Fictional locations in The Railway Series
Encyclopedia
There are many fictional locations in The Railway Series
of books by the Rev. W. Awdry and his son Christopher
. This is a summary of the locations as they appear in The Railway Series
books. Follow the links to the slightly different perspective of the television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
.
The Island of Sodor
is the fictional island in the Irish Sea
created by the Rev. Awdry as the setting for his Railway Series books. It is situated between the Isle of Man
and the mainland at Barrow-in-Furness
in Cumbria
. The capital is Suddery, although the largest town is now Tidmouth.
All the locations are found on the Island of Sodor
, with the only exception, Barrow Central Railway Station, situated in Cumbria
on mainland England
.
which is the terminus of Duck's
branch line. This is also the terminus of the Arlesdale Railway
, and was once served by the Mid Sodor Railway
. The other station is Arlesburgh Bridge Street, which is served only by trains on the Arlesdale Railway.
The town is a popular tourist destination on Sodor, largely because of the Arlesdale Railway. It is also an ancient port which once boasted a steamer service to Douglas, Isle of Man
, which was operated by the Mid Sodor Railway. Arlesburgh West station near the harbour was first opened in 1916. Although it more or less closed in 1947, as the mineral traffic for which it had largely been built had dried up, it was reopened in 1968 by the Fat Controller
to transport ballast from the hills.
It was here that Bulgy the Double Decker Bus stole Duck and Oliver's passengers. It was also here that the troublesome truck S.C. Ruffey
or Scruffey was destroyed.
The NWR engine sheds at Arlesburgh are home to Duck, Oliver and sometimes Donald or Douglas
.
On some early maps of Sodor including ones drawn by the Rev. Awdry himself Arlesburgh is spelt Arlsburgh. This spelling is also shown in an illustration of a Sudrian signpost in the story Thomas in Trouble from the book Toby the Tram Engine. The signpost also seems to imply that Arlesburgh is closer to Ffarquhar
than is shown on the maps. The signpost is shown again in Thomas and Victoria with the spelling as Arlesburgh but the distances still the same.
Arlesdale is the name of the River Arle valley and is the home of the Arlesdale Railway
which runs from Arlesburgh at the mouth of the river to Arlesdale village itself.
Arlesdale village should not be confused with the nearby village of Arlesdale Green where the former Mid Sodor Railway
had its main works and engine sheds.
s on the main line of the North Western Railway
of which there are two. The first was constructed in 1915 and, due to poor construction, partially collapsed. This left the tunnel in two sections.
The second tunnel was cut in 1922, when Henry the Green Engine
stopped in the first tunnel and refused to come out. As it was impossible to move him, the Fat Director
decided instead to cut a new bore. When Henry was finally removed, both tunnels remained in service. As a result of these events, the tunnels are nicknamed "Henry's Tunnel".
The only book in which the tunnels have played a significant role was The Three Railway Engines, the first book in The Railway Series, published in 1945. Although in the book the illustrations of the tunnel show that it has two bores throughout the two stories in which the tunnel is featured.
Ballahoo itself is a dormitory town for Barrow-in-Furness
. It has a station served by a joint NWR/National Rail
service from Barrow, and is on the Norramby branch.
is the mainland terminus for the North Western Railway and is connected to the fictional Island of Sodor by a bridge to Vicarstown. In reality, Barrow Central
is the mainland station of Barrow-in-Furness
but has no connection to the Island of Walney (the island that was 'replaced' by the Rev. Awdry to make room for Sodor) via Vickerstown
.
Brendam is a town and a major port on the Island of Sodor
.
The Railway Series version of Brendam is a medium-sized port, inspired by Par, Cornwall
. It is at the end of Edward's
branch line
. It is shunted by Bill and Ben, the mischievous tank engine twins belonging to Sodor China Clay. The main source of traffic is china clay, and the waste heaps from the claypits apparently spoils a pleasant view.
As well as goods traffic, Sodor China Clay occasionally hosts days when rail enthusiasts may look around. Bill and Ben particularly enjoy the attention these visitors give them.
BoCo the Diesel Engine, Donald and Douglas
work here, as well as Edward
himself. Gordon the Big Engine
once ended up here by accident, and Thomas the Tank Engine
was temporarily based on the branch line for a short period.
Cronk is roughly half-way along the mainline between Vicarstown and Tidmouth and is a stopping point for express trains. Just to the west is the magnificent viaduct where Gordon
lost his dome (see Duck and the Diesel Engine).
A few miles to the north of Cronk are the ruins of Cronk Abbey and a public school
. The school and Abbey are served by Abbey Station on the NWR's Peel Godred branch line.
Originally the station was the terminus for the Wellsworth & Suddery Railway, until the line was extended to Knapford in 1912.
It was at Crosby that Duck
crashed into a barber
's shop.
Crovan's "Gate" is a narrow gap in the hills that is the only practicable route from the east into the interior of the island. A famous victory in Sodor
's history occurred here when the heavily-outnumbered King made use of the narrow pass to hold off an invading army until reinforcements could arrive. The gap has since been widened by road and railway builders. The name Crovan's Gate now also applies to a town which has grown up to serve the railway works and former quarries and mines in the area.
Crovan's Gate is served by two railways. It is the terminus of the Skarloey Railway
and a station on the main line of the North Western Railway
. It is also the location of the North Western Railway's extensive works. Just east of Crovan's Gate the NWR's Ballahoo and Norramby branch leaves the main line; this line was at one time part of the Sodor & Mainland Railway
. The NWR's express train from Tidmouth to Barrow calls at Crovan's Gate.
The NWR works are possibly the best-equipped steam locomotive
works in the British Isles
, and are capable of undertaking any repair, overhaul or restoration job for any locomotive on the Island. They have also played a major role in the construction of new engines for the Arlesdale
and Skarloey
Railways. The Fat Controller
has also recently been looking into the possibility of manufacturing components for engines on heritage railway
s.
The Culdee Fell Railway
runs up its southwest side from Kirk Machan.
(CFR). It is the last passing loop on the CFR before the Summit Station and is a wild, windy and inhospitable place. If the winds are more than light, it is normal practice for CFR passenger trains to stop here rather than continuing to Summit.
Dryaw is located on Thomas'
branch line
being the first station after the junction at Knapford, and is most notable in the stories for its airfield. This is the home of Harold
the helicopter
.
