AU Time - Märklin

Märklin Hohenzollern, known shortly and friendly as Mark, was brought to Germany in the early days of Sodor. I haven't really figured out a Pre-North Western railway he could fit in. (the S&M, the W&S, the TK&ELR, Sodor Tramways) So he's pretty much in the same league as 98462, 87546 and the Red Engines, being simply a loaned foreign engine. (and engine driver in this case)

Mark was very introvert and reserved during his working time on the island, so no one really knew him too well, or knew about his personality. He didn't really liked being in the spotlight (*wink wink*). He worked mainly on the Main Line Harbour, away from the business of the Branch Lines and the Main Line's bigger areas. Although he ocassionally brought trains as far as Crosby, albeit still not socially interacting too much. Whenever he pulled trains outside the harbour, a loaned tank engine, Thomas (when he was still station pilot), or a medium-sized engine like Edward or Eagle would take over the shunting. (this was before Percy arrived)

When Percy arrived, his innocent and kind nature made Märklin get out of his shell a bit more, eventually becoming Mark's best friend. His only friend on Sodor, actually (and sadly).

Eventually, around Season 2, his trial time ended (not to mention Sir Topham Hatt was getting fed up with Mark's anti social nature and wanting to do him and himself a favour), and so he was sent back to Germany, having only made a single friend on Sodor, missing the chance to make much more.

Sidenote: I like to believe that in Tale of the Brave, when Percy said he'd go to "Far away lands", apart from obviously going to Columbia with Gator, he indirectly also meant he'd go to Germany to find Mark. Maybe even (had they not stayed on Sodor) go to America to find Hank and Japan to find Hiro. Like, bro wanted to do his own BWBA before Thomas had the idea.

Another sidenote: Mark is also the name of Marc Winslow (it is sometimes written with a K in movie credits), a mexican voice actor and singer who provided the voice for Thomas (S24's last episodes and specials), Ryan (S20 only), Rex (S20-onward) and a truck in JBS. He also sang Our Tale of the Brave, something appropiate considering not only being Thomas' future voice but considering what I've said about Mark in this post so far.