The fictional island of Sodor is located off the west coast of England, not far from the Isle of Man which inspired it. The location was chosen for isolation to allow freedom in creating the setting while still retaining some familiarity for a primarily British audience.
Settlements
This lists each and every town and local village located across the Island of Sodor, served by the standard-gauge North Western Railway (NWR), the narrow-gauge Skarloey and the 15-inch gauge Arlesdale Railways.
Abbey
Abbey Station is located on the Peel Godred Branch Line.
Arlesburgh
Arlesburgh is an ancient seaside town, located upon both sides of River Arle Estuary on the west coast of Sodor, along Duck's branch line – The Little Western, between Bluff's Cove and Harwick.
Arlesburgh Goods Yard is located north of the seaside town. A shed was built here to accommodate Ryan and Daisy, who run the Harwick extension of the Little Western. The Goods Yard was introduced in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, and later appeared in season20.
Arlesburgh Harbour is located adjacent to the seaside town. It first appeared in season3 and later in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure and in season20. The Little Western passes through this harbour en route to Harwick.
The Harbour is also one of the most prominent ports in Sodor's Industry, and is also home to various boats and barges, including The Pirate Ship and Skiff the Rail-Boat.
Arlesburgh Maritime Museum is located adjacent to the quay and lighthouse near the harbour. The museum is served by a halt. It made its first appearance in season20.
Arlesburgh West, a.k.a. Arlesburgh Junction, is a through station on Duck's branch line – the Little Western, which passes through to the seaside town itself. It is where the line interchanges with the 15-inch gauge Arlesdale Railway.
Arlesdale
Arlesdale is a village in the valley of the River Arle. It is the top station of the 15-inch gauge Arlesdale Railway. It first appeared in season20.
Arlesdale End
Arlesdale End was the end of Toby's old tramway. His shed and a turntable were just beyond the station, and many visitors came to the station the day his line closed down.[1]
The station has a new track that extends beyond past Toby's shed.
Balladrine
The village of Balladrine is served by a station on the Main Line, sharing a similar structure with Dryaw Station on Thomas' branch line.
Ballahoo
Ballahoo is a dormitory town, located northeast of Crovan's Gate and southwest of Vicarstown, serviced by a station on Arthur's branch line.
Bluff's Cove
Bluff's Cove is a seaside village, located between Haultrough and Arlesburgh, on Duck's branch line.
Brendam
Brendam is a town at the end of a peninsula, served by a station. It is shown in seasons 2 and3. It is the top station of Edward's branch line. Brendam Docks is located a few yards away.
Upper Brendam is another station, located between Brendam and Lower Suddery.
Brendam Docks (introduced by name in season5) is one of the busiest and most important dockyard harbours in the island's industry.
Cabalnoo
Cabalnoo is a village located northwest of Kirk Ronan. A railway station is located here on the Main Line Loop Route.
Callan
Callan is a town served by a station. The station has a platform on either side of three tracks – two of those tracks pass under a bridge, while the third leads to a single shed. Behind one of the platforms is an adjacent shunting yard, which at one point featured an open shed.
Callan is located east of the town of Peel, and its name comes from the river of the same name on the Reverend Awdry's maps of Sodor.
Cronk
Cronk is a historic country town, located upon a curiously rocky outcrop, close to the centre of Sodor. It is between Maron and Killdane and is at the halfway point along the Main Line.
Crosby
Crosby is a seaside town, between Knapford and Wellsworth on the Main Line. It is also the junction for the Loop Line (via Elsbridge and Callandale) to Tidmouth.
Cros-ny-Cuirn
Cros-ny-Cuirn is a village located between Crovan's Gate and Glennock, along the narrow-gauge Skarloey Railway.
Although The Works from the books were mentioned, they were never specifically seen at Crovan's Gate, and over time different locations have been used for the maintenance of engines.[4][5]
The station appeared in season4 and returned in the season18 episode "Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger".
Dryaw
The village of Dryaw is located on Thomas' branch line, between Knapford and Toryreck. The station serving it is next to a small airfield and Harold, Tiger Moth, and the red balloon are frequently seen there. Certain episodes feature the station on Thomas' branch line,[6] while in others, Main Line trains pass through.[7][8]
A small footbridge crosses over the rails to connect the platforms on either side. Dryaw also has a small picket fence running at the edge of the platform, separating the platform from the airfield. The town's name is an anagram of the name "Awdry".
Elsbridge
The countryside village of Elsbridge is served by a station, which is (or was) the original junction station on Thomas' branch line, as well as the Loop Line between Crosby and Tidmouth. Known as the station by/near the river, it consists of two island platforms, linked with a footbridge, station structure and canopies, and adjacent signalling. An adjacent yard and sheds accommodated coaching stock, goods trains, and railway engines.[9][10][11]
Other fellow stations have occasionally served as junctions for Thomas' branch line.
According to the TV series map, Elsbridge is also the junction on the Loop Line running from Tidmouth (via Callandale and Elsbridge) to "just east" of Crosby.
Ffarquhar
The town of Ffarquhar is located east of Hackenbeck and serves as the terminus of Thomas' branch line. Its top station is an island-platform station with tracks on opposite sides of the building structure. Although this station is considered to be the terminus, the line actually continues along a tramway-style section to Anopha Quarry (a.k.a. Ffarquhar Quarry). An adjacent shunting yard was located just beside the station.[12]
Glennock
Glennock is a village, located adjacent to the Skarloey Railway. It is presumably located midway between Crovan's Gate and Skarloey Top Station.
Great Waterton
Great Waterton was once the largest railway town on Sodor, but was abandoned as industry spread to new towns. When Thomas later discovered the town on an old, overgrown branch line, the industries of Sodor worked to restore it as a major attraction.[13] Edward delivered a large water wheel to be put on display by the station.[14]
The rails at Waterton station branch off in several directions, with some tracks elevated above the Main Line. One branch leads to a disused mine in the mountains.
Hackenbeck
The village of Hackenbeck is located west of the town of Ffarquhar on Thomas' branch line.