Dryaw began as a worker village for the staff of A.W.Dry, a company working on reclaiming this area of tidal land from the sea. Gradually a village grew up around the workers' homes, increasingly so as more land was drained and cultivated.
On the maps of Sodor drawn to accompany the Railway Series, Dryaw is shown to have two stations: one for passengers, and one on the goods-only Knapford Harbour line. The latter, according to the Awdry family's "histories" of Sodor, was the original station. Dryaw "Goods" station is, ironically, in the middle of the village and better equipped than the current passenger station, which is just an unmanned halt some distance from the village, although the provision of a large car-park there implies good commuter traffic. The villagers of Dryaw however often save themselves the walk to the passenger station (and possibly the fare of a ticket) by hitching a ride in the Guards Van of goods trains headed to Ffarquhar or Knapford Harbour, particularly on Market Days.
The name is an anagram of "Awdry" which is the 'real' backstory to the name – in the context of the books however it could be derived from the firm A.W.Dry, or the phrase 'Dry out', as this was among the first land to be reclaimed from the sea by the company's labours.
Elsbridge is a town in the Els Valley close to the towns of Tidmouth and Knapford. The River Els enters the Sudrian Sea at Knapford. The station is situated on Thomas's
branch line.
According to the research into Sodor's history by the Rev. Awdry, Elsbridge was the terminus of one of Sodor's first railways the Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway that was later extended from Knapford to Tidmouth. When this railway became part of the North Western Railway
the line was extended past Elsbridge to Ffarquhar
.
The name "Elsbridge" first appeared on a sketch map drawn by Rev. W. Awdry to illustrate the story in which Thomas the Tank Engine
and Bertie the Bus
have a race. The name comes from the town of Elsworth
, where the Rev. Awdry was vicar at the time.
's branch line.
Gordon's Hill is the nickname for the steep gradient on the NWR mainline between Wellsworth and Maron stations. Over a distance of five miles, the line climbs some 280ft to reach Maron Station – a ruling gradient of 1-in-75 that continues to be a severe test for locomotives on the NWR.
Gordon's Hill got its name after Gordon
got stuck hauling a goods train and Edward
had to push from behind. It is a place where a back engine is often required to help trains up the hill. A further risk is that of runaway trains if there is insufficient braking power.
When the railway was first built, this already difficult stretch of track was made more treacherous by strong winds. The line now runs up an avenue of trees, which were planted to reduce this problem. However, this does mean that in autumn there can be the additional hazard of slippery leaves on the line, as James
once discovered.
Gordon's Hill was first introduced in the story "Edward and Gordon" in The Three Railway Engines, the first book in The Railway Series
, and it has also featured as a prominent location in the TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
.
and is served by a halt on Thomas's
branch line
. It was just outside the Hackenbeck tunnel that Thomas got stuck in the snow and was rescued by Terence the Tractor
.
Hackenbeck originated as a location on the Rev Awdry's Ffarquhar branch model railway. It is also where Mrs. Kyndley lives, dwelling beside the railway line.
The fact that the tunnel is between Hackenbeck and Elsbridge contradicts the illustrations in the story Thomas and Bertie in the book Tank Engine Thomas Again which shows the tunnel being just outside Ffarquhar station.
on the Isle of Man
.
The Arlesburgh or Little Western Branch of the NWR was at one time going to be extended here but nothing came of these plans.
On some maps of Sodor a railway line has been shown running east from Harwick towards the lake known as Loey Machan. This is the only remainder of earlier railway proposals to connect Harwick with Cronk via Peel Godred. Track was laid as far as the village of Cregwir before funds ran out. The line was only ever used as a horse-drawn freight line between Cregwir's quarries and the port at Harwick and was abandoned by World War II
, with the rails being removed thereafter as part of the wartime drive for metals.
On at least two of the Reverend Awdry's early hand-drawn maps of the Island, the above-mentioned line is not shown. Instead there is a short narrow gauge line from Harwick to the village/town of Ballaswein a few miles to the north. Given that this line was never mentioned in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, in favour of the line to Cregwir, it might have been an idea Wilbert and George toyed with but eventually abandoned. However, this line also appears on the map of Sodor that features as the endpapers of the later book The Railway Series – The Complete Collection.
The Reagby family hold the Viscount
cy and Baron
y of Harwick.
duck
Dilly made her home.
had its eastern terminus here after abandoning plans to have a station in the centre of Peel Godred.
-y-Deighan ("the Church of the Devil") after the circle of standing stones
on the hill above the village, is the junction for the Peel Godred Branch of the NWR.
in a cave on the mountain. The cave is still a place of pilgrimage
.
Kirk Machan station is on the North Western Railway's
Peel Godred Branch. It is the headquarters of the Culdee Fell Railway
, and is the location of the CFR's running sheds and maintenance depot. Exchange sidings are sited to the north, where CFR rolling stock may be transferred to standard gauge wagons for the journey to the NWR Works at Crovan's Gate. (Culdee was pictured here being transferred, on return from his overhaul, in the book Mountain Engines).
, the first standard gauge railway on the Island. Originally just a fishing port, with the coming of the railway, the town developed considerably.
Knapford is a small town at the estuary of the River Els just south of Tidmouth.
Knapford Station is the junction for the North Western Railway
's main line and Thomas the Tank Engine
's branch line
there is also a goods only station at Knapford Harbour where Percy the Small Engine
works.
Some maps of the island show the main line terminating at the junction though tie in books by the Awdry's state that the terminus or big station is Tidmouth. Also on some maps Knapford does look the larger town whereas the Rev Awdry stated in the book The Island of Sodor – its People, History and Railways that it is a smaller dormitory town of Tidmouth.
According to the Rev Awdry's "research" into Sodor's history there have been 2 previous stations at Knapford both south of the River Els whereas the present one is north of it. Although illustrations in the books Thomas Comes Home and Thomas and Victoria show the junction station being south of the river with no harbour or town and also with its own engine sheds.
Early books in the series stated that the Express Train pulled by Gordon the Big Engine
did not stop at Knapford but this is contradicted in some later ones by Christopher Awdry.
The name "Knapford" first appeared on a sketch map drawn by Rev. W. Awdry to illustrate the story in which Thomas the Tank Engine
and Bertie the Bus
have a race. The name comes from the parish of Knapwell
, where Awdry was vicar.
