Rudolph Rudolf Diesel was the inventor of the diesel locomotive. He was a shrewd businessman, stopping at nothing to make sure his diesels are proven superior, as revenge for the treachery of his colleague William Meisner. He was the main antagonist of Seasons 1 and 2, as well as an anti-hero in Season 3.
Biography[]
During the 1890s, Diesel and William Meisner came to Sodor with the intention of building a railway on the Island. Initially, Diesel was to provide the engines for the line and Bill would fund the project. However, after Sir Nigel Gresley becomes involved in the project, the plans quickly change and Diesel is shafted in favor of a collaboration between Meisner and Sir Nigel Gresley. This betrayal caused a great deal of bitterness on Diesel's part, and in turn fueled his drive to implement diesels onto the island.
Season 1[]
Rudolph first appears in Tensions Emerge, in which he tries to sell Sir Topham Hatt more diesel locomotives. He fails to convince Sir Topham, and leaves to wait for his train. upon waiting, he witnessed a flaming coal truck shoot from the Skarloey Railway Tunnel. Upon the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Boxford, Mr. Diesel sabotages some track near the Skarloey Railway. His manipulation manages to derail Spencer, allowing for Mr. Diesel to replace them with one of his diesels, Derek.
After the sale, Diesel goes to Hatt to gloat about it and try to convince Hatt to buy more diesels again. After being denied, Rudolph threatens to change Hatt's mind before receiving a call from the Duke and Duchess, revealing Derek has broken down. In spite of Mr. Diesel's protests, Derek is returned to Mr. Diesel.
Season 2[]
After Sir Topham Hatt's death, Rudolph Diesel returns and is able to strike a deal with Alfred Herman, bringing many of his diesels to Sodor. In Authority, he was revealed to be Mr. M, the mysterious figure behind the bombings.
Season 3[]
After discovering a set of plans amongst the late Sir Topham Hatt's belongings, Phil Aardman secretly summons Diesel back to Sodor to discuss them. The plans are revealed to be that of a hybrid Steam-Diesel engine, which Diesel developed years ago as a compromise between Gresley's steam locomotives and his own diesel locomotives. Phil manages to convince Diesel to construct the engine for him. However, as the project neared completion, Stephen Hatt framed Phil of constructing a doomsday device, which put the project on hold after Phil's arrest. After Phil returns to Sodor and clears his name, he and Diesel complete the project. Once the locomotive is completed, Diesel requests the engine be named William. Following this, Diesel returned to jail, where he passed away three days later.
Apperances[]
- Season 1: Tensions Emerge, Duke & Duchess, Revolutionary, The Blockade Committee, Hatt (does not speak)
- Season 2: Consequences, Reform, Day of the Diesels, Phil (masked), Authority
- Season 3: Inheritance (death) Parts 3, 4 and 7
- Season 4b: Best Laid Schemes (flashback)
Trivia[]
- Rudolph Diesel is based on Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine. The real Diesel died in 1913, after mysteriously falling off of a boat, leading some to suspect he was murdered.
- Turtlesandthomas revealed in his "5 Years of Sudrian Conflict: Easter Eggs, Behind the Scenes & More," that the M was suppose to stand for modernization but he "was too stupid to ever get around to explaining that."
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