similar to Thomas, as he wants to be really useful.

Basis
Neville is based on the SR Bulleid Q1 Class locomotive, which were often referred to as "ugly ducklings". The design represented the ultimate development of the British 0-6-0 freight engine. One reason for their unusual shape was so they could go through a coach-washer for cleaning at a time when manpower for this could not be spared. The specific engine Neville is based on, (BR no. 33010, originally SR no. C10) was built in September 1942 at Brighton Works and scrapped at Birds Manoravon Scrapyard, Morriston, Swansea in 1964. Unlike his prototype, however, Neville is missing the lubricator and crankshaft that connects to the front of his side-rods. The first of the class, No. C1/33001 is the only Q1 preserved, at the National Railway Museum. It was formerly based at the Bluebell Railway.

Livery
Neville is painted in the BR unlined black livery without the BR crest. He has the number "33010" painted on the sides of his cab in white.

Trivia

 * In some descriptions of Thomas and the New Engine, Neville is described as actually being a diesel.
 * In his Story Library book, magazine stories illustrations and merchandise lines, bar TOMY and TrackMaster, Neville is incorrectly depicted with spoked driving wheels. His prototype, the Bulleid Q1s were built with "Bulleid-Firth-Brown" driving wheels.
 * In the cover illustration of Neville’s library book, he is incorrectly depicted with grey driving wheels, even though his driving wheels are black.
 * Neville's whistle was re-used later in the series for Flying Scotsman.