The station is a compulsory stop for all 'Down' (westbound) unfitted or loose-coupled goods trains, so that the wagon brakes may be pinned down before the descent of Gordon's Hill. Back engines, after assisting 'Up' trains to climb the hill, stop and reverse over the trailing crossover at the station to attain the Down line for the run back to Wellsworth.
suburban service from Barrow Central Station on the mainland. On some maps the town's name is spelt Normanby. Historically the name comes from the sole Norman invasion of Sodor which landed here, an unsuccessful attempt which was routed by King Godred Crovan at the pass into the island interior now bearing his name (Crovan's Gate) - the Normans retreated to the bay where they'd made landfall, only to find their fleet had been set on fire by Sudrians during the battle.
The town gave its name to the Norramby family who have been Lieutenant Governors of the island and were given the title Earl
of Sodor although the holders of which are usually referred to as Dukes by Sudrians.
A mile or so beyond Peel Godred is the Sodor Aluminium Company's works, a major employer in the area, and a source of much needed revenue to the railways of the Island.
Next to the works is a hydroelectric power station.
.
The NWR's main line bypasses Suddery as it climbs Gordon's Hill just to the north but there is a station on Edward's branch line.
It is here that the goods only line to Knapford harbour diverges from the main branch line. This line was the original route to the main-line junction at Knapford, but was later realigned to serve the harbour, with a new connection from the main line joining the old formation at Toryreck Junction, just south of the station.
Toryreck used to be A.W.Dry's headquarters during the company's scheme to reclaim parts of the surrounding valley from the sea, and developed as a centre for lead
mining
- though the lead veins have been worked out there are still rail lines in use at the old mines, the old workings now being used to mine uranium
.
confirming borough status in 1918.
Nearby Knapford is a dormitory town of Tidmouth.
Tidmouth is famous for its fishing industry, particularly the delicacy known as the Tidmouth Kipper
. There are ferry connections to the Isle of Man
and Ireland
. In centuries past it was also notorious for smuggling
. These days it is also a popular tourist destination. The town's motto is "Industry and Progress".
since 1925 when it moved from Vicarstown on the other side of the island. Indeed, the town's coat of arms
features a wheel in commemoration of this fact.
Tidmouth Station (or, as it was known in the Railway Series books, "The Big Station") has four terminal roads and one through line, namely the Little Western branch line
to Arlesburgh. The Fat Controller's Office is on one of the platforms.
HM Queen Elizabeth II
once visited Tidmouth Station and engine sheds.
The first railway to reach Tidmouth was the Tidmouth, Knapford & Elsbridge Light Railway or Tramway in 1905. The NWR built an improved link to Knapford with the construction of the Tidmouth tunnel, in which Henry the Green Engine
once met an elephant.
Tidmouth is the western terminus for all main line services on Sodor and is used by some services on Thomas's
and Edward's
branch lines.
There have been at times direct train services from Tidmouth to London
.
Tidmouth Docks have an extensive railway system connecting with the NWR main line. The overnight express freight train to the mainland, The Flying Kipper, is loaded and starts from here.
Close to the railway station are the NWR's main engine sheds, where most of the main line and some of the branch line engines live.
. At one time there were plans for the NWR Ffarquhar branch to be extended here. Ulfstead Castle is the seat of the Duke or Earl of Sodor. The former Mid Sodor Railway
once considered connecting it via a branchline from their station at Ulfstead Road, but the expenditure of building their line through the Cas-Ny-Hawin valley forced the abandonment of the project.
and is joined to the mainland via a bridge across the Walney Channel. It was the original site for the headquarters of the North Western Railway
before they were relocated at Tidmouth.
Vicarstown replaces the real Vickerstown
, a town on the Isle of Walney, which Sodor replaces – the new name is an obvious choice for a town created by the Rev. Awdry, an Anglican
priest.
Wellsworth lies near the coast at the northern end of a peninsula
close to the island's former capital of Suddery. Near the village is a large hospital
which serves as the main hospital for the entire island. The sheds at Wellsworth are home to both Edward the Blue Engine
and BoCo the Diesel Engine who operate the branch line. Due to this Wellsworth is often called Edward's station.
At one time the vicar of Wellsworth was the Rev Charles Laxey. Coincidentally, his son is now the vicar of the parish. As a result, Wellsworth vicarage is the home of Trevor the Traction Engine
.
Wellsworth railway station is on the main line of the North Western Railway
and serves as a junction for the Brendam Bay branch line. Although most branch line trains run only between Wellsworth and Brendam some commence and finish at the big station at Tidmouth. The express train usually pulled by Gordon the Big Engine
does not stop at Wellsworth, although it was once accidentally sent down the branch.
The line from Brendam to Wellsworth is one of Sodor's oldest and was at first known as the Wellsworth & Suddery Railway which was extended in the early part of the 20th century to Knapford to connect with other railways to become part of the NWR.
The Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
of books by the Rev. W. Awdry and his son Christopher
Christopher Awdry
Christopher Awdry is an English author best known for his contributions to The Railway Series of books featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, which was started by his father, the Rev. W. Awdry. He has also produced children's books based on a number of other railways, as well as non-fiction articles...
. This is a summary of the locations as they appear in The Railway Series
The Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
books. Follow the links to the slightly different perspective of the television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Thomas and Friends is a British children's television series, first broadcast on the ITV network in September 1984. Until 2003, it was named Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. This series was shot on 35mm film...
.
The Island of Sodor
Sodor (fictional island)
Sodor is a fictional island in the Irish Sea used as the setting for The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and later used in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.-Inspiration and creation:...
is the fictional island in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
created by the Rev. Awdry as the setting for his Railway Series books. It is situated between the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
and the mainland at Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. The capital is Suddery, although the largest town is now Tidmouth.
All the locations are found on the Island of Sodor
Sodor (fictional island)
Sodor is a fictional island in the Irish Sea used as the setting for The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and later used in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.-Inspiration and creation:...
, with the only exception, Barrow Central Railway Station, situated in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
on mainland England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Arlesburgh
Arlesburgh is a town standing on either side of the River Arle estuary. There are two railway stations in the town, the main one being Arlesburgh West on the North Western RailwayNorth Western Railway (fictional)
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Although the company's name has never been specifically stated in the books, it was mentioned as such in tie-in books such as The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and...
which is the terminus of Duck's
Duck the Great Western Engine
Duck the Great Western Engine is a fictional steam engine from The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry and the spin-off television series Thomas and Friends. He is a green 0-6-0 pannier tank locomotive and lives and works on the Island of Sodor....
branch line. This is also the terminus of the Arlesdale Railway
Arlesdale Railway
The Arlesdale Railway, more commonly known as the Small Railway, is a fictional railway on the Island of Sodor from the Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry....
