Bear

Bear is D3 of the North West Railway. He was built in 1964 and arrived on the Island of Sodor in 1967.

Bio

Bear worked on the British Railways when he was known as D7101, but came to Sodor after Oliver discovered that his class was getting scrapped.

Bear, D7101, was pulling a freight train during Oliver's escape to Sodor. He saw how much courage Oliver had, and let him go without telling anyone.

Bear arrived to take over for James, while he was at the works, to shuttle supply trains to the Kirk Ronan Branch Line. He and Oliver had a conversation at Tidmouth before Oliver left for his next passenger train. After Oliver left to collect his next passenger train, Bear had worried thoughts of having to get scrapped when he had to return back to the other railway.

Bear was heading to the mainland, but was stopped by the stationmaster at Maron, being informed that Sir Stephen Hatt needed him to help out at the yards since Diesel went on strike. Bear did his work so well that Sir Stephen Hatt bought him, and Bear is now a permanent member of the North Western Railway.

Bear was seen passing by with the Flying Kipper behind Colin Stiles when Henry, Thomas, Edward, James, Gordon, and Alice found out what happened to Winston at Norbridge station during World War II.

Bear felt ignored by James, and Henry told him that before Alice arrived, Diesel made James really mad in which that was the reason James disliked diesels. Bear was struggling behind the works station, and James came to his rescue. Bear rolled away to the works after he was decoupled from his Christmas mail train.

Bear came back from the works and discovers that Diesel was the engine that Henry mentioned. Diesel apologises to James, Gordon, and Henry about the lies that he had told about them, and James apologizes to Bear. Bear accepts his apology, and James now treats diesels like they're good friends.

Bear was talking to Douglas about Barry, but they were interrupted by Sheffield. Bear asked Douglas if there was an empty ballast train to collect, and Douglas tells Sheffield to collect the train. When Sheffield leaves, Bear tells Douglas what a horrid engine Sheffield is.

Bear appeared in at least six episodes that took place after the feature-length special, Winds of Change in 2009. He offered James to take the Wild Nor' Wester for him after the red engine missed his chance due to a delay at the Container Yard. He was also asked to take the express for Alice after she got delayed. And he later heard from Lily what happened during the time Henry was bricked up in his tunnel.

Basis

Bear is based on a British Rail Class 35 Hymek diesel.

Voice Actors

WildNorWester (STEY: Season 3-4)
Jinty1798 (STEY: Season 5 - STMY: Season 2)
Chase Hutton (STMY: Rowan the Garratt Engine onwards)

Appearances

Episodes

Season 3: On the Run (not named; does not speak) and Escape (not named)
Season 4: One Good Deed (not named), Worked Out, Iron Hero (does not speak) and Post & Prejudice
Barry the Rescue Engine - Back on Track and A Troubled Engine (cameo)
Season 5: Doubts (cameo), Ruffled Feathers and Desperate Times (cameo)
Season 1 STMY: A Change of Scene, Tornado, The Missing Engine, Fame & Misfortune (cameo), Separation Anxiety, Last Laugh and Consequences
Season 2 STMY - Swan Song (cameo), Surf Line (cameo), Runaway, Arrogance (cameo), Percy's Post (does not speak), The Thin Clergyman, Confidence, Caden (does not speak), Troublesome Trucks (cameo), The Devious Way (cameo) and Endgame (cameo)
Couriers and Concerns - The Troublesome Van (mentioned), Bumps in the Night (cameo) and Plans and Police (cameo)
Adeline the Phantom Engine - Final Train (cameo) and His Grace (cameo)
Rowan the Garratt Engine - Two Heritage Engines (mentioned) and An Elusive Quarry

Cancelled Episodes

Specials

Books

Locomotives and Legends

Trivia

Bear shares the same faces as Byron the Bulldozer from the Thomas & Friends TV Series.
After Bear's voice actor Jinty1798 stood down from voicing Bear and Oliver in Sodor the Modern Years a competition was held to find a replacement voice actor and it was confirmed on 5th Aug 2022 that Chase Hutton would take over as Bear's voice actor.