Hiro

Hiro
Number: 51 First Appearance: Splatter and Dodge (cameo), Henry the Warrior (speaking) Friends: The Steam Team, Harvey, Murdoch, Victor, Kevin, Charlie, Stephen, Connor, Caitlin, Harold, The Fat Controller, Yong Bao Enemies: Diesel, Spencer, Vinnie Class: JNR D51 Designer: Hideo Shima Builder: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company Built: Between 1936 and 1951 Configuration: 2-8-2

Hiro is a wise Japanese engine, who was famously known as the "Master of the Railway".

Bio

Hiro was built in Japan before being sent to Sodor in The Fat Controller's early days. He was known as the "Master of the Railway", until he was forgotten and lost in the forest. Many years later he was rediscovered in an accident by Thomas, who tried to restore him to glory, while avoiding Spencer.

Persona

Hiro is an old steam engine who has been on Sodor for a very long time and was originally known as the "Master of the Railway." He is grand, masterful, and mature. He has an appreciation for serenity and order and often thinks fondly of his homeland, far away, where he was once one of the strongest engines. Hiro continues to be gentle, wise, and graceful, as well as a useful engine on the railway and good friend to the other engines, especially Thomas. He thinks that everyone, even trucks, deserve to be treated with respect.

Livery

Hiro is painted black with gold bands and fittings and red wheels. His name is written in black on gold nameplates on his smoke deflectors. He has the number "51" painted on the sides of his tender in white.

Appearances

• Season 1 - Splatter and Dodge (cameo), Henry the Warrior, Snowdrift (cameo), Big Strong Murdoch, Waterworks (cameo), Gordon, Spencer and the Flying Scotsman, and Tinsel on the Tracks
• Season 2 - Haunted Henry's Forest, The New Controller (does not speak), Breakdown Butch (cameo), Duncan's Discovery (cameo), Back to Misty Island, Sidney Gets Lost (mentioned), Sodor Day (cameo), and Ministry (cameo)

Specials:

• The Great Storm of Sodor (cameo)
• The Great Journey of Sodor (does not speak)

Trivia

• Hiro says that he is the oldest engine on the island, but the D51 class was not built until 1935, making him much younger than most of the other steam engines on the island.
• According to Christopher Skala, Hiro was originally going to be painted blue. This carried on to his patchwork model.