, and was once served by the Mid Sodor Railway
Mid Sodor Railway
The Mid Sodor Railway is a fictional narrow gauge railway on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev.W.Awdry and Christopher Awdry. The railway was closed in 1947, but three of its engines survive on the Skarloey Railway...
. The other station is Arlesburgh Bridge Street, which is served only by trains on the Arlesdale Railway.
The town is a popular tourist destination on Sodor, largely because of the Arlesdale Railway. It is also an ancient port which once boasted a steamer service to Douglas, Isle of Man
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
, which was operated by the Mid Sodor Railway. Arlesburgh West station near the harbour was first opened in 1916. Although it more or less closed in 1947, as the mineral traffic for which it had largely been built had dried up, it was reopened in 1968 by the Fat Controller
The Fat Controller
The Fat Controller is the head of the railway in The Railway Series of books written by the Rev. W. V. Awdry. In the first two books in the series he is known as The Fat Director...
to transport ballast from the hills.
It was here that Bulgy the Double Decker Bus stole Duck and Oliver's passengers. It was also here that the troublesome truck S.C. Ruffey
S.C. Ruffey
S.C.Ruffey is a fictional character in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.He was a Private-Owner ballast truck, and was regarded as one of the leaders of the Troublesome Trucks. After Oliver had been pushed down a well, S.C.Ruffey, led the trucks in singing rude songs about...
or Scruffey was destroyed.
The NWR engine sheds at Arlesburgh are home to Duck, Oliver and sometimes Donald or Douglas
Donald and Douglas
Donald and Douglas are two fictional steam locomotives from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry. They also appear in Thomas and Friends, the television series based on the books...
.
On some early maps of Sodor including ones drawn by the Rev. Awdry himself Arlesburgh is spelt Arlsburgh. This spelling is also shown in an illustration of a Sudrian signpost in the story Thomas in Trouble from the book Toby the Tram Engine. The signpost also seems to imply that Arlesburgh is closer to Ffarquhar
Ffarquhar
Ffarquhar is a fictional town or village on the equally fictional Island of Sodor in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends children's TV series and in Reverend W. Awdry's The Railway Series books on which the TV series was based....
than is shown on the maps. The signpost is shown again in Thomas and Victoria with the spelling as Arlesburgh but the distances still the same.
Arlesdale
- For the television series article, see Arlesdale
Arlesdale is the name of the River Arle valley and is the home of the Arlesdale Railway
Arlesdale Railway
The Arlesdale Railway, more commonly known as the Small Railway, is a fictional railway on the Island of Sodor from the Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry....
which runs from Arlesburgh at the mouth of the river to Arlesdale village itself.
Arlesdale village should not be confused with the nearby village of Arlesdale Green where the former Mid Sodor Railway
Mid Sodor Railway
The Mid Sodor Railway is a fictional narrow gauge railway on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev.W.Awdry and Christopher Awdry. The railway was closed in 1947, but three of its engines survive on the Skarloey Railway...
had its main works and engine sheds.
Ballahoo
Ballahoo is most notable for its tunnelTunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s on the main line of the North Western Railway
North Western Railway (fictional)
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Although the company's name has never been specifically stated in the books, it was mentioned as such in tie-in books such as The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and...
of which there are two. The first was constructed in 1915 and, due to poor construction, partially collapsed. This left the tunnel in two sections.
The second tunnel was cut in 1922, when Henry the Green Engine
Henry the Green Engine
Henry the Green Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic 4-6-0 steam locomotive from The Railway Series books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry, and the spin-off children's television series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.Henry lives on the fictitious...
stopped in the first tunnel and refused to come out. As it was impossible to move him, the Fat Director
The Fat Controller
The Fat Controller is the head of the railway in The Railway Series of books written by the Rev. W. V. Awdry. In the first two books in the series he is known as The Fat Director...
decided instead to cut a new bore. When Henry was finally removed, both tunnels remained in service. As a result of these events, the tunnels are nicknamed "Henry's Tunnel".
The only book in which the tunnels have played a significant role was The Three Railway Engines, the first book in The Railway Series, published in 1945. Although in the book the illustrations of the tunnel show that it has two bores throughout the two stories in which the tunnel is featured.
Ballahoo itself is a dormitory town for Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
. It has a station served by a joint NWR/National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
service from Barrow, and is on the Norramby branch.
Ballaswein
The small town or village of Ballaswein just north of Harwick is the most northerly settlement on Sodor.Barrow Central railway station
Barrow CentralBarrow-in-Furness railway station
Barrow-in-Furness railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, England. It is located on the Furness Line to Lancaster and the Cumbrian Coast Line to Workington and Carlisle...
is the mainland terminus for the North Western Railway and is connected to the fictional Island of Sodor by a bridge to Vicarstown. In reality, Barrow Central
Barrow-in-Furness railway station
Barrow-in-Furness railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, England. It is located on the Furness Line to Lancaster and the Cumbrian Coast Line to Workington and Carlisle...
is the mainland station of Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
but has no connection to the Island of Walney (the island that was 'replaced' by the Rev. Awdry to make room for Sodor) via Vickerstown
Vickerstown
Vickerstown is an area located on the Isle of Walney, near to the mainland town of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Albeit not part of mainland Cumbria, Vickerstown is still regarded as part of the town of Barrow-in-Furness. It is an example of a planned estate built for workers by a company needing to...
.
Brendam
- For the television series article, see Brendam
Brendam is a town and a major port on the Island of Sodor
Sodor (fictional island)
Sodor is a fictional island in the Irish Sea used as the setting for The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and later used in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.-Inspiration and creation:...
.
The Railway Series version of Brendam is a medium-sized port, inspired by Par, Cornwall
Par, Cornwall
Par is a town and fishing port with a harbour on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated in the civil parish of Tywardreath and Par and is approximately east of St Austell. Par has a population of around 1,400.....
. It is at the end of Edward's
Edward the Blue Engine
Edward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the related TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a blue 4-4-0 tender engine with red stripes, about the same size as James the Red Engine, and has...
branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
. It is shunted by Bill and Ben, the mischievous tank engine twins belonging to Sodor China Clay. The main source of traffic is china clay, and the waste heaps from the claypits apparently spoils a pleasant view.
