Ttte Mike - Blog Posts

Probably one of my oddest contributions to the Thomas Fandom is USAR Light Mikado Mike.

Seriously this sprite is surprisingly popular, mainly as Churchill and Dr. Syn have still yet to get sprites, I've seen this become Jock a few times which I think is fun.

The whole reason why Mike is even an American is S734 is due to his portrayal by EE93, the voice and mannerisms were just so distinct, like his voices that was officially given were fun, the weirdly Gordon Ramsey sound from Tim Whitnall was fun but I figured that the brash American voice was rather fun.

So lore surrounding him, Mike doesn't show up with Rex and Bert (Otherwise known as Wallace in S734) he's the eighth engine purchased for the Arlesdale, he was contract built for Hanson Moore, one of the more railway interested investors, and he was the first brand new steam engine built for the railway, everyone else up until that point had been pre-owned. Mr. Moore really went all out on the livery, Red, White and Blue, and a nameplate reading Scarlet Fire, the other engines thought Mike's overall appearance was gaudy, and trying to get peoples attention, and Rex nearly exploded from laughing so hard after Mike's first passenger train, when afterwards he claimed he hated them, and would prefer goods work, Ragnar said that you could practically hear Mr. Moore shrink when Mike said that.

Mike loves the heavy Ballast work due to the fact that Ragnar and Rex are Atlantics (Will explain them in their own post) and Wallace was rather old, it was down to Franka and Braid (Basset Lowke Pacific) to work those heavy trains, but when Mike came along he took to them like old Roosevelt to a horse, he loves the job, mainly as it shows everyone how strong he is, and well he's right he is the strongest one.

In terms of his relationships with the others, they find him rather funny, if a bit brash and argumentative and glad that he showed up to haul Ballast.

Wretch and Sprocket (Blisters) like Mike, even if he finds the two slightly unsettling but nice to talk to.

Wallace doesn't quite know how to feel about Mike, or Michael as he calls him, a privilege reserved only for those who Mike deeply respects, like the Small Control or Mr. Moore, so the fact he doesn't throw old Wallace a look of death shows he respects the old codger, but old Wally as Mike calls him, doesn't like how Mike treats the passengers.

Ragnar finds the 'Big Yank' as he calls him rather cumbersome but respects his self assuredness and strength. 'Well placed confidence he has' is what he says about him.

Rex loves ripping into Mike, as he knows he has the ego to recover, but even then his remarks are only paint deep, he has a lot of respect for Mike, but finds it very funny that he just can't with passengers.

Franka's relationship with Mike is really odd, the two argue like they need to live, the others would always yell 'GET A SHED!' even Rex who loves to argue with him, practically broke over an argument about lubrication oil, and he practically screamed at them to just get together needless to say the two have been dating for awhile.

Braid, she tries to actively avoid interacting with Mike, mainly as she knows that if she engages in conversation, she'll realise that she hasn't move for an hour.

Jock, they treat Mike like a big brother, did something stupid with a ballast wagon, accidently stole Ragnar's beard wax, old Mike has you covered.

Old Big Scarlet is for lack of a better term the big brash glue that holds the crew together, mainly as he does the heavy lifting most of them can't.