Zephie

Zephie is a young scissor-lift trolley. She was introduced in season 1.

Bio
Zephie is a very kind tram who is good friends with the trainees Koko, Wilson and Brewster. She is really useful around Chuggington as she can spin around 360 degrees and zoom up and down to maneuver her cab as she is a scissor-lift trolley Train. Eddie often uses Zephie to help him get to hard to reach places and she zips around the depot running errands for Morgan. Zephie is fitted with a bell but in one of the episodes she has some fun with her newly fitted siren! Zephie giggles through life and although she can be a little girly, excitable and childish she knows the importance of hard work.

Basis
Zephie is a modified version of the Backer & Rueb 0-4-0 steam tram 'Ooievaar', which can not spin around 360 degrees as this is an unrealistic feature. The spinning function may have come from a manchester horse drawn tram. It had the ability to turn 180 degrees at termini. The spinning feature may also have been inspired by certain North American track inspection cars ("speeders"), such as certain versions of the Fairmont P-5, which are equipped with a drop down lifting pivot. In such cars a central foot is dropped between the rails from the center of the car, raising the entire machine (including the wheels) off the rails, and enabling the operator to spin the entire car around by hand.