As well as goods traffic, Sodor China Clay occasionally hosts days when rail enthusiasts may look around. Bill and Ben particularly enjoy the attention these visitors give them.
BoCo the Diesel Engine, Donald and Douglas
Donald and Douglas
Donald and Douglas are two fictional steam locomotives from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry. They also appear in Thomas and Friends, the television series based on the books...
work here, as well as Edward
Edward the Blue Engine
Edward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the related TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a blue 4-4-0 tender engine with red stripes, about the same size as James the Red Engine, and has...
himself. Gordon the Big Engine
Gordon the Big Engine
Gordon the Big Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry. Gordon is painted blue and carries the number 4. Gordon views himself as the most important engine because he is the biggest and he pulls the Express...
once ended up here by accident, and Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
was temporarily based on the branch line for a short period.
Cronk
The full name for Cronk is Cronk-ny-Braaid – The Hill in the Valley – so called because the town was built on a curious rocky outcrop in the middle of the valley leading to the heart of the island. This highly-defensive arrangement resulted in Cronk developing into a fortified town, and a castle (now ruined) was built here in the 12th century.Cronk is roughly half-way along the mainline between Vicarstown and Tidmouth and is a stopping point for express trains. Just to the west is the magnificent viaduct where Gordon
Gordon the Big Engine
Gordon the Big Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry. Gordon is painted blue and carries the number 4. Gordon views himself as the most important engine because he is the biggest and he pulls the Express...
lost his dome (see Duck and the Diesel Engine).
A few miles to the north of Cronk are the ruins of Cronk Abbey and a public school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
. The school and Abbey are served by Abbey Station on the NWR's Peel Godred branch line.
Crosby
Crosby, located between Knapford and Wellsworth, is a small seaside town famed for its fresh air. It is named after a remarkable stone cross, dating from the 11th century that is to be found in the churchyard. (In The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, the Rev. Awdry describes the cross in some detail and notes that a more complete description of the carvings on the cross may be found in the church's guidebook.)Originally the station was the terminus for the Wellsworth & Suddery Railway, until the line was extended to Knapford in 1912.
It was at Crosby that Duck
Duck the Great Western Engine
Duck the Great Western Engine is a fictional steam engine from The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry and the spin-off television series Thomas and Friends. He is a green 0-6-0 pannier tank locomotive and lives and works on the Island of Sodor....
crashed into a barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
's shop.
Crovan's Gate
- For the television series article, see Crovan's Gate
Crovan's "Gate" is a narrow gap in the hills that is the only practicable route from the east into the interior of the island. A famous victory in Sodor
Sodor (fictional island)
Sodor is a fictional island in the Irish Sea used as the setting for The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and later used in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.-Inspiration and creation:...
's history occurred here when the heavily-outnumbered King made use of the narrow pass to hold off an invading army until reinforcements could arrive. The gap has since been widened by road and railway builders. The name Crovan's Gate now also applies to a town which has grown up to serve the railway works and former quarries and mines in the area.
Crovan's Gate is served by two railways. It is the terminus of the Skarloey Railway
Skarloey Railway
On the fictional Island of Sodor in The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry, the Skarloey Railway is a narrow gauge railway which runs from the main line at Crovan's Gate to the passenger terminus at Skarloey. Beyond Skarloey the line continues to a slate quarry.In the stories, the railway is run by...
and a station on the main line of the North Western Railway
North Western Railway (fictional)
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Although the company's name has never been specifically stated in the books, it was mentioned as such in tie-in books such as The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and...
. It is also the location of the North Western Railway's extensive works. Just east of Crovan's Gate the NWR's Ballahoo and Norramby branch leaves the main line; this line was at one time part of the Sodor & Mainland Railway
Sodor & Mainland Railway
The Sodor & Mainland Railway is a fictional railway that existed on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series books written by the Rev. W. Awdry. In the books it is known as the S&M and was built when railway-mania was still in force, opening in 1853...
. The NWR's express train from Tidmouth to Barrow calls at Crovan's Gate.
The NWR works are possibly the best-equipped steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
works in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, and are capable of undertaking any repair, overhaul or restoration job for any locomotive on the Island. They have also played a major role in the construction of new engines for the Arlesdale
Arlesdale Railway
The Arlesdale Railway, more commonly known as the Small Railway, is a fictional railway on the Island of Sodor from the Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry....
and Skarloey
Skarloey Railway
On the fictional Island of Sodor in The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry, the Skarloey Railway is a narrow gauge railway which runs from the main line at Crovan's Gate to the passenger terminus at Skarloey. Beyond Skarloey the line continues to a slate quarry.In the stories, the railway is run by...
Railways. The Fat Controller
The Fat Controller
The Fat Controller is the head of the railway in The Railway Series of books written by the Rev. W. V. Awdry. In the first two books in the series he is known as The Fat Director...
has also recently been looking into the possibility of manufacturing components for engines on heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
s.
Culdee Fell
Culdee Fell is the name of the mountain that dominates the centre of the Island of Sodor. Its name means: "The Mountain of the Companion of God"The Culdee Fell Railway
Culdee Fell Railway
The Culdee Fell Railway is a fictional narrow gauge rack and pinion railway appearing in the book Mountain Engines written by the Rev. W. Awdry. The stories are based on incidents in the history of the Snowdon Mountain Railway....
runs up its southwest side from Kirk Machan.
Devil's Back
The Devil's Back (ancient name Dreeym-y-Deighan) is a bleak ridge on Culdee Fell traversed by the Culdee Fell RailwayCuldee Fell Railway
The Culdee Fell Railway is a fictional narrow gauge rack and pinion railway appearing in the book Mountain Engines written by the Rev. W. Awdry. The stories are based on incidents in the history of the Snowdon Mountain Railway....
(CFR). It is the last passing loop on the CFR before the Summit Station and is a wild, windy and inhospitable place. If the winds are more than light, it is normal practice for CFR passenger trains to stop here rather than continuing to Summit.
Dryaw
- For the television series article, see Dryaw
Dryaw is located on Thomas'
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
being the first station after the junction at Knapford, and is most notable in the stories for its airfield. This is the home of Harold
Harold the Helicopter
Harold the Helicopter is a character in the Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry and the television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
the helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
.
Dryaw began as a worker village for the staff of A.W.Dry, a company working on reclaiming this area of tidal land from the sea. Gradually a village grew up around the workers' homes, increasingly so as more land was drained and cultivated.
