CURRENT PROGRESS STATUS (Fictional Locations)

~~Link-localize and table tidy:~~ COMPLETED!!!!!
~~Update colour links in table~~ COMPLETED!!!!!
~~Define routes for each location~~ COMPLETED!!!!!
~~Create missing locations~~ COMPLETED!!!!!
URGENT! Create new version of {{Rail start}} for use on this page (such as "Rail start Sodor"), since "Fictional rail start" has since been deleted.
Create navibox templates
1. NWR Main Line
2. Skarloey Railway
3. Culdee Fell Railway
4. Brendam Branch
5. Kirk Ronan Branch
6. Ballahoo Branch
7. Peel Godred Branch
8. Ffarquhar Branch
9. Arlesburgh Branch
10. Arlesdale Railway
Create naviboxes for each location
Expand text descriptions for:
1. Cros-ny-Cuirn
2. Glennock, Lakeside, Rheneas (station), Skarloey (station) <-- should these be distinguished by 'Station'?
3. Arlesburgh West, Arlesburgh Bridge St., Ffarquhar Road, Marthwaite
4. Shiloh, Skarloey Road

Underground Colour Map

Underground Line	Colour wikicode	Sodor Railways
Bakerloo	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Bakerloo}}	NWR – Norramby & Ballahoo Branches
Central	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Central}}	Skarloey Railway
Circle	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Circle}}
District	{{rcr\|London Underground\|District}}
East London	{{rcr\|London Underground\|East London}}	NWR – Brendam Branch
Hammersmith & City	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Hammersmith & City}}	NWR – Kirk Ronan Branch
Jubilee	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Jubilee}}	Goods-only lines (any railway)
	#8b008c;	Culdee Fell Railway
Metropolitan	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Metropolitan}}
Northern	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Northern}}	NWR – Main Line
Piccadilly	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Piccadilly}}	Arlesdale Railway
Victoria	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Victoria}}	NWR – Ffarquhar Branch
Waterloo & City	{{rcr\|London Underground\|Waterloo & City}}	NWR – Peel Godred Branch
Tramlink	`{{rcr\|Tramlink}}`	NWR – 'Little Western'
Docklands Light Railway	`{{rcr\|DLR}}`
London Overground	`{{rcr\|London Overground}}`
Network Rail	black

Fictional Locations

Original page link: Fictional locations in The Railway Series

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 named locations in the world of The Railway Series books. Follow the links for the slightly different perspective of the locations as they appear in the television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

Places in Sodor

Main Article: Island of Sodor

The Island of Sodor is the fictional island in the Irish Sea created by Rev. W. 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 but one of the locations described below are found on the Island of Sodor; the one exception being Barrow Central Railway Station, which is situated in Cumbria on the mainland of England.

Abbey

Abbey station is a halt on the NWR's Peel Godred branch line. It was opened as a private station in 1923 for the benefit of Viscount Harwick (then Chairman of the NWR), and his family, in exchange for the land needed for the railway to run across his estate. The station is a few miles to the north of Cronk and serves a public school and the ruins of Cronk Abbey, together with the nearby village.

The station is normally unstaffed, but extra staff are drafted in at the beginning and end of each term, when special trains are put on for the benefit of pupils from Cronk Abbey School.

Route box: Killdane - (Peel Godred Branch) - Kirk Machan

Arlesburgh

For the television series article, see 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 Railway 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.

(This is a tricky one!)

Arlesburgh West

Route box: Terminus - (Arlesburgh Branch) - Haultraugh

Route box: Arlesburgh Bridge Street - (Arlesdale Railway) - Terminus

Arlesburgh Bridge Street

Route box: Ffarquhar Road - (Arlesdale Railway) - Arlesburgh West

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 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.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Arlesdale Green		Arlesdale Railway The Small Railway		Terminus

Arlesdale Green

Arlesdale Green is a village near Arlesdale village where the former Mid Sodor Railway had its main works and engine sheds.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Marthwaite		Arlesdale Railway The Small Railway		Arlesdale

Ballahoo

For the television series article, see Ballahoo

Ballahoo is most notable for its tunnels 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.

Preceding station		Following station
Terminus	{{{route}}}	Terminus
Vicarstown	{{{route}}}	Terminus
Vicarstown	Northern Rail Ballahoo & Norramby line	Norramby

Ballaswein

The small town or village of Ballaswein, just north of Harwick, is the most northerly settlement on Sodor.

It has no rail connection.

Barrow Central railway station

Barrow Central is the mainland terminus for the North Western Railway and is situated in the mainland town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

The Island of Sodor is connected to mainland "Barrow" via a rail bridge at Vicarstown. Whilst in reality no railway – and therefore no rail bridge – exists on the Isle of Walney (the island that was 'expanded' by Rev. Awdry and renamed Sodor), there is a road bridge connecting "Vickerstown" (on Walney) to the mainland at Barrow Docks.

As well as running trains to Sodor, Barrow Central is