Sir Handel is the number 3 engine on Skarloey Railway. He was previously number 3 of Mid Sodor Railway where he was known as Falcon until it closed in 1947.
Bio
Falcon was built at Falcon Works in 1904 and likely arrived on the Mid Sodor Railway the same year. He did quite well with the yard work but his first journey up the "Mountain Road" did not go so well. He derailed after exiting a tunnel and dangled dangerously over the ledge. Duke used all his strength to rescue Falcon, who had previously thought Duke was an old "fuddy duddy", now respected him as a father figure. He, Duke, and Stuart became very close friends and were very happy until the Mid Sodor Railway closed in 1947. He and Stuart were sold to the Peel Godred Aluminum company while Duke was left behind. He and Stuart worked there until 1951, at which time both engines were sheeted for almost a year after the project was completed. The following year in 1952, they were bought by the Skarloey Railway. Falcon was renamed Sir Handel, after the railway's owner Sir Handel Brown. He was not well behaved in his early days there. On his first day, he was rude to the coaches, calling them cattle cars. He then refused to pull cars and purposefully derailed. He was shut up in the shed as punishment. When he was let out, the coaches didn't trust him and pushed him off the rails when he had to stop for sheep. Skarloey took over the passenger work, and was later sent away for repairs. During this time, Sir Handel and Peter Sam had a lot more work to do, and Rusty was brought to help them out in 1958. Tired of being overworked, Sir Handel, as advised by Gordon, pretended to be ill. This worked until the Peter Sam had an accident with the cars at the incline. As punishment, Sir Handel did both his work and Peter Sam's, though Duncan was brought to help out. In 1961, after much boasting, Skarloey told Sir Handel to tackle on George the Steamroller. Sir Handel did, which ended up with him and George colliding on the road.
Personality
Sir Handel is a very proud and irritable engine, similar to Gordon. Sometimes he may appear cranky towards other engines, but he is not malicious. In the newer seasons, he seems to have matured a great deal.
Trainz Models
Until The Search for Smudger, SI3D's 2006 model was used. From then onwards, the 2012 model is used. However from time to time SI3D‘s 2006 Model can bee seen when other 2006 models are used in a scene.
Basis
Sir Handel is based on Sir Haydn from The Talyllyn Railway in Wales.
Appearances
The Engines of Sodor
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
- Jim's Tale (as Falcon, only appears in flashback, does not speak)
- Steaming Sausage
Season 5
Specials
- How the Diesel Stole Christmas
- The Search for Smudger
- The Most Famous Engine (cameo in Part 1)
The Engines of Sodor Finale
- Tarnished Legacy (cameo)
- Wrath on the Rails (cameo)
Thomas1Edward2Henry3's Railway Series
More Branch Line Engines
- Derek and Gordon (cameo)
Thomas1Edward2Henry3's Remakes
- Granpuff (as Falcon)
- Mountain Engine
- Bad Look-Out
Voice Actors
- Thomas1Edward2Henry3: Episode III-Present
TV Appearances
Sir Handel first appeared with the other narrow gauge engines in Season 4. However, he was absent until the 10th season afterwards. He then appeared in every season since until the thirteenth, and like the other narrow gauge engines, returned in Season 16. He appeared in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and twentieth seasons, though the eighteenth was only cameo appearances. He is voiced by Keith Wickham.
It is likely that when the narrow gauge engines received large scale models in the fifth season, the crew couldn't afford to upgrade him, Duke, and Bertram (the latter was the former repainted due to budget reasons).