Harwick
Harwick is a seaside town and fishing port on northern Sodor. The town has the top station of the newly constructed Harwick extension of the Little Western, which runs up the coast through nearby Arlesburgh Harbour.
Haultraugh is a seaside village between Tidmouth and Bluff's Cove on Duck's branch line – The Little Western. The station has an island platform with tracks on opposite sides.
Kellaby
Kellaby is a village, served by a station located between Kellsthorpe and Balladrine on the Main Line.
Kellsthorpe Road
Kellesthorpe Road is a large train station on the Main Line (introduced in season8). Thomas helped to carry the workmen to and from the construction site when it first opened. There was a sharp, difficult bend just before the station, so Annie and Clarabel would help Thomas to pass it easily. When the coaches had to go to the shop for maintenance, Thomas was nervous and came off the track at the bend. Later, some runaway trucks came down the Main Line towards the construction site. Thomas remembered the coaches' advice and made it to the station to warn the signalman about the trucks.[15]
Killaban
Killaban is a village located south of Cronk and southwest of Killdane.
Killdane
Killdane is a town located near Cronk. It is on the Main Line, and serves as the starting point of the Peel Godred Branch Line and as the junction to the Killdane Branch Line.
Kirk Ronan
Kirk Ronan is a town served by a large terminus. When Gordon first visited, he was disappointed at the blank wall in front of the buffers as he arrived. At the station's official opening, Gordon crashed through the wall, hanging several feet above the ground. When the station reopened, part of the hole made by the crash remained, with a plaque reading "Gordon's View".[16]
Kirk Ronan functioned in the role usually reserved for Knapford. Although Main Line engines travelled to the station in the TVseries, in the books it only featured historically as the terminus of the Sodor & Mainland Railway, the first standard-gauge line on the island.
Knapford
Knapford is one of the two main towns on Sodor, the other being Tidmouth.
Knapford Station has six platforms and a large glass roof. It contains the Fat Controller's office, and is the station where HM The Queen visited the Fat Controller. Gordon also pulls his Express from here every day.
Knapford Junction is located adjacent to the station, with the junction formed of the crossovers in-between.
Knapford Sheds are where engines and coaches are sometimes stored. The main shed has five parallel tracks running into it, and a yard just outside.[17][18][19] Engines sometimes come here for repairs.[4]
Knapford Yard (located north of the town itself), is where shunting often takes place; some repair sheds are also located here.[20][21]
Knapford was introduced in season1 and has been in nearly every season. It was briefly a terminus station early in the first season, and a harbor yard could sometimes be seen through it.[22][23] A new model was built for Thomas and the Magic Railroad and later seasons. In the newer model, track extends beyond the station and turns away.
In the season1 episode "Thomas and Gordon", what becomes Tidmouth sheds is present and named as Knapford sheds as shown on the signal box carrying a "Knapford" nameboard instead.[relevant?–discuss]
Knapford is currently described as the junction to Thomas's branch line. The name comes from the parish of Knapwell, where Awdry was vicar.
Knapford Station Yard is a large shunting area added adjacent to the station, consisting of sidings, sheds and a coal hopper, and signal gantries and crossovers. It was introduced in Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins.
Knapford Harbour is a dockyard harbour to the west of the station.
Lakeside
Lakeside is a village at the northern limit of the Skarloey Railway. A blue drawbridge permits boats to enter or exit its harbour. A loop of the Skarloey Railway runs around the village and lake.
Maithwaite
The village of Maithwaite has a small station with service to the Main Line and Thomas' branch line. Percy once helped the station win a "Best-Dressed Station" contest.[24] Maithwaite is located between Elsbridge and Hackenbeck.
Maron
Maron is a local village located on the summit and eastern end of Gordon's Hill. In the TVseries, its station has appeared with two different designs. Maron is on the Main Line and serves as a junction for the Ulfstead Branch Line to the north and for the Sodor Search & Rescue Centre to the south.
Norramby
The resort of Norramby is located on the east coast, and the top station of Arthur's branch line.
Peel
Peel, a.k.a. Peel Godred, is a station on the Peel Godred Branch Line. It has four platforms, two being on an island platform between the centre tracks.[25] Near the station is a town hall and a bakery.
Rheneas
Rheneas is a village between Glennock and Skarloey on the Skarloey Railway. Rheneas Viaduct, Bridge and Tunnel are located nearby.
Ruth's Workshop
Ruth's Workshop is Ruth's home located somewhere along Thomas' Branchline by the old Gate.
Skarloey
Skarloey is a village and the top station of the Skarloey Railway. It is located between Rheneas Village and Lakeside.
Suddery
Suddery is the capital of Sodor, located mid-way along the island's peninsula. It is served by two train stations, both located on Edward's branch line.
Lower Suddery station was seen early in the show's run,[26][27] and is (or was) on Edward the Blue Engine's branch line, between Wellsworth and Upper Brendam.
Tidmouth
Tidmouth is one of the two main towns on Sodor, the other being Knapford. The town is also the largest railway centre and is the headquarters of the North Western Railway.
In the original books, Tidmouth is the main settlement and largest station and engine shed on Sodor. In the TVseries, Knapford is largest, while a number of different locations have used the name Tidmouth, making the town of Tidmouth, the second largest and co-main settlement.
Tidmouth Station is (or perhaps was) a station with a glass roof and a row of three lines passing through.[9] There was a group of engine sheds where the engines on Thomas's branch line lived from time to time.[28][29][30] There was also a coal depot in the yards nearby.[31][32][33] The engines on Duck's branch line primarily worked here for another period,[34][35] and the station was at one point referred to as "The Works".[36]
Lower Tidmouth station is located midway between Tidmouth and Knapford, and was sometimes seen as the junction for Thomas's branch line.
Tidmouth Halt is a station located on the west coast of Sodor, on Duck's branch line, between Tidmouth and Haultrough. Toby, Duck, and Donald helped to build the engine sheds there.[37] Sometimes Main Line engines or engines from Thomas's branch line have been seen passing through, as the station is also the junction for a separate line to Callandale (on the Loop Line towards Elsbridge).[12][38][39][40][41]
Tidmouth Tunnel, a.k.a. the Caste Tunnel, is located between Tidmouth and Tidmouth Hault on Duck's branch line – the Little Western. A picturesque lake is adjacent to the tunnel.
