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Wilbert is a friend of Thomas the Tank Engine. He lives on the Dean Forest Railway in England, and for this reason is known as Wilbert the Forest Engine.
The Fat Controller borrowed him to help Donald and Douglas on the branch lines of his railway. He had a number of adventures while he was on the Island of Sodor, including having to be wired to his train when a coupling broke and accidentally drinking a lot of milk.
He was originally supposed to help Duck and Oliver on their branch line, but when Percy had an accident he was diverted to Thomas' branch line. He quickly made friends with the other engines, and the trucks quickly learnt to respect his great strength.
Wilbert was originally a shunter at a colliery in Staffordshire, built in 1953. He was working until 1976, when the Dean Forest Railway bought him. In 1981 he was given the name G. B. Keeling, but in 1987 he was renamed Wilbert after the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, the creator of the Railway Series books and then president of the Railway. In 1983, he was honoured to haul a Royal Train for the Duke of Gloucester and in 1991 he attended the opening of the line to Lydney Lakeside with City of Truro. He is popular with children visiting the line, but is currently out of service awaiting an overhaul.
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