Rheneas

2013
2012
2004
1999
1998
1997

Information

Active

1997-2000, 2008-2010, 2012-2014

2001 (Imaginarium)
2009-2010, 2012-2014 (EUR)

SKU

LC99077 (1997)

LC09785 (2001; Imaginarium)
LC98008 (2008)
LC98169 (2012)
Y4388 (2013)

Rheneas is a tough little narrow gauge engine.

Product Description[]

Character Card[]

Rheneas is a tough little engine. His sole purpose is to work hard and uphold the fine reputation of the railway line. Because of this, he is well respected by both engines and drivers alike.

Changes[]

1997 (carmine livery, black wheels, wooden funnel)
1998 (plastic funnel, thick wheels)
1999 (redesigned plastic funnel)
2001 (name on chassis, exclusive to Imaginarium, Rheneas (Zany Brainy), Around the Barrel Loader Set and Engineers Playset)
2004 (white wheels, larger face, redesigned body, shorter dome, only sold in Rheneas With Rock Crusher Cars and 2004 Vehicle Assortment until 2008)
2012 (CG style face, vermilion livery, black wheels again, additional details)
2013 (less detailing, plastic dome, curved edges, raised firebox, missing siderods, and longer magnet guards)

Variants[]

Availability[]

Trivia[]

The carmine livery and inaccurate proportions on 1997-2011 versions of Rheneas were the result of being based on various magazine and annual illustrations.
Rheneas never had a cab ledge despite being introduced in 1997 when most other engines still had cab ledges.
Rheneas is not featured in the 2000 pamphlet, but is featured in the 2000 yearbook.
The 2004-2011 Rheneas face is based on Sir Handel's face from the television series. This possibly happened because several promotional photos of Rheneas such as his nameboard showed his model with Sir Handel's face.
The prototype of the 2013 Rheneas features light orange paint and a 2004-2011 face.