On the maps of Sodor drawn to accompany the Railway Series, Dryaw is shown to have two stations: one for passengers, and one on the goods-only Knapford Harbour line. The latter, according to the Awdry family's "histories" of Sodor, was the original station. Dryaw "Goods" station is, ironically, in the middle of the village and better equipped than the current passenger station, which is just an unmanned halt some distance from the village, although the provision of a large car-park there implies good commuter traffic. The villagers of Dryaw however often save themselves the walk to the passenger station (and possibly the fare of a ticket) by hitching a ride in the Guards Van of goods trains headed to Ffarquhar or Knapford Harbour, particularly on Market Days.
The name is an anagram of "Awdry" which is the 'real' backstory to the name – in the context of the books however it could be derived from the firm A.W.Dry, or the phrase 'Dry out', as this was among the first land to be reclaimed from the sea by the company's labours.
Elsbridge
- For the television series article, see Elsbridge
Elsbridge is a town in the Els Valley close to the towns of Tidmouth and Knapford. The River Els enters the Sudrian Sea at Knapford. The station is situated on Thomas's
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
branch line.
According to the research into Sodor's history by the Rev. Awdry, Elsbridge was the terminus of one of Sodor's first railways the Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway that was later extended from Knapford to Tidmouth. When this railway became part of the North Western Railway
North Western Railway (fictional)
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Although the company's name has never been specifically stated in the books, it was mentioned as such in tie-in books such as The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and...
the line was extended past Elsbridge to Ffarquhar
Ffarquhar
Ffarquhar is a fictional town or village on the equally fictional Island of Sodor in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends children's TV series and in Reverend W. Awdry's The Railway Series books on which the TV series was based....
.
The name "Elsbridge" first appeared on a sketch map drawn by Rev. W. Awdry to illustrate the story in which Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
and Bertie the Bus
Bertie the Bus
Bertie the Bus is a small red bus character from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W Awdry and who also appears in the spin-off children's television series Thomas and Friends.-Book character:...
have a race. The name comes from the town of Elsworth
Elsworth
Elsworth is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, England, 9 miles west of Cambridge. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 657.-History:...
, where the Rev. Awdry was vicar at the time.
Ffarquhar
The town of Ffarquhar is the terminus of ThomasThomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
's branch line.
Gordon's Hill
- For the television series article, see Gordon's Hill
Gordon's Hill is the nickname for the steep gradient on the NWR mainline between Wellsworth and Maron stations. Over a distance of five miles, the line climbs some 280ft to reach Maron Station – a ruling gradient of 1-in-75 that continues to be a severe test for locomotives on the NWR.
Gordon's Hill got its name after Gordon
Gordon the Big Engine
Gordon the Big Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry. Gordon is painted blue and carries the number 4. Gordon views himself as the most important engine because he is the biggest and he pulls the Express...
got stuck hauling a goods train and Edward
Edward the Blue Engine
Edward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the related TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a blue 4-4-0 tender engine with red stripes, about the same size as James the Red Engine, and has...
had to push from behind. It is a place where a back engine is often required to help trains up the hill. A further risk is that of runaway trains if there is insufficient braking power.
When the railway was first built, this already difficult stretch of track was made more treacherous by strong winds. The line now runs up an avenue of trees, which were planted to reduce this problem. However, this does mean that in autumn there can be the additional hazard of slippery leaves on the line, as James
James the Red Engine
James the Red Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas and Friends. James is a mixed-traffic engine, which means he is just as capable of pulling coaches as trucks...
once discovered.
Gordon's Hill was first introduced in the story "Edward and Gordon" in The Three Railway Engines, the first book in The Railway Series
The Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
, and it has also featured as a prominent location in the TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Thomas and Friends is a British children's television series, first broadcast on the ITV network in September 1984. Until 2003, it was named Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. This series was shot on 35mm film...
.
Hackenbeck
Hackenbeck is a small hamlet just to the west of FfarquharFfarquhar
Ffarquhar is a fictional town or village on the equally fictional Island of Sodor in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends children's TV series and in Reverend W. Awdry's The Railway Series books on which the TV series was based....
and is served by a halt on Thomas's
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
. It was just outside the Hackenbeck tunnel that Thomas got stuck in the snow and was rescued by Terence the Tractor
Terence the Tractor
Terence the Tractor is a fictional anthropomorphic crawler tractor from The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
.
Hackenbeck originated as a location on the Rev Awdry's Ffarquhar branch model railway. It is also where Mrs. Kyndley lives, dwelling beside the railway line.
The fact that the tunnel is between Hackenbeck and Elsbridge contradicts the illustrations in the story Thomas and Bertie in the book Tank Engine Thomas Again which shows the tunnel being just outside Ffarquhar station.
Harwick
Harwick is a small fishing port in the far north west of the Island that has a ferry connection to the town of RamseyRamsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
.
The Arlesburgh or Little Western Branch of the NWR was at one time going to be extended here but nothing came of these plans.
On some maps of Sodor a railway line has been shown running east from Harwick towards the lake known as Loey Machan. This is the only remainder of earlier railway proposals to connect Harwick with Cronk via Peel Godred. Track was laid as far as the village of Cregwir before funds ran out. The line was only ever used as a horse-drawn freight line between Cregwir's quarries and the port at Harwick and was abandoned by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with the rails being removed thereafter as part of the wartime drive for metals.
On at least two of the Reverend Awdry's early hand-drawn maps of the Island, the above-mentioned line is not shown. Instead there is a short narrow gauge line from Harwick to the village/town of Ballaswein a few miles to the north. Given that this line was never mentioned in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, in favour of the line to Cregwir, it might have been an idea Wilbert and George toyed with but eventually abandoned. However, this line also appears on the map of Sodor that features as the endpapers of the later book The Railway Series – The Complete Collection.
The Reagby family hold the Viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
cy and Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
y of Harwick.
Haultraugh
Haultraugh is a small seaside resort roughly halfway along the Little Western branch line. The railway station consists of an island platform where trains on the mostly single track line can pass. It was here that Donald'sDonald and Douglas
Donald and Douglas are two fictional steam locomotives from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry. They also appear in Thomas and Friends, the television series based on the books...
duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
Dilly made her home.