Tidmouth Town Square is north of Tidmouth Station itself, co-serving the town.
Tidmouth Sheds are the main engine sheds near Tidmouth Station, housing Thomas, Nia (since Big World! Big Adventures!), Rebecca (since Series 22), Gordon, James, Percy and Emily (since Calling All Engines!). Toby and Spencer occasionally stay at Tidmouth Sheds. Edward and Henry used to live there before moving to Wellsworth and Vicarstown respectively. Other engines have also been know to stay here including Stanley in The Great Discovery and Flynn the Fire Engine in Day of the Diesels.
Duck, Donald, Douglas and Oliver formerly lived at Tidmouth Sheds. Duck stayed in the sheds in the season18 episode, "Duck And The Slip Coaches", where he helped with the increasing passenger service and holiday traffic.
Tidmouth Harbour, a.k.a. Tidmouth Docks, is a busy dockyard harbour with an extensive railway system connecting with The Main Line. The Flying Kipper usually begins its journeys from here to other parts of the island.
Toryreck
Toryreck is a village between Dryaw and Elsbridge on Thomas' branch line. It is served by a country station with a single platform, and a siding and shed on the opposite end.
Toryreck is close to the junctions of goods-only branch lines to Knapford Harbour and to the Lead Mines.
Ulfstead
The town of Ulfstead is located north of Maron on the Main Line, and east of Ffarquhar on Thomas's branch line.
The well-known Ulfstead Castle overlooks the town, and is at the end of the Ulfstead branch line from Maron. It is the seat of the Earls (popularly called Dukes) of Sodor.
Vicarstown
Vicarstown is located on the eastern coast of Sodor, served by a station on the Main Line, and is also the location of the Dieselworks. It first appeared in Thomas & Friends: The Great Race.
Wellsworth
Wellsworth is a town[42] located at the northern end of a peninsula, towards the Sudrian Capital of Suddery, and onto the coast of Brendam. It is served by a station between Crosby and Maron on the Main Line. The station has a junction connecting to Edward's branch line, and is sometimes known as Edward's station. There is also another branch line running northeast to a coaling yard. There is a yard behind the station that has changed from time to time.[43][44][45][46]
Along the coast of Sodor are numerous dockyard harbours and ports, busy with ships, boats and barges. The standard-gauge North Western Railway (NWR) provides rail service through its interchanges as described below.
Arlesburgh Harbour
Located in Arlesburgh on Duck's branch line – The Little Western. It is where Percy, Duck and some of the other engines have worked. The harbour is one of the most prominent ports on Sodor.
The harbour is also home to Skiff and various boats and barges, including The Pirate Ship. There is also a harbour warehouse, quay and lighthouse.
Brendam Docks
The port at Brendam is at the end of Edward's branch line. The large port has a Sodor Shipping Company warehouse. Steam trampers and ocean liners frequently pass through. The port features the characters Cranky the crane;[47]Salty, a diesel shunter;[48] and since series17 Porter,[49] a dockside tank engine. Bill and Ben sometimes work or spend the night here.[50][51][52][53]
Christopher Awdry often criticises the design of this version of the harbour, as it is far too large for the volume of traffic an island like Sodor would require. Many building, ship and crane models actually originate from Tugs, a series set in a large port serving a major American city, which explains the size of Brendam Docks. The harbour sets were rarely consistent before season5 introduced Brendam by name, and different seasons featured different-looking sets.[11][44][54][55][56]
Knapford Harbour
Knapford Harbour is located west of Knapford, on a goods-only branch which joins Thomas' branch line at a junction south of Toryreck. Percy and some of the other engines helped with the construction of the harbour, and the Main Line crosses a nearby bridge, spanning above the harbour station.
The Fishing Village
The Fishing Village is a harbour located between Ballahoo and Norramby on Arthur's branch line. Fish is collected and loaded into salt wagons bound for other parts of Sodor. The smell of fish is almost everywhere across the area. Arthur works here and runs the branch line to Norramby.
The Wharf
The Wharf is a port, located northeast of Crovan's Gate, across the bay from Norramby. This is where the NWR and the Skarloey Railway meet.
Tidmouth Harbour
Located close to the end of the Main Line, Tidmouth Harbour (a.k.a. Tidmouth Docks) is one of the busiest industrial ports on Sodor. It is where The Flying Kipper usually collects fish to deliver along the Main Line.
Mines, pits and quarries
Stone quarries and mining pits have been shown and mentioned throughout the television series.[26][57][58][59]
Anopha Quarry
Anopha Quarry, a.k.a. Centre Island Quarry (seasons6–11) and Ffarquhar Quarry (since season17), is a stone quarry at the end of Thomas' branch line. Mavis works here, shunting and arranging trucks. Toby and Henrietta carry workers to and from the quarry. Percy also helps "from time to time" and collects stone trucks bound for the harbour. Bill and Ben have also helped here. Other engines,[48][60] such as, Thomas, Stepney (during another of his visits to Sodor), Fergus, Stanley, Diesel, 'Arry, and Bert have also helped out at the quarry. Salty helped at Ffarquhar Quarry, before relocating to Brendam Docks. Den once helped out at the Quarry while for Mavis was being repaired at the Dieselworks.
Blue Mountain Quarry
The Blue Mountain Quarry (BMQ) is a large slate quarry on a narrow-gauge line of the Skarloey Railway. It is also served by a standard-gauge branch of the Peel Godred branch line. It first appeared in Blue Mountain Mystery.
The narrow-gauge engines Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, Peter Sam, Rusty, and Luke work here, and Paxton often takes stone from the quarry to other destinations. Other engines such as, Thomas, Henry, Toby and Samson have also helped at the BMQ, and Spencer once collected a large delivery of stone during the rebuilding of Ulfstead Castle. Merrick and Owen are stationed here.
Maithwaite Quarry Mine
Maithwaite Quarry Mine, commonly known as the Abandoned Mine, is an old mothballed quarry. It is located between Elsbridge and Maithwaite on Thomas's branch line.
