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Sir Handel is a narrow gauge engine who works on the Skarloey Railway.
In his first appearance in "Four Little Engines", he was troublesome and was reprimanded by the Thin Controller for letting the coaches make him stall (it was his fault for calling them "cattle trucks"). He behaved after that, but returned to his old ways after he took a train when it was Peter Sam's turn. He got cross when he was told to go to the quarry, and deliberately derailed himself. Afterwards, he was confined to the Shed until Peter Sam needed repairs. He tried to be good, but the coaches didn't trust him, and derailed him.
In "The Little Old Engine", Gordon saw him moaning about his work and advised him to pull a "sickie". Sir Handel did so, but was told to do Peter Sam's work after after his laziness caused an accident. Later, when some producers come to make a documentary about the railway, Sir Handel tried another "sickie", but the Thin Controller simply had him taken apart for the cameras. He was, of course, put together afterwards.
It is revealed in "Duke the Lost Engine" that he and Peter Sam previously worked on the Mid Sodor Railway with an engine named Duke, where he was named "Falcon". He was obnoxious at first, calling Duke "Granpuff", "fusspot" and "fuddy-duddy", but soon tried to change his ways after he nearly came off a mountain, and was saved by Duke. After the line closed down in 1947, he and Peter Sam were sold to the Sodor Aluminium Company and worked there until 1951, at which time both engines were sheeted for a year until they were purchased by the Skarloey Railway.
In "Great Little Engines", he visits the Talyllyn Railway, where he accidently hit a tree-branch and had to wear an eye-patch.
In his, to date, final Railway Series appearance, "New Little Engine", he was jealous that Peter Sam got to visit the Talyllyn Railway (forgetting he had been to visit before) and damaged his fire-bars as a protest. He stayed shut up in the Shed for a fair while, and, when the Thin Controller came, asked if he could work again. The Thin Controller agreed, and promptly had him fitted with a new pair of firebars, but neglected to mention they were only delivered that morning.
Although he is red in the Railway Series, he is blue on the TV series. He first appeared in the fourth season and was re-introduced in the tenth season with a different personality (he is now a rather more pompous engine) and new facial expressions.