Buzz

Buzz
Number: 909 Class: EE Type 3B Designer: English Electric Build date: 1950 Configuration: 4w Arrived on the DR: 1972 Voice Actor: Anthony Sims

Buzz is a small battery electric shunter owned by Caracus Smash who lives on the Dark Railway.

Bio

Buzz was built in 1950 at the Vulcan Foundry. He spent his working life at a power station on the coast before being withdrawn in 1972 and purchased by the Dark Railway Preservation Society. Upon his arrival, he unintentionally upset Mr. B by having his battery charging point set up in the latter's shed, meaning that he had to move out of it. Buzz was initially tasked with working at Soma, but after two days of running out of electricity in the middle of the day he began complaining about it to Mr. B and Five. When Mr. B also began venting his frustrations about being confined to Caracus Smash Ltd as the works shunter, Five recommended asking their owners if they could swap jobs. All parties agreed and ownership of Buzz was transferred to Mr. Smash. Buzz became much more cheerful with his new job, and he and Mr. B soon became good friends. During a run of verbal abuse and vandalism against the diesel fleet from the general public, Buzz decided to participate in a strike with the rest of the diesels until the situation had been resolved. When Dave awoke following his major overhaul, Buzz was the first engine he saw, and he was required to calm Dave down as he panicked about his surroundings following a nightmare.

After Andy belittled the others for believing in the supernatural, Buzz and Mr. B came up with a plan to scare him in retaliation. Buzz was disguised as a box van, and started moving a train of wagons right in front of Andy during a misty night at Soma. Though the trick was successful, it also backfired on Buzz as his battery ran flat before he could return home, and he ended up being dragged away with the wagons he had been moving by Warrior. When Mr. B was withdrawn by the DRPS for budgetary reasons, Buzz brought him to see Mr. Smash in the works one night. This ultimately led to him being bought back by Mr. Smash, placing both engines under his ownership. Both engines were tasked with keeping others out of the works whilst the replica of DR1202 was being built, which brought them into conflict with Theo and Otto.

Persona

Despite his size, Buzz is keen to help other engines, perhaps not in a physical sense. He is always on hand to stick up for his fellow locomotives when they are in trouble. This is best shown when he (and Allan) gave the diesels the idea to go on strike in 1972 during a particularly bad bout of abuse from passengers.

Livery

Buzz is currently painted in British Railways/North Eastern Railway lined green with the late crest. When he first arrived on the DR, he was painted in Central Electricity Generating Board dark blue with white lining.

Basis

Buzz is based on an English Electric Type 3B battery electric shunter.

Appearances

The Dark Railway Series

Episodes:

• Series 8 - Revolution 909, Face to Face, Colossus (does not speak), Short Circuit and Outro (cameo)
• Series 9 - 9, Goose (mentioned), Rock 'n Roll (does not speak), Time Wasted (mentioned), Extend Extra (cameo), Wipeout (cameo) and Pogo / Mere Anarchy (does not speak)
• Series 10 - Body Angels, The Road to Bellgrave, Dirty Colossus (does not speak) and Buckin' Hell
• Series 11 - Relations (mentioned), Since Then, Puppets, Further and The Brickenkopf (does not speak)
• Series 12 - Ventura, 1202, Fresh, Night Beats (does not speak), Outrun (does not speak), Shuffle (cameo) and Eternal Feedback (mentioned)

Specials:

• Phantoms Can't Hang

Trivia

• The original intention for Buzz's introduction was that he was to be one of the engines working at Five's old home on the Backwell, Kelling and Four Bridges colliery network. When plans for series 8 were changed, Buzz's backstory was similarly altered.
• Like Barry and Caracus Smash, Buzz is owned by Mr Smash, however, he was not saved by him. Instead, the DRPS were the ones who actually saved Buzz, with Mr Smash swapping ownership of Mr B in order to acquire the more economical Buzz for use at Caracus Smash Ltd.