Kwaku is a large Garratt engine who works in Africa. He is close friends with Nia.
Bio
Thomas & Friends
Kwaku once had to bring a goods train to Dar es Salaam docks, and was present when Ace and the other rally cars were racing around the dockyard. He met up with Nia and Thomas when the two brought a goods train to Dar es Salaam, and he took the time to catch up on recent events with Nia.
Stories From Sodor
Thomas first introduced Jacob to Kwaku when the former two came to visit Africa on their trip around the world[1].
Later, Kwaku and Zane became overwhelmed with work when there was a lot of it at Dar es Salaam Docks[2]. Then, Delilah and Prudence brought a heavy goods train to Dar es Salaam, and the two quickly became friends with Zane and Kwaku[3].
Persona
Kwaku is a kind and friendly engine. He is good friends with Nia, and was aware that she had lost her engine shed and had nowhere else to go.
Basis
Kwaku is based on the East African Railways (EAR) 59 class, a class of 4-8-2+2-8-4 oil-fired Garratt locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock & Co. which entered service in 1955-56. These were the largest, heaviest and most powerful steam locomotives to operate on any metre gauge railway in the world, and were the mainstay of freight services from Mombasa to Nairobi until the 1970s. Two surviving locomotives, No. 5918 Mount Gelai and 5930 Mount Shengena, are preserved by the Nairobi Railway Museum in Nairobi, Kenya.
Kwaku has been partially modified from his original basis. Whereas his class is metre gauge, Kwaku has been scaled up to standard gauge. Additionally, he has been fitted with buffers and screw-link couplings, allowing him to work with British rolling stock.
Livery
Kwaku is painted red with light yellow lining. His cylinders are painted black with red lining.
Trivia
- Kwaku's name is an Akan name for "born on a Wednesday".
References
- ↑ Special: "The Search for the Missing Friends"
- ↑ International Friends Near And Far: "A Busy Day at Dar es Salaam"
- ↑ International Friends Near And Far: "New Friends From Africa"
North America | Canada | Ravi Baboolal | ✦Vinnie | Olivia | Hunter | Ava and Eve | Noah |
---|---|---|
Cuba | ✦Victor | |
Mexico | Carlos | |
USA | Beau | Natalie | Sam | Vinnie | ✦Bash and Dash | ✦Caitlin | ✦Connor | ✦Ferdinand | ✦Hank | ✦Daniel | Jasmine | ✦Marion | ✦Philip | ✦Porter | ✦Timothy | ✦Lexi | Iolite | Angel | Blue Topaz | Imperial Topaz | Red Imperial Topaz | Poppy | Ocean | Serpentine | Beryl | Labradorite | Corundum | Pietersite | Boulder Opal | Fire Agate | Winza | Fuxite | Rainbow Moonstone | Meteorite | Mookaite | Goldstone | Conch Pearl | Tremolite | Mystic Quartz | Blue Quantum Quartz | Dragon Breath Opal | Mystic Topaz | Tsavorite | Carnelian | Chalcedony | Bloodstone | ✦Ametrine | ✦Star | ✦Rhodonite | ✦Fluorite | ✦Padparadscha | Rutile | Alexandrite | Amethyst | Blue Diamond | Blue Pearl | Blue Sapphire | Citrine | Emerald | Fluorite | Fuchsia Sapphire | Green Diamond | Green Pearl | Holly Blue Agate | Lapis Lazuli | Jasper | Malachite | Onyx | Opal | Peridot | Pink Diamond | Pink Pearl | Purple Sapphire | Rainbow Sapphire | Rainbow Quartz | Red Diamond | Red Pearl | Rhodochrosite | Rhodonite | Ruby | Ruby Aura Quartz | Ruby Zoisite | Sardonyx | Smoky Quartz | White Diamond | White Pearl | Yellow Diamond | Yellow Pearl | Yellow Sapphire | Euclase | Al Kindle | Andrea Suarez | Chris Rose | Greg Gibson | Kenny Florian | Mike Gellatly | Paul Ventimiglia | Will Bales | Marc DeVidts | |
South America | Brazil | Cassia | Emerson | Gabriela | Gustavo | Raul |
Colombia | Gator | |
Europe | Belgium | Axel |
France | Etienne | ✦Millie | |
Scotland | ✦Donald | ✦Douglas | Liam | ✦Ralph | |
Hungary | Attila | |
Germany | Frieda | ✦Hugo | ✦Marklin | |
Italy | Beppe | Ester | Gina | Lorenzo | Mia | Stefano | |
Russia | Ivan | The Russian Engines | |
Sweden | Fredrik | |
Denmark | Emil | |
Switzerland | Swiss Tank Engines | |
Poland | Aldona | Bonifacy | Iga | Michal | |
Africa | Kenya | ✦Nia |
Tanzania | Kwaku | Kobe | Zane | |
Egypt | Alexandria | Delilah | Mr. Osiris | Prudence | |
Asia | China | An An and Lin Yong | Jing-Yi | Fei-Long | Hong-Mei | Yong Bao |
India | Ashima | Charubala | Noor Jehan | Rajiv | Shankar | The Indian Actor | The Indian Director | The Tiger Hunters | Mia | The Indian Fashion Designer | |
Japan | ✦Hiro | Haiku | Chihiro | Kiyoshi | |
Saudi Arabia | Omar | Oma | Azzad | Zambaq | |
UAE | ✦Zambaq | |
North Korea | Ji Ah | Hyong-Joon | |
Indonesia | Lumba Lumba | Sukarno | Ora | |
Australia | Australia | Ace | Aubrey and Aiden | Doctor Claire | Ranger Jill | Isla | ✦Shane | Tamika |
North Western Railway | Locomotives | Arthur | Dawson | Dustin | Glynn | Harvey | James | Norman | Rosie | Salty | Victor | Winston |
---|---|---|
Rolling Stock | Rocky | Slip Coaches | Sophia | |
Non-Rail Characters | Bertie | Bulgy | Buster | Caroline | Elizabeth | Flynn | Jack | Max and Monty | The Horrid Lorries | |
Formerly | Dexter | Isabel and Dulcie | |
Skarloey Railway | Locomotives | Ivo Hugh | Rheneas | Skarloey |
Rolling Stock | Red Coaches | Talyllyn Railway Coaches | |
Non-Rail Characters | Merrick | |
Arlesdale Railway | Locomotives | Mike |
Crystal Island | Locomotives | Garnet | Ruby | Rutile |
Keystone Railway | Locomotives | Red Diamond | Red Imperial Topaz | Red Pearl | Ruby (KR) | Ruby Aura Quartz | Ruby Zoisite |
The Mainland | Locomotives | Sixteen | The Flying Thistle | The Mainland Diesels | Ulli |
USA | Locomotives | Natalie |
Brazil | Locomotives | The Dark Red Tank Engine(s) |
Formerly | Cassia | |
Denmark | Locomotives | Emil |
China | Locomotives | Yong Bao |
Tanzania | Locomotives | Kwaku | The Dark Red Tank Engine(s) |
Non-Rail Characters | Kobe | |
Egypt | Locomotives | Delilah |
Rolling Stock | Alexandria | |
Belgium | Locomotives | Axel |