A/N If you know it, I don't own it. Ages are roughly true to personality/size. Because my peak fandom was 20+ years ago, the NWR classic era engines are the easiest for me to work with in fics. If you like, I can have some train play. If so, then this is a meet the characters.
It was morning and everyone on the island of Sodor was stirring. Bertram Hatt, the head of the railway woke up after his wife Jane got up to make sure the kids were awake. Gordon and Henry, the twins, were slow to get up now that they were teens. Gordon was a bit taller than his twin, but Henry was 3 minutes older. Gordon was a pompous, arrogant boy with a tendency to get grumpy, but he had a good heart underneath as those closest to him knew. Henry was a nice guy, though he was vain and prone to sulks when something put him in a mood. They heard their little brothers talking and knew they were already up.

Twelve year old James jumped up as the alarm went off. He was a very lively boy, but boastful and ever since his last birthday was very vain. One thing he was proud of was being as tall as Edward, the boys' kind and wise old paternal grandfather. Before, he liked to get dirty, but now he thought it made him look disgusting and he wanted to avoid dirty jobs. He looked at the lower bunk and saw his little brother Thomas stretch. The younger boy was 7, a fussy, as in bustling all over, kid with a slight ego who often a had cheeky grin on his face. He knew what he liked and disliked, once saying, "I DO NOT like stinky fish!", was highly suspicious of most anything new if he found it odd and creative. Though absent minded, daydreamy, over eager, stubborn and impatient, everyone liked him because of his kind heart. "I can do it!" or "Don't tell me I'm too little", Thomas said often, usually if someone tried to help him without his consent. He was also fearless, competitive and occasionally surprisingly insightful. The little twin girls across the street, Annie and Clarabell were fond of Thomas and often came over to play with him. He was the leader among the eight and under cousins and his many friends due to his personality. Sometimes, his pride drove his friends away, but his kinder side drew them back.

The boys had 2 cousins across town, through their dad's little brother. The slightly older one, nicknamed Duck, because he was chubby and his brother Oliver began their day. When the brothers were very young, they had moved to Sodor. Duck, who was nearly 4 then, had a vague memory of their old home and was proud of his heritage. Now, he was 8 and a cheerful, busy, no nonsense, fair, efficient, loyal, mature beyond his years, welcoming to new people if they were kind, supportive, willing to stick up for others and to help those in error see their errors. He could be kind, but he was competitive with his cousin James and occasionally was teasing with his older cousins. His favorite people were his grandfather Edward, Donald and Douglas who were family friends, Percy from when he met him at Donald and Douglas' house, Oliver, a neighbor kid he befriended and nicknamed Toad and Isabel, the object of his puppy love. Oliver was only 11 months younger than his big brother and was daring' learning every day, resourceful, intelligent, trustworthy, tenacious, plucky, but also sometimes overconfident, boastful and temperamental. He followed his brother around and looked up to him, as little brothers may do.

Meanwhile, in the next town, the rest of the family was waking up. Toby, the boys' other grandfather stretched. He was wise and his grandsons were fond of him because of he was cheerful to everyone. He was from Scotland, but had moved to Sodor with his twin sons Donald and Douglas. They were both single and were roommates. Both were proud of their heritage. When they were children, they often switched. Jane's younger sister lived in the town, too and had a son, Percy. He was close in age to Thomas and loved his cousin. Percy was less proud than Thomas, but equally cheeky. Percy was very young acting and na?ve. He was nice and a good kid, generally but could be impulsive, a teaser, clumsy and sometimes timid. However, he made up for his clumsiness by trying his best, learning from mistakes and being loyal. Sometimes, they had fights, him and his favorite cousin, but always eventually made up. He was close to Grampa Toby. Occasionally, people teased him for his naivete or clumsiness.

The kids and working adults were happy. Today was Friday and the last day of school for the kids. Thomas, especially was peppy, singing cheerful little songs he made up about "going to the seaside", which the family planned to do for the weekend after school.