Gareth the Goliath, also known as simply Gareth or Garry (and officially named Goliath), is a colossal 0-4-0+0-4-0 "Garratt"-type locomotive featured in Somewhere, Wales. He is much stronger than the other locomotives on the railway, being capable of moving much heavier loads. He is of the same design as the Tasmanian Government Railways K class. Gareth is by far the largest overall locomotive present in the game, dwarfing any engine placed alongside him. While his size gives him strength, it also nearly breaks the loading gauge, with him only barely fitting through the tunnel at Kittsbrough, and being unable to fit inside some locomotive facilities.
As quoted from the locomotive spawner, "Originally destined for Tasmania as one of the first Garratt-type locomotives ever built, the railway purchased him to alleviate the growing traffic caused by the first World War. Though his flexible design worked well on the winding mountain curves, it was also difficult to maintain and was uncomfortable for the crew. Officially named 'Goliath', he gained the nickname 'Gareth the Goliath', which was quickly shortened to 'Garry'".
To view information relating to Gareth that has since been removed or retconned, please visit this page.
Background[]
The first three "Garratt"-type locomotives in history were manufactured by Beyer, Peacock & Co. in Manchester in 1909. They were ordered by the Tasmanian Government Railways. The first two that were finished and sent to the TGR would eventually become the K class. The third, however, was held up in production. By the time it was completed, the TGR did not need another of such engines - thus, this engine was auctioned off during the Great War, and was bought by the Railway, where it was named ‘Gareth’. While still bearing his original Tasmanian No. 3 plates, the phrase "WRONG NUMBER" was written underneath the one on the right side in chalk.
During his time on the Railway, Gareth was notoriously difficult and expensive to maintain. He began wearing down noticeably. As time went on, he became slower and weaker. Sometime after the early 1940s, he was withdrawn from service, later being cut into pieces and sold to the Welsh Highland Railway as spare parts for K1, the only survivor of the original three Garratt locomotives.
Appearance[]
Gareth is by far the largest locomotive in the game, absolutely dwarfing the next runner-up (Genevieve). Being a "Garratt" locomotive, he sports a unique design compared to all the other locomotives - he has a massive boiler, firebox, and cab suspended between two articulated sets of 0-4-0 wheelsets, with water tanks (and a coal bunker on the rear one) fitted atop of them. His colossal body is painted a deep shade of maroon, while his smokebox, cab roof, and much of his underbody is painted black. His window frames, boiler bands, and safety valves appear to be brass, his headstocks and wheel counterweights are painted a lighter shade of red, and his handrails and coupling rods appear to be unpainted metal. He also sports unique cowcatchers on either end, a feature not found on any other of the railway's locomotives.
Features[]
Gilbert has several unique interactable features which are usable on his model:
- Pressing the "H" key on a computer, or pressing the "Horn" button on his drive menu blasts his whistle.
- Pressing the "J" key on a computer blasts his whistle for a shorter duration.
Trivia[]
- Gareth is canonically the strongest engine The Railway owned.
- Gareth is the longest, widest, and tallest engine within the game.
- Gareth is too large to fit on most of the available turntables, although he can still use them; however, this can lead to glitches due to his size. The only turntable he fits on is the turntable at the Mt. Chwarel Logging Co.
- Gareth was added on the 8th of December, 2018 (the day the game released), making him one of the oldest engines in-game alongside Quirk, Spitfire, and the tram.
- Gareth's original model was still operable in the game, unmodified, until the 22nd of April, 2022, when it was visibly and mechanically overhauled. This made his original model the longest lasting locomotive model in the game by far (excluding the tram as it has been inoperable since 2019).
- Due to the usage of this original model for so long, changes with Roblox's physics engine and the deprecation of his method of articulation began to negatively impact his performance. This was passed off in-universe as Gareth being difficult to maintain due to his size.
- Gareth's original model was still operable in the game, unmodified, until the 22nd of April, 2022, when it was visibly and mechanically overhauled. This made his original model the longest lasting locomotive model in the game by far (excluding the tram as it has been inoperable since 2019).
- Gareth was originally planned to be rebuilt in 2019, but it was cancelled due to the fact that it would've increased his size even further and made him more awkward to use in the game.
- Gareth's name is a play on the "Garratt" type of locomotive he is.
Gallery[]
