What was Sir Handel's original name in "The Railway Series" and it's animated counterpart "Thomas and Friends?"

The story behind the answer

Falcon is correct because, in Rev. W. Awdry’s Railway Series (and confirmed in Thomas & Friends, Season 4), Sir Handel began life as Falcon on the Mid Sodor Railway alongside Duke and Stuart. When that line closed, Falcon and Stuart were sent to the Skarloey Railway, where Falcon was renamed Sir Handel in honor of the railway’s chairman, Sir Handel Brown.

To remember it: think “bird before baronet”—Sir Handel’s original name was a bird of prey (Falcon) before he took a baronet’s name. Also pair it with his friend: Stuart became Peter Sam, while Falcon became Sir Handel.