The Little Engine That Could/Characters

Characters from The Little Engine That Could include:

The Little Blue Engine
The titular protagonist of the story and perhaps the most universally recognized steam engine in all of children's literature, next to Thomas the Tank Engine from The Railway Series.


 * Adaptational Badass: In both films, Tillie's journey up the mountain is more challenging.
 * Determinator: As shown by her famous quote, I think I can.
 * The Hero: Of her own book.
 * Named by the Adaptation: Is given the name Tillie in the 1991 short.

The Happy Little Engine
The engine originally intended to pull the birthday train.


 * Adaptation Dye Job: In the 1930 edition, Lois Lenski depicted Georgia with a black livery before George and Doris Hauman gave her the pink livery we all know today. Ruth Sandersons and the animators of the 1991 film carried the color over into their respective works.
 * Named by the Adaptation: Is given the name Georgia in the 1991 film.
 * Nice Guy: Is very friendly.
 * What Happened to Georgia?: Georgia disappears from the story entirely after Tillie is introduced

The Shiny New Engine
One of the Engines who declines pulling the birthday train.


 * Adaptation Dye Job: Also, he was painted in a gold livery in the original story (or red if you've read the 1930 edition) as opposed to the silver given by the animators.
 * Jerkass: He is a pompous dickwad.
 * Model Lift: In the original story, Farnsworth was a steam locomotive before Ruth Sanderson reimagined him as a diesel. The animators of the 1991 film took great influence from Sanderson's illustrations and also made Farnsworth a diesel in the film.
 * Named by the Adaptation: Is given the name Farnsworth in the 1991 film.
 * Upper Class Twit: Her certainly qualifies as one.

The Big Strong Engine
One of the engines who declines pulling the birthday train.


 * Adaptation Dye Job: In the 1930 edition, Pete was given a yellow livery, then a black one by George and Doris Hauman and finally a maroon color by Ruth Sanderson in the 1976 edition. This was carried over into the 1991 film, as the animators apparently took heavy inspirations from the Sanderson illustrations.
 * Jerkass: Refuses to pull the toy train because it is beneath him.
 * Named by the Adaptation: Is given the name Pete in the 1991 film, which also makes him The Danza as he's voiced in that film by Peter Cullen (AKA Optimus Prime.

The Rusty Old Engine
One of the engines who declines pulling the birthday train.


 * Adaptation Dye Job: Lois Lenski originally gave Jebidiah a green livery, then a black one by George and Doris Hauman in the 1954 edition and Ruth Sanderson painted him as yellow. The animators of the 1991 film carried the color over.
 * Named by the Adaptation: Is given the name Jebidiah in the 1991 film.
 * Old Retainer: He is probably the oldest engine on the railroad.