Got any headcanons for all the steamies?
Sorry for the long time to respond, but hereās the headcanons I got for all of our steam engines! Collectively, Iād like to refer them as: āThe steam squadā.
He used to have decent eyesight in his youth. As he aged however, his vision started to not function as well as it used to be. He developed farsightedness, which creates a problem for him to see things up close. To combat this problem, Samuel (OC and previous head mechanic) and his fellow colleagues helped create a pair of special spectacles just for Pete. Pete couldnāt be any more grateful to Samuel.
In canon, Pete was prone to sleep riding (chugger version of sleep walking in case anyone forgets). Off-screen, after the events of āPark patroller Wilsonā,he got his sleep riding problem sorted out after a few more nights of similar stories + one incident resulting someone getting in an accident. He was helped by Ronica and a sleep specialist to get the treatment that he needs. This could help explain why his sleep riding problem was never brought up again in the series.
As a hobby, Pete still loves to fly kites. After witnessing kids flying them during a summer in his youth, Pete got amazed and decides to try them out too. He has a storage compartment specifically for the colorful kites he has owned over the years.
Pete secretly has an old phonograph wagon hidden in a storage spot. He held a ton of sentimental value to it since thatās a gift given to him by James (OC, first mechanic on Chuggington railway) before immigrating to TetsudÅ Republic. James is also the one that constructed the phonograph wagon. Before his retirement, he and Pete shared fond memories with the wagon together. Sometimes when Pete is having a rough day, heāll pull out one of the records and place it onto the phonograph to listen to. On occasion, Olwin will join him on this for bonding time.
Back in Old Chuggington, there was a memorial bench in the depot dedicated to Daniel (OC), a human railway director that was Peteās trainer. On his death anniversary , Pete would go there to honor and respect his father figure.
Out of all of his friends back in Chuggington, Olwin is the closest to him. Although she arrived to Chuggington a couple of years after him, they became quite close.
Her former smothering tendencies to trainees stems from a subconscious desire to secretly wanting a mother figure growing up (something she believes would be nice to have), mixed with maternal instinct (Her creator was a mother herself). Of course, after the canonical events of āOutbound Olwinā she toned down the need to guide the trainees in every step of the way.
In the past, she used to be a full-time trainer. The reason sheās a trainer on occasion in recent times is simply due to Dunbarās arrival. His arrival frees up the responsibility she has to training trainees. During the time of his arrival, Olwin was needed for other workloads. She hasnāt returned to be a full trainer again, but misses being one.
In her spare time, Olwin loves to do bird watching. She uses special binoculars (made by Dr. Ling) for her to see and view the birds up in the sky. Sheās the one that introduced the hobby to Chatsworth (also a headcanon).
Olwin knows a secret waterfall in the outskirts of the old town. She named the waterfall: āSueā after a close late friend. During her youth, she and Sue would often play together by the waterfall. After Sueās passing, Olwin decides to name their childhood waterfall playground after her. Whenever Olwin isnāt in such a good mood, sheāll retreat herself to the secret waterfall location. The sounds of the rustling water and ambient, quiet sounds of nature helps soothe the elderly chuggerās nerves.
As a young chugger, Olwin used to love playing with little wooden chugger figures in her free time (theyāre like dolls, but for chuggers). Sheāll sometimes play alone or with Sue (who also likes playing with them). Daniel knows how much Olwin loves them and will gift her a new one for special occasions. As she got older, Olwin lost interest and eventually stopped playing with them (they are still hidden somehow in the old town though). Despite the lack of interest of playing with toys nowadays, Olwin still has fond memories playing with the wooden chugger figures.
To this day, Olwin loves watching vintage movies. She specifically loves the romantic ones. After the first time seeing a film, Olwin gets pretty invested in the movie world since (Idk if thereās a Chugington world equivalent for Hollywood). Itāll take some convincing to have Olwin willingly watch modern films.
Speedyās last name āMcAllisterā came from his creator, Malcolm McAllister (OC). Unfortunately for Malcolm, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness during the last few weeks of Speedyās creation. Sensing his time is running out, one of Malcolmās dying wishes to have Speedy gain his last name. By the time Speedy entered the world, Malcolm has left.
In his free time, Speedy is an avid story listener. The types of books he would read are classics, poetry, mystery, horror and suspense & thriller.Ā Unfortunately for him, the text from the books would usually be too small for him to read. Back in the old times, Speedy would try to find an available human friend to read the stories out loud to him. In modern day, heāll use a specialized magnifying glass (created by Dr. Ling) that can help enlarge the text on screen for him to read. He has a special place in storage that he can access to as a small library.
Speedy is an animal whisperer. Perhaps his calm, patient personality is what makes many animals drawn to him. He has gradually learned how to talk down to animals to make them trust him right off the bat. He also has a way to calm and tame the wildest ones. His voice is certainly helpful to get animals to listen to him to begin with. He has a list of notable animal friends he has made over the years.
He, Pete and Olwin were a close trio back in the old town. However, due to being sent to work on a different railway after the demise of the old town (and short stay on the new town), he gradually drifted apart from them.
The reason Speedy came out of retirement in season 2 is simply just for the desire to work alongside his remaining old friends again (Pete and Olwin being amongst the few). Speedy has seen the world during his retirement, but still overall preferred home.
He became quite close to Piper due to her bearing resemblance of an old friend personality-wise.
Piper does love all of her friends, but at the same time, she sometimes couldnāt help but feel worried about being the only young steam chugger around.
In a way, Piper reminds Zephie of herself when she was new to Chuggington. Out of all the younger chuggers in Chuggington, Zephie is the closest to Piper and considers her as her ābest friendā. This is perhaps why these two have gotten closer in season 6.
Piper likes to blow bubbles. In her free time, sheāll pour small amounts of soap in her boiler just to create bubbles out of her funnel. She specifically tries to use scented bubble solution whenever she can (which is what she prefers using).
Many animals that reside in the Safari park absolutely adores Piper! As of recent times, she has been a frequent helper around the park, even in her free time/day off. She knows all of their names, likes/dislikes and has even been observant on their behavior/characteristics. So much so, sheāll eventually become one of the very few chuggers the animals are the most willing to listen to.
Piper shares a close friendship with Mtambo due to her frequent visits to the Safari Park whenever sheās free of her duties. Due to her immense love and fascination for animals and wildlife, Mtambo became pretty fond of her as a ānieceā. Heck, he'll occasionally organize special private events just for her as other special ways to interact with animals at the park. Mtambo promises her one day when she gets to advanced training, sheāll be his full-time assistant!
Out of all the current steam chuggers that debuted in the series, Piper is the closest to Speedy. The reason being is that she reminded Speedy of a late friend in the old town.
Sorry it took so long to make! Iāll be sure to be sending more fun stuff here often! :D