Kellsthorpe Road
Kellsthorpe Road station is the junction of the NWR main line with the Kirk Ronan branch. The station is in between the two towns of Kellsthorpe and Rolf's Castle, and is inconveniently sited several miles from either.King 'Orry's Bridge
King 'Orry's Bridge crosses the River Ab just south of Peel Godred. It is a bridge of medieval construction named after King Orry who won a famous victory nearby. Nowadays, road traffic uses a modern bridge built alongside, and King Orry's Bridge is in the care of The Sodor Island Trust. The Mid Sodor RailwayMid Sodor Railway
The Mid Sodor Railway is a fictional narrow gauge railway on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev.W.Awdry and Christopher Awdry. The railway was closed in 1947, but three of its engines survive on the Skarloey Railway...
had its eastern terminus here after abandoning plans to have a station in the centre of Peel Godred.
Killdane
Killdane, originally KeeillKeeill
-History and siting:Archaeologically, it is used for a specific type of small simple chapel found on the Isle of Man and built during the early medieval period...
-y-Deighan ("the Church of the Devil") after the circle of standing stones
Stone circle
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
on the hill above the village, is the junction for the Peel Godred Branch of the NWR.
Kirk Machan
Kirk Machan is a village at the foot of Culdee Fell, that grew up around the 11th century church dedicated to St Machan, an Irish monk who lived as a hermitHermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
in a cave on the mountain. The cave is still a place of pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
.
Kirk Machan station is on the North Western Railway's
North Western Railway (fictional)
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Although the company's name has never been specifically stated in the books, it was mentioned as such in tie-in books such as The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and...
Peel Godred Branch. It is the headquarters of the Culdee Fell Railway
Culdee Fell Railway
The Culdee Fell Railway is a fictional narrow gauge rack and pinion railway appearing in the book Mountain Engines written by the Rev. W. Awdry. The stories are based on incidents in the history of the Snowdon Mountain Railway....
, and is the location of the CFR's running sheds and maintenance depot. Exchange sidings are sited to the north, where CFR rolling stock may be transferred to standard gauge wagons for the journey to the NWR Works at Crovan's Gate. (Culdee was pictured here being transferred, on return from his overhaul, in the book Mountain Engines).
Kirk Ronan
Kirk Ronan, named after the church of St Ronan, was the terminus of the Sodor & Mainland RailwaySodor & Mainland Railway
The Sodor & Mainland Railway is a fictional railway that existed on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series books written by the Rev. W. Awdry. In the books it is known as the S&M and was built when railway-mania was still in force, opening in 1853...
, the first standard gauge railway on the Island. Originally just a fishing port, with the coming of the railway, the town developed considerably.
Knapford
- For the television series article, see Knapford
Knapford is a small town at the estuary of the River Els just south of Tidmouth.
Knapford Station is the junction for the North Western Railway
North Western Railway (fictional)
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Although the company's name has never been specifically stated in the books, it was mentioned as such in tie-in books such as The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and...
's main line and Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
's branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
there is also a goods only station at Knapford Harbour where Percy the Small Engine
Percy the Small Engine
Percy the Small Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam engine from The Railway Series of children's books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry...
works.
Some maps of the island show the main line terminating at the junction though tie in books by the Awdry's state that the terminus or big station is Tidmouth. Also on some maps Knapford does look the larger town whereas the Rev Awdry stated in the book The Island of Sodor – its People, History and Railways that it is a smaller dormitory town of Tidmouth.
According to the Rev Awdry's "research" into Sodor's history there have been 2 previous stations at Knapford both south of the River Els whereas the present one is north of it. Although illustrations in the books Thomas Comes Home and Thomas and Victoria show the junction station being south of the river with no harbour or town and also with its own engine sheds.
Early books in the series stated that the Express Train pulled by Gordon the Big Engine
Gordon the Big Engine
Gordon the Big Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry. Gordon is painted blue and carries the number 4. Gordon views himself as the most important engine because he is the biggest and he pulls the Express...
did not stop at Knapford but this is contradicted in some later ones by Christopher Awdry.
The name "Knapford" first appeared on a sketch map drawn by Rev. W. Awdry to illustrate the story in which Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
and Bertie the Bus
Bertie the Bus
Bertie the Bus is a small red bus character from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W Awdry and who also appears in the spin-off children's television series Thomas and Friends.-Book character:...
have a race. The name comes from the parish of Knapwell
Knapwell
Knapwell is a small village in Cambridgeshire situated about west of Cambridge. It is within the diocese of Ely. Its population was estimated at 110 in 2001....
, where Awdry was vicar.
Maron
The village of Maron has distinct 'old' and 'new' areas. The more modern village has grown up around the station, which is at the summit of Gordon's Hill, while the older houses are built onto the steep hillside on terraces, among lanes far too narrow for motor traffic.The station is a compulsory stop for all 'Down' (westbound) unfitted or loose-coupled goods trains, so that the wagon brakes may be pinned down before the descent of Gordon's Hill. Back engines, after assisting 'Up' trains to climb the hill, stop and reverse over the trailing crossover at the station to attain the Down line for the run back to Wellsworth.
Norramby
Norramby is an attractive seaside residential town on the south-eastern coast of the Island. It is the terminus for the joint NWR/National RailNational Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
suburban service from Barrow Central Station on the mainland. On some maps the town's name is spelt Normanby. Historically the name comes from the sole Norman invasion of Sodor which landed here, an unsuccessful attempt which was routed by King Godred Crovan at the pass into the island interior now bearing his name (Crovan's Gate) - the Normans retreated to the bay where they'd made landfall, only to find their fleet had been set on fire by Sudrians during the battle.
The town gave its name to the Norramby family who have been Lieutenant Governors of the island and were given the title Earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
of Sodor although the holders of which are usually referred to as Dukes by Sudrians.
Peel Godred
Peel Godred is the terminus (for passenger workings) of the Peel Godred Branch of the NWR. It is a walled town, sited in the middle of the northern half of the island, and is the main depot for "The Sodor Regiment".A mile or so beyond Peel Godred is the Sodor Aluminium Company's works, a major employer in the area, and a source of much needed revenue to the railways of the Island.
Next to the works is a hydroelectric power station.
Rolf's Castle
Rolf's Castle is a small town whose castle began as a fortified church. The town has a railway station on the NWR's Kirk Ronan branch.Suddery
The "city" of Suddery although a small town is in fact the capital of Sodor and was at one time the seat of the Bishop of SodorBishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese covers the Isle of Man. The see is in the town of Peel where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St German, elevated to cathedral status on 1...
.
The NWR's main line bypasses Suddery as it climbs Gordon's Hill just to the north but there is a station on Edward's branch line.
