Ryan

Ryan is a green tank engine who used to work on the Great Northern Railway but now works on the North Western Railway as a mixed traffic engine to help with the work load due to the recent build up in goods traffic from Vicarstown.

Biography
Ryan was built at Doncaster Works in November of 1921 as GNR No. 2679. He worked around the GNR line. After the 1923 nationalisation act, he was transferred to the LNER, and worked in the regions of Kings Cross, Edinburgh & Glasgow. He was built as a mixed traffic engine, but was assigned to passenger duties.

In 1945, he was assigned as the Kings Cross station pilot, he shunted coaches, vans & trucks so other engines could take them out on journies.

On the 10th of February 1946, a GNR J3 goods engine had broken down near Edinburgh, so the engine couldn't take the train, Ryan was asked to do so, he accepted the job. He left Kings Cross around 10:30am, he needed to travel to the other side of the line.

Near Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, he suddenly stopped due to the signal being red. A express passenger train had bee given permission to pass, however the signalman found an error in the signal. Then the express engine crashed into the back of Ryan's goods. The cause of the accident was later revealed to be faulty signal cables, giving a false clear signal to an express passenger train, which ran into the back of Ryan. Then, a third passenger train travelling in the opposite direction then ran into the wreckage. Two people were killed

The three engines were sent to Doncaster works for major repairs, Ryan was later sent to the North Western Railway in April of 1946 to help with the goods work at Vicarstown

Personality
Ryan is a caring, kind and friendly engine to all. But looks can be deceiving...but he has suffered a great deal of trauma in his past due to losing his siblings and many of his friends, In result to this he has gained a sort form of PTSD, but that doesn't hold Ryan down from being happy around those he does have.

Basis
Ryan is based on the Great Northern Railway (GNR) Class N2 is an 0-6-2T side tank steam locomotive designed by Nigel Gresley and introduced in 1920. Further batches were built by the London and North Eastern Railway from 1925. They had superheaters and piston valves driven by Stephenson valve gear.

Some locomotives were fitted with condensing apparatus for working on the Metropolitan Railway Widened Lines between King's Cross and Moorgate.

The N2s were designed for suburban passenger operations, and worked most of the duties out of King's Cross and Moorgate, often hauling one or two quad-art sets of articulated suburban coaches. These ran to places such as New Barnet and Gordon Hill on the Hertford loop. They also hauled some empty coaching stock trains between King's Cross and Ferme Park carriage sidings.

They were also a common sight in and around Glasgow and Edinburgh operating suburban services, mainly on what is today known as the North Clyde Line.

Livery
Ryan is painted in GNR Apple Green, with double White & Black lining. He also has his number 2679 based on the rear, & sides of his bunker and on his front footplate in Yellow.

Appearances

 * Races & Chases (intro only)
 * Old Reliable
 * Great Northern Fault (main debut)

Trivia

 * Ryan was originally going to be gay, and be in a relationship with Thomas; But Amber & Dana scrapped the idea due to it not fitting into the series lore well.
 * His number was shared by an actual LNER N2
 * which was where the arrival date of 1946 also came from "On 10 February 1946, locomotive No. 2679 was derailed at Potters Bar, Hertfordshire due to a signalman's error. The wreckage fouled signal cables, giving a false clear signal to an express passenger train, which ran into the wreckage. A third passenger train travelling in the opposite direction then ran into the wreckage. Two people were killed" (source)