Skarloey Slate Mines
The Skarloey Slate Mines, commonly known as the Skarloey Railway Slate Quarry, are a large slate-mining quarry south of the top station of the Skarloey Railway. Most of the narrow-gauge engines usually worked here, and it was also here that Peter Sam had an accident with some trucks.
The line has a winch at the top of a slope called an incline with a cable wrapped around. Either end of the cable is coupled to the end of a line of trucks. Trucks loaded with slate roll down one side of the incline, and this motion pulls the empty trucks up to the top.[61]
Sodor China Clay Company
The Sodor China Clay Company, commonly known as the China Clay Pits, are both a quarry and a mine. They are located at the very end of Edward's branch line, near Brendam Docks.
Bill and Ben, along with Timothy and Marion work here. Their duties are shunting and arranging China Clay trucks into place, while Marion "The Steam Shovel" has the job of digging and loading China Clay into trucks, bound for other destinations across Sodor.
Sodor Slate Quarry
The Sodor Slate Quarry is located on the Quarry Branch Line south of the Blue Mountain Quarry, on the north slope of the Sudrian mountain Shane Dooiney.
Ulfstead Mine
Ulfstead Mine is an old and abandoned (later operational) mine, located below Ulfstead Castle. The mine was first seen in King of the Railway, and later appeared in seasons 18 and 21.
It was here that Stephen found and discovered King Godred's Crown and Percy bravely entered the mine to rescue some Troublesome Trucks. The mine was later made operational again, as Philip worked down the mine and Edward briefly slept here, only to be disturbed by dynamite blasts.
The Coal Mine
The Coal Mine was a mine located northeast of Wellsworth, along a branch line that passed a local village and ascended a steep hill before arriving at the coaling yard.
Although coal wasn't a major resource on Sodor in the books, the Coal Mine had been used in the television series. The mine collapsed when runaway trucks crashed into a support beam. This mine had a canvas barrier along the tracks outside. Percy and his crew, managed to survive an avalanche by hiding under the canvas as the track was buried.[62]
Another mine was also on a narrow-gauge line of the Skarloey Railway, built on an incline similar to the Skarloey slate mines.[63]
The Lead Mines
The Lead Mines are located near Toryreck on Thomas's branch line, accessed via the goods-only line (towards Knapford Harbour). Lead ores were exhausted in 1930; since then the mines have mainly produced uranium.
Thomas once passed a danger sign here and fell down a mine, as the track was unstable. The ground is stable enough for trucks but cannot hold the weight of railway engines.
Farms
Around four farms on Thomas's branch line have shown to be served by rail, contracting for produce and animals to be transported by rail.
Crowe's Farm
Crowe's Farm is a small farm located between Knapford and Dryaw. A level crossing is located nearby, where Percy once crashed into a cart of lime.
McColl's Farm
McColl's Farm is a large farm located between Toryreck and Elsbridge. Trevor, who resides at the local vicarage orchard, helps here.
Trotter's Farm
Trotter's Farm is a pig farm located between Elsbridge and Maithwaite.
Finney's Farm
Finney's Farm is located near Hackenbeck. Terence lives and works here.
High Farm
High Farm is located on the Ulfstead Branch Line between Hiro's Hideout and the Earl's Estate (Ulfstead Castle).
Other industries
In addition to the harbours, quarries and farms, there are other types of industry found on Sodor, listed below.
Aluminium Works
The Sodor Aluminium Works, north of Peel, processes aluminum from Tidmouth for sale to the mainland.
Crock's Scrap Yard
Crock's Scrap Yard is a small scrapyard, located between Wellsworth and Suddery on Edward's branch line. Old machinery and other disused iron is dismantled here before being taken to the Sodor Ironworks to be melted down and recycled.
Trevor the Traction Engine was rescued from the scrap by Edward, his footplate crew and The Vicar. Reg is stationed here.
Mr Jolly's Chocolate Factory
Mr. Jolly's Chocolate Factory, a.k.a. the Sodor Chocolate Factory, is located on the Peel Godred branch line, north of Abbey station. The chocolate and other products are transported by rail to local shops across the island.
It was originally located at the bottom of a hill along the line, but was moved following Percy's accident.
Sodor Dieselworks
The Sodor Dieselworks, a.k.a. Vicarstown Dieselworks, is the diesel-electric equivalent of the Sodor Steamworks, where diesel engines are repainted, repaired and overhauled. It has a shed with five berths for diesel engines, a repair shed with elevating turntable, Diesel10's shed, a back shed and smelter. It is the main fuelling hub of the diesel engines on the North Western Railway. It is located on the outskirts of Vicarstown and first appeared in Day of the Diesels.
The Sodor Ironworks, a.k.a. the Sodor Steelworks and the Smelters Yard, is the where 'Arry and Bert usually work, shunting and hauling trucks of scrap to the smelters shed and nearby adjacent yard. The Ironworks are located south of Killdane.
Many fellow railway engines often dread working there.[64][65] Some of the tracks are lined with old rusted engines. Inside the sheds, sparks fly and a large crane arm lifts material to be smelted.[66][67]
Stepney was once left without his crew on a foggy night and the diesels took him to the smelters. He was saved by The Fat Controller, who was inspecting the yards that evening.[59]
There is also Crock's Scrap Yard, located alongside Edward's branch line.[68] Engines on the Other Railway await scrapping in large yards.[36][69]
Sodor Steamworks
The Sodor Steamworks are a large repairing yard and workshops, and the main fueling hub for the steam engines of the North Western Railway. Most railway engines are overhauled and repaired here, including diesels before the Dieselworks was restored. It is located in Crovan's Gate, adjacent to the Main Line, and first appeared in Hero of the Rails.
Victor and Kevin live and work there. The Skarloey Railway also has a narrow-gauge line that starts behind the Steamworks.
Sodor Search and Rescue Centre
The Sodor Search and Rescue Centre is the base of emergencies and operations, located south of Maron, southeast of Wellsworth, east of Sudderly and west of Killaban. It consists of a Shed for Belle, Flynn and Rocky, a spare shed for Butch, a helipad for Harold, and an adjacent dock for Captain. It was introduced in Misty Island Rescue.
The Dairy
There are two dairies located on Sodor, both serviced by the North Western Railway. One is located near Toryreck, on Thomas's branch line; the other is located west of Crosby along the Main Line (where an adjacent field of cows may be seen).
The Ice Cream Factory
The Ice Cream Factory is located near Killdane, along the Main Line. The NWR transports its products by rail.
The Lumber Mill and Timber Yard
The Lumber Mill and Timber Yard is where trees and logs are sent by rail for processing. They are located north of Crovan's Gate (and close to Henry's Forest) on the Main Line.
The Power Station
The Sodor Power Station produces electricity for the island. It is located near the Aluminium Works, further north past Peel along the Peel Godred Branch Line.
Wellsworth Scrap Yards
The Wellsworth Scrap Yards are located to the west of Wellsworth, just off the main line, after a level crossing. It is where Trevor the Traction Engine was left to be scrapped, and it is the line that leads to the harbour.
Whiff's Waste Dump
Whiff's Waste Dump is where most of Sodor's rubbish and refuse is taken for disposal. The waste dump is equipped with a row of cranes and crushers. Whiff and Scruff work here. It is located between Hawin Lake and Kirk Machan on the Peel Godred Branch Line, close to the junction for the branch line to the Blue Mountain Quarry. It first appeared in Misty Island Rescue.
Other rail-served industries
The following is a list of the other rail-served industries that have a direct bearing on the plotlines in various episodes of the TV series:
Bakeries: There are bakeries located across Sodor, including one west of Kirk Ronan, using flour from the Sodor Flour Mill.[70]
Pudding Factory: It is located on the Kirk Ronan Branch Line.[71]
Toy Factory: It is located on the Kirk Ronan Branch Line.
Rail shunting yards
Arlesburgh Goods Yard: located north of the seaside town of Arlesburgh; some goods trains are sometimes arranged here
Crosby: located adjacent to Crosby station on the Main Line
Elsbridge: located adjacent to Elsbridge Junction, on both the Loop Line towards Crosby and on Thomas's branch line towards Ffarquhar
Ffarquhar: located adjacent to the top station of Thomas's branch line
Knapford (North): located north of Knapford station on the Main Line
Knapford Station Yard: located adjacent to Knapford Station
Lower Suddery: located a few yards from the nearby station on Edward's branch line
Maron Yard: located alongside the station of the same name, though not actually a shunting yard
Tidmouth: this shunting yard is located adjacent to Tidmouth Station, at the end of the Main Line
Wellsworth: located adjacent to Wellsworth (Edward's Station); this is where trains are sometimes arranged
Transfer Yards
The Transfer Yards are another exact place where the standard-gauge North Western Railway meets the narrow-gauge Skarloey Railway, providing an interchange.
Landmarks
In both the books and the TV series (as well as the magazines), there are various landmarks across the Island of Sodor.
Callan Castle
Callan Castle, a.k.a. "The Scottish Castle" and "Lord Castle's Castle", is a landmark serviced by a halt on the standard-gauge branch line, near Black Loch. The halt is a small platform with a stairway leading up a hill to the castle.[72] Lord Callan flies the Scottish flag on occasional days of ceremony.[73]
Black Loch
Black Loch "Clouds not in the Sky" (2nd clue Thomas and the Treasure) is a picturesque lake, located near Callan Castle. The country surrounding it is considered reminiscent of Scotland, and Donald and Douglas feel at home there. Popular legend states that a monster lives in the lake.[72] An old causeway branches off of the track leading to Lord Callan's Castle, but only light engines and stock can cross it safely.[66][72]
Misty Valley
Misty Valley is a very misty valley prone to falling rocks. Cyril the Fogman works here, putting detonators on the tracks to warn of rockfalls. In "The Fogman" he is replaced by a fog horn, but this was so loud that it caused a large rockfall.
The valley is located northeast of Callan, towards Callan Castle, on the Misty Valley Branch Line.
Culdee Fell Hill
Culdee Fell Hill is a mountain through which a section of the narrow-gauge railway travels.[74]
Dryaw Airfield
Dryaw Airfield is adjacent to the nearby Dryaw station, on Thomas's branch line. Tiger Moth and the Red Balloon are found here. Harold originally resided here, before relocating to the Sodor Search & Rescue Centre.
Gordon's Hill
Gordon's Hill is a steep hill located between Wellsworth station and Maron station. It was named after Gordon got stuck pulling a goods train and Edward had to push from behind. It is a place where a banker engine is often required to help trains up the hill, and Edward frequently filled this role.[75][76]
Many trains have faced difficulty on the hill since Gordon's original incident.[77][78][79]
Henry's Tunnel
Henry the Green Engine once stopped in a tunnel (near Ballahoo) and refused to come out. As it was impossible to move him, the Fat Controller decided to wall him in, and engines would only pass through the parallel tunnel. Henry was eventually removed, and the tunnel was put back into service.[80][81]
Norramby Beach
Arthur's branch line runs a small distance by Norramby Beach.[82][83]
Rumblin Bridge
Rumblin Bridge is served by a station on one of the narrow-gauge lines of the Skarloey Railway. A stone bridge visible from the station passes over an adjacent river.[84]
Sodor Airport
Sodor Airport is south of Maron, along the Main Line loop. Jeremy the Jet Plane lives here.
Sodor Suspension Bridge
The Sodor Suspension Bridge carries the Main Line across the valley of the River Reagh. It is located between Crosby and Wellsworth.
The Viaduct
The Viaduct, a.k.a. Cronk Viaduct, or perhaps Maron Viaduct, carries the Main Line across the valley of the Hawin Ab. It is located between Maron and Cronk.
The Watermill
The Watermill is an architectural structure in the countryside north of Elsbridge on Thomas's branch line. A stream flows by the wooden wheel-structure to a nearby lake below a railway bridge.
Town Square
The Town Square, a.k.a. Tidmouth Town Square, is where the Town Hall of Tidmouth is located. The station serving the square is located North of Tidmouth Station, on both the Loop Line and Duck's branch line. There is also a library located at the Town Hall.
Ulfstead Castle
Ulfstead Castle is home to Sir Robert Norramby, Earl of Sodor. Norramby returned to Sodor to restore the Castle and grounds.
The Estate Railway is a dual-gauge railway centred within the castle and its grounds. Stephen, Glynn and Millie work on this railway.
The Dinosaur Park was opened by Norramby on his estate in season18. It has models of four dinosaurs and a model of a volcano. The Estate Railway carries tourists around and through this park.
The Railway Museum was said in season20 to be opening.
Vicarstown Rolling Bridge
The Vicarstown Bridge connects Sodor to the Mainland. It is a drawbridge structure, spanning the Walney Channel, which lifts upwards so that boats may pass under it.
Railway lines
There are various railway lines criss-crossing Sodor.
Some of the North Western Railway's routes were formerly owned by other companies, prior to the North Western Railway's creation. These companies were:
The Arlesdale Railway (more commonly known as The Small Railway) is a 15-inch gauge railway which runs from Arlesburgh Junction (on Duck's branch line) to the village of Arlesdale.
Rex, Bert and Mike run this popular railway, doing daily jobs such as bringing ballast from the granite mine for positioning under tracks, wool for clothing and hauling passenger coaches.
The Arlesdale Railway also runs a line through Arlesburgh Harbour. This was once part of Duke's Old Railway, which closed in 1947.
The Norramby branch line (Arthur's branch line) runs from both Crovan's Gate and Vicarstown, via Ballahoo, to the seaside resort of Norramby. It is operated by Arthur, who enjoys this job because the line runs past the fishing village.
Bluebell Branch Line
The Bluebell Branch Line (Stepney's branch line) is located in a small isolated part of Sodor known for its bluebells and blossoms. Both standard- and narrow-gauge lines make up the railway, but few engines would work there. Rusty once resolved to find a steam engine who could run the line regularly, and traveled to The Other Railway where he found Stepney, derelict in a siding. Stepney enjoyed being put back to work, but was disappointed that his line was then short and had no trucks. As such, he has occasionally arranged visits to The Fat Controller's Railway - the North Western.
In the books, Stepney came from the real Bluebell Railway: a heritage railway in South-East England. Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine was written to promote this railway and the heritage railway preservation movement.
In later non-CGI episodes, a standard-gauge line is seen running beside the narrow-gauge tracks. It is likely that this is what became of the Bluebell Branch Line, however Stepney is absent.
The Brendam branch line (Edward's branch line) runs along the peninsula of the island, from Wellsworth on the Main Line to the town of Brendam via Suddery. It is run by Edward, with assistance from BoCo and a few other engines (especially Donald and Douglas).
The line passes the Local Vicarage Orchard (where Trevor the Traction Engine resides), Crock's Scrap Yard (where Reg is stationed), the Sodor Animal Park, the Docks (where Porter, Salty and Cranky are stationed) and the China Clay Pits (where Bill and Ben, along with Timothy and Marion usually work).
Estate Railway
The Estate Railway is a dual-gauge tourism railway owned by Sir Robert Norramby on his estate at Ulfstead Castle. Stephen, Glynn, and Millie work on this railway.
Misty Valley Branch Line
Breaching off near Kirk Machan on the Peel Godred Branch Line, the Misty Valley Branch Line passes the town of Callan before descending to Callan Castle. There is also a loop which passes Black Loch, located near the castle.
The Peel Godred Branch Line branches off at Killdane Junction on the Main Line and heads north to the town of Peel. It passes through Abbey, Hawin Lake and Kirk Machan, and junctions to the Blue Mountain Quarry and to Callan.
The Skarloey Railway is a narrow-gauge line from Crovan's Gate (where it interchanges with the NWR) via Glennock to the villages of Rheneas and Skarloey. It also runs lines to the Sodor Steamworks and the Blue Mountain Quarry.
It is the Sudrian counterpart of the Talyllyn Railway in Wales.
The Kirk Ronan Branch Line was built by the Sodor & Mainland Railway. From a junction on the Main Line (located west of Kellsthorpe Road) it runs southwest towards the town of Kirk Ronan, via Rolf's Castle.
The station at the end of this branch line only appeared in season5 of the TV series.
The Little Western (also known as the Arlesburgh Branch Line or Duck's Branch Line) runs along the west coast of Sodor, from Tidmouth to Harwick, via Haultrough, Bluff's Cove and Arlesburgh. The line's construction had halted at Arlesburgh due to lack of funding, but was later extended to the holiday town of Harwick during the events of Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.
The Loop Line runs from Crosby Junction, to the town of Tidmouth, via Elsbridge (where it meets Thomas's branch line) and through Callandale. Many engines have worked this line. It runs parallel to the Main Line and with connecting branches completes a loop, hence its name.
The Main Line runs through most of southern Sodor, from Barrow (on the Mainland), across the Walney Channel via the Vicarstown Bridge, and onto the Island of Sodor, ultimately reaching Tidmouth on the island's west coast.
Along the way, the Main Line passes through and serves various towns and villages: Crovan's Gate, Kellsthorpe, Killdane, Cronk, Maron, Wellsworth, Crosby, and Knapford.
The Ffarquhar branch line (Thomas' branch line) runs from the town of Knapford on the Main Line, up the valley to Ffarquhar, via Elsbridge where it meets the Loop Line. It has stations in the villages of Dryaw, Toryreck, Elsbridge, Maithwaite and Hackenbeck, before reaching the top station at Ffarquhar. However, it continues through and beyond the town to Anopha Quarry.
Thomas runs this line, as he considers it the most important part of the whole of the North Western Railway. Percy, Toby, Daisy, Mavis and some other engines have also worked along this branch line.
The Ulfstead Branch Line separates from the Main Line at a junction just west of Maron. It passes through some woods, past the Summerhouse and uphill to Ulfstead Castle, overlooking the town of Ulfstead.
Misty Island Railway
The Misty Island Railway is a logging railway located on Misty Island. It is run by the Logging Locos: Bash, Dash and Ferdinand.
The Mid-Sodor Railway (MSR) and was a railway running from Arlesburgh to Peel Godred. It was worked by Duke, Falcon, Stuart, and "Number two" (who was never named). It closed due to bankruptcy in 1947, and Falcon and Stuart were bought by the Skarloey Railway and were renamed Sir Handel and Peter Sam, respectively. Over 20 years later, Duke was discovered on the abandoned line was overgrown and unrecognizable. It is unknown what became of the other narrow-gauge engines since the MSR's closure.
Part of the trackbed of the Mid-Sodor Railway (from Arlesburgh to Arlesdale Green) was later reused in as part of the Arlesdale Railway.
Harwick Railway
This never featured in the books or the TV series, but was marked on many maps of Sodor. It ran from east Harwick, through Deoghan-y-Claghan, to Gregwiz, then north-west to an unnamed quarry.
Other railways
Another railway connected with the standard gauge railway at an old mine. The Fat Controller became interested in restoring it after seeing it on a map that his grandchildren discovered. Legend held that an "Old Warrior Engine" would light his fire at night and go hunting. "Old Warrior" turned out to be a little old tender engine called Bertram, who was put into use when a park was created at the site.[85] This long-abandoned little railway was located further north of Tidmouth, towards Arlesdale.
Train accommodation
This lists some of the engine shed accommodation, as located along the North Western Railway.
Tidmouth Sheds
Tidmouth Sheds are the home of Thomas, Gordon, James, Percy, Emily, Nia, and Rebecca.
Many other engines such as Toby, Duck, Oliver, Donald, Douglas, Arthur, Spencer, Stanley, and Flynn have known to have stayed at these engine sheds from time to time.
In season21, James crashed into the back of the sheds, and this made changes to the Steam Team. Edward relocated to Wellsworth Sheds, and Henry eventually left to live at Vicarstown shed with Rosie.
Arlesburgh Yard Shed
Arlesburgh Yard Shed is an engine shed located on the west coast of Sodor. It was introduced during construction of the Harwick extension, and is the location of Ryan and Daisy, both of whom run this extension of the Little Western.
Dieselworks Roundhouse
At the Vicarstown Dieselworks, there is a five-berth diesel shed, mostly accommodating some of the diesel engines on the fat controller's railway.
Vicarstown Sheds
Vicarstown Sheds once accommodated several engines. They only appeared in the show's first season, it's currently unknown whatever became of them since the NWR headquarters relocated to Tidmouth. The shed was last shown in Season 22 and is where Henry (since Series 22) and Rosie sleep.
Wellsworth Shed(s)
Wellsworth Sheds consists of a two-berth shed adjacent to Wellsworth Station. The engine shed was introduced in season21, and it is where Edward and Philip sleep.
Stations, halts and junctions
This is the list of each and every line of the North Western Railway, the "Narrow Gauge" Skarloey, "15-inch Gauge" Arlesdale and also the Culdee Fell Mountain Railway.
Together, this listing includes the names of stations, the halts, the junctions and local business trades, co-serving every town and village across the Island of Sodor, including its connection on (and to) the Mainland (UK)
Duck's branch line (The Little Western)
Tidmouth
Town Square
Tidmouth Hault
Haultraugh
Bluff's Cove
Arlesburgh West
Arlesburgh Harbour
Harwick
Edward's branch line
Wellsworth
Suddery
Lower Suddery
Sodor Animal Park (a.k.a. Sodor Wildlife Centre)
Island Record's Office
Upper Brendam
Brendam (for nearby, Brendam Docks)
Kirk Ronan branch line
Kellsthorpe Road
Rolf's Castle
Kirk Ronan
The Main Line
Tidmouth
Lower Tidmouth
Knapford
Sodor Dairy
Crosby
Wellsworth
Maron
Cronk
Killdane
Balladrine
Kellaby
Whispering Woods Halt
Kellsthorpe Road
Crovan's Gate
Great Waterton (spur of the main line and ends Stepney's Branch line here).
Vicarstown
Barrow-in-Furness (on the Mainland)
The Main Line Loop
Maron
Sodor Airport
Sodor Search and Rescue Centre
Killaban
Cabalnoo
Thomas's branch line
Tidmouth
Knapford
Dryaw
Toryreck
McColl Farm
Sports Field Halt
Elsbridge
Trotter Farm
Maithwaite
Finney Farm
Hackenebeck
Ffarquhar
Anopha Quarry
Sodor Biscuits Factory
Ulfstead Branch Line
Maron
Maron Football Club (Known as Maron FC)
Boxford
Ulfstead Castle
Norramby Branch Line
Transfer Yards
The Wharf
Ballahoo
The Fishing Village
Norramby Church Station
Norramby Seaside Station
Peel Godred Branch Line
Killdane
Abbey
Hawin Lake
Kirk Machan
Peel Godred
Misty Valley Branch Line
Kirk Machan
Callan
Callan Castle (a.k.a. The Scottish Castle)
Toby's branch line
Bluff's Cove
Tidmouth Bay
Bertram's Mine
Lower Arlesburgh
Arlesdale End
Ulfstead
Quarry Branch Line
Sodor Slate Quarry
Blue Mountain Quarry
Killdane Branch Line
Brickworks/Warehouses
A Fuel Depot
Arlesdale Ballast Granite & Gravel Company (a.k.a. The Sodor Ballast, Granite & Gravel Company)
Smelter's Yard (a.k.a. The Sodor Steelworks and Ironworks)
The Loop Line
Tidmouth
Callandale
Elsbridge
Crosby
Skarloey Railway
Crovan's Gate
Cross-ny-Curin
The Depot
Bluebell Valley
Glennock
Rheneas
Lakeside
Skarloey
Tea Room
Mountain Village
Strawberry Grove
Rumblin Bridge
Elephant Park
Ulfstead Castle
Middle
Arlesdale Railway
Arlesburgh West
Arlesburgh Bridge Street
Ffarquhar Road
Marthwaite
Arlesdale Green
Arlesdale
Culdee Fell Railway
Kirk Machan
Shiloh
Skarloey Road
Devil's Back
Culdee Fell Summit
The Culdee Fell railway is located on Sodor, and is most popular for its engines which have two faces. Culdee, one of the trains on the line, is named after the mountain. It has never been clarified if the engines can talk through both faces at once, or if they switch between them.