Toryreck
Toryreck is a village with a station on the Ffarquhar branch of the NWR.It is here that the goods only line to Knapford harbour diverges from the main branch line. This line was the original route to the main-line junction at Knapford, but was later realigned to serve the harbour, with a new connection from the main line joining the old formation at Toryreck Junction, just south of the station.
Toryreck used to be A.W.Dry's headquarters during the company's scheme to reclaim parts of the surrounding valley from the sea, and developed as a centre for lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
- though the lead veins have been worked out there are still rail lines in use at the old mines, the old workings now being used to mine uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
.
Tidmouth
- For related places in the TV Series, see Tidmouth
The Town
Tidmouth is the largest town on the fictional Island of Sodor. The ancient capital of the island is however the "city" of Suddery. The town lies on the estuary of the River Tid and had in 1981 a population of 35,000. It is the island's principal port with extensive docks. It received a Royal CharterRoyal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
confirming borough status in 1918.
Nearby Knapford is a dormitory town of Tidmouth.
Tidmouth is famous for its fishing industry, particularly the delicacy known as the Tidmouth Kipper
Kipper
A kipper is a whole herring, a small, oily fish, that has been split from tail to head, gutted, salted or pickled, and cold smoked.In the United Kingdom, in Japan, and in some North American regions they are often eaten for breakfast...
. There are ferry connections to the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In centuries past it was also notorious for smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
. These days it is also a popular tourist destination. The town's motto is "Industry and Progress".
The Railways and Tidmouth
Tidmouth is Sodor's largest railway centre and has been the headquarters of the North Western RailwayNorth Western Railway (fictional)
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Although the company's name has never been specifically stated in the books, it was mentioned as such in tie-in books such as The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and...
since 1925 when it moved from Vicarstown on the other side of the island. Indeed, the town's coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
features a wheel in commemoration of this fact.
Tidmouth Station (or, as it was known in the Railway Series books, "The Big Station") has four terminal roads and one through line, namely the Little Western branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
to Arlesburgh. The Fat Controller's Office is on one of the platforms.
HM Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
once visited Tidmouth Station and engine sheds.
The first railway to reach Tidmouth was the Tidmouth, Knapford & Elsbridge Light Railway or Tramway in 1905. The NWR built an improved link to Knapford with the construction of the Tidmouth tunnel, in which Henry the Green Engine
Henry the Green Engine
Henry the Green Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic 4-6-0 steam locomotive from The Railway Series books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry, and the spin-off children's television series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.Henry lives on the fictitious...
once met an elephant.
Tidmouth is the western terminus for all main line services on Sodor and is used by some services on Thomas's
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
and Edward's
Edward the Blue Engine
Edward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the related TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a blue 4-4-0 tender engine with red stripes, about the same size as James the Red Engine, and has...
branch lines.
There have been at times direct train services from Tidmouth to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Tidmouth Docks have an extensive railway system connecting with the NWR main line. The overnight express freight train to the mainland, The Flying Kipper, is loaded and starts from here.
Close to the railway station are the NWR's main engine sheds, where most of the main line and some of the branch line engines live.
Ulfstead
Ulfstead is a small town located almost in the centre of the island not far from FfarquharFfarquhar
Ffarquhar is a fictional town or village on the equally fictional Island of Sodor in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends children's TV series and in Reverend W. Awdry's The Railway Series books on which the TV series was based....
. At one time there were plans for the NWR Ffarquhar branch to be extended here. Ulfstead Castle is the seat of the Duke or Earl of Sodor. The former Mid Sodor Railway
Mid Sodor Railway
The Mid Sodor Railway is a fictional narrow gauge railway on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev.W.Awdry and Christopher Awdry. The railway was closed in 1947, but three of its engines survive on the Skarloey Railway...
once considered connecting it via a branchline from their station at Ulfstead Road, but the expenditure of building their line through the Cas-Ny-Hawin valley forced the abandonment of the project.
Vicarstown
Vicarstown is situated on the east coast of SodorSodor (fictional island)
Sodor is a fictional island in the Irish Sea used as the setting for The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and later used in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.-Inspiration and creation:...
and is joined to the mainland via a bridge across the Walney Channel. It was the original site for the headquarters of the North Western Railway
North Western Railway (fictional)
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Although the company's name has never been specifically stated in the books, it was mentioned as such in tie-in books such as The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and...
before they were relocated at Tidmouth.
Vicarstown replaces the real Vickerstown
Vickerstown
Vickerstown is an area located on the Isle of Walney, near to the mainland town of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Albeit not part of mainland Cumbria, Vickerstown is still regarded as part of the town of Barrow-in-Furness. It is an example of a planned estate built for workers by a company needing to...
, a town on the Isle of Walney, which Sodor replaces – the new name is an obvious choice for a town created by the Rev. Awdry, an Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
priest.
Wellsworth
- For the television series article, see Wellsworth (Edward's Station)
Wellsworth lies near the coast at the northern end of a peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
close to the island's former capital of Suddery. Near the village is a large hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
which serves as the main hospital for the entire island. The sheds at Wellsworth are home to both Edward the Blue Engine
Edward the Blue Engine
Edward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the related TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a blue 4-4-0 tender engine with red stripes, about the same size as James the Red Engine, and has...
and BoCo the Diesel Engine who operate the branch line. Due to this Wellsworth is often called Edward's station.
At one time the vicar of Wellsworth was the Rev Charles Laxey. Coincidentally, his son is now the vicar of the parish. As a result, Wellsworth vicarage is the home of Trevor the Traction Engine
Trevor the Traction Engine
Trevor the Traction Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic character from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
.
Wellsworth railway station is on the main line of the North Western Railway
North Western Railway (fictional)
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Although the company's name has never been specifically stated in the books, it was mentioned as such in tie-in books such as The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and...
and serves as a junction for the Brendam Bay branch line. Although most branch line trains run only between Wellsworth and Brendam some commence and finish at the big station at Tidmouth. The express train usually pulled by Gordon the Big Engine
Gordon the Big Engine
Gordon the Big Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry. Gordon is painted blue and carries the number 4. Gordon views himself as the most important engine because he is the biggest and he pulls the Express...
does not stop at Wellsworth, although it was once accidentally sent down the branch.
The line from Brendam to Wellsworth is one of Sodor's oldest and was at first known as the Wellsworth & Suddery Railway which was extended in the early part of the 20th century to Knapford to connect with other railways to become part of the NWR.