The Mainland
The Mainland, a.k.a. Great Britain, is where some certain railway engines are said to have come from. The Mainland is home to the modernizing and diesel-run Other Railway, which carried goods and passengers much further afield.
The TV series often suggests that a few steam engines, such as Charlie, Spencer and Samson still worked there, and the threat of diesels (and electrics) taking over is rarely mentioned.
However, since the 17th season(as well as King of the Railway), Connor and Caitlin work on the Mainland (presumably most likely closer to Barrow), and regularly visit Sodor, as do Spencer (who also visits Sodor), Hiro (modified to work along the Other Railway's Cumbrian Coast Line only), Gator, Samson, Flying Scotsman, Merlin, Theo, Lexi, Hurricane and Frankie.
Settlements
Barrow-in-Furness, a.k.a. Barrow, is a town, served by a railway station, located on the Cumbrian Coast of the Mainland. It is the starting point of the Main Line to Tidmouth on the Island of Sodor. It was mentioned in season19, in the episode, Reds vs Blues.
Bridlington is a seaside town located on the Yorkshire Coast of the Mainland. A large shunting yard is (or was) located here in a fictional part of the seaside town, Bridlington Goods Yard only appeared in Journey Beyond Sodor.
Five Red Diesel Shunters (one of whom is named "Ulli") work in Bridlington. These diesel shunter-engines were seen arranging trucks for the foreign railway engine contestants during the Great Railway Show.
Brighton is a seaside town located on the southern coast of the Mainland. Thomas originally worked here before arriving on Sodor, it was mentioned in The Adventure Begins.
Carlisle (although not named, let alone mentioned) is a City located in Cumbria on the Mainland. Another large yard is (or was) located here in a fictional part of said city, and it is where The Great Railway Show took place in The Great Race.
The Other Railway
The Other Railway conducts many diesel operations on the Mainland. Steam engines on this railway are either in hiding[86] or awaiting scrap.[87]
In the books, "The Other Railway" is often referred to as British Rail, but in the television series it was suggested to be a railway on Sodor itself. It is however located on the Mainland (Great Britain), and connects to Sodor via the Vicarstown Bridge.
The Steelworks is a faraway place of industry, located in the distant heart of the Mainland, most likely towards Bridlington. It is the workplace of Hurricane and Frankie (who live and work there) along with Merlin, Theo and Lexi.
Related Research Articles
The Fat Controller is a fictional character in The Railway Series books written by the Reverend W. Awdry and his son, Christopher. In the first 2 books in the series he is known as The Fat Director. In the third book he becomes The Fat Controller, as the railway has been nationalised. His full name is revealed in the foreword to the book Henry the Green Engine.
Percy the Small Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam tank engine from The Railway Series of children's books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. He also appears in the spin-off television series Thomas & Friends.
Skarloey is a fictional narrow gauge tank locomotive from the Railway Series by the Reverend W. Awdry. He is one of the oldest engines on the Island of Sodor. Skarloey lives and works on the Skarloey Railway as Engine No.1.
The Skarloey Railway is a fictional narrow gauge railway on the Island of Sodor. It appeared in 8 books of The Railway Series, by Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry, and in 99 episodes of the Television adaptation of The Railway Series, Thomas & Friends.
The Sodor & Mainland Railway (1853–1914) was 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 initial aim of the railway was to link Sodor with the British Mainland.
Sodor is a fictional island featured as the setting for The Railway Series books by the Rev. Wilbert Awdry, begun in 1945, and for the popular television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends since 1984. It is depicted as being located in the Irish Sea, just off the English mainland near Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria.
Thomas the Tank Engine is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Rev. W. Awdry.
Thomas & Friends annuals are books relating to the British children's television series Thomas & Friends. After the Railway Series was published, many Thomas Annuals were printed and sold. They are still being made in print to this day. The Annuals have contained many activities, stories, and information about Thomas and his friends. The annuals are usually in hardcover format, with colour pictures and photos abundant throughout the book. The annual also featured a number of exclusive characters.
The North Western Railway is the main railway company featured in The Railway Series, a series of fictional books by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry, and in the television series Thomas and Friends, by Britt Allcroft. 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 Railways by Awdry, and also on some maps that were drawn to accompany the Railway Series.
The Arlesdale Railway is a fictional minimum gauge railway on the Island of Sodor. It appeared in five books in The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry, and it appeared on the Thomas & Friends TV programme, first in the 2015 Thomas & Friends feature film special Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure and later appeared in Seasons 20 and 21, as well as The Great Race and Journey Beyond Sodor. The railway also makes a stock footage appearance in Season 22.
The Mid Sodor Railway was a fictional narrow gauge railway on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series 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. Part of its route is now occupied by the Arlesdale Railway.
Thomas Land is a themed area at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire, England, based on the children's television series Thomas and Friends. It stands on the former site of Robinsons Land, a themed area sponsored by the soft drinks brand of the same name. The construction began while the park was still open in September 1997, and many of the Robinsons Land rides were moved to other areas of the park for the remainder of the season. Many of the rides housed in Robinsons Land except the Veteran Cars were sold to Funland in Hayling Island. Thomas Land officially opened to the public on 10 June 1998. An expansion of Thomas Land with additional attractions and private party rooms opened on 8 April 2005.
The Adventure Begins is a 2015 CGI-animated 45 minute direct-to video prequel film of Thomas & Friends. It is based on the first 2 books of The Railway Series: The Three Railway Engines and Thomas the Tank Engine. It commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Thomas & Friends franchise, making it the first installment to officially adapt a Railway Series story since Series 4. It is also based on the first 7 episodes of the 1st season of the TV show.
Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure is a 2015 CGI-animated children's epic fantasy adventure action musical film and the 9th feature-length special of Thomas & Friends.
The Great Race is a 2016 CGI animated musical Thomas & Friends film.
References
↑ Thomas and Friends season1, "Toby and the Stout Gentleman"
↑ Thomas and Friends season4, "Four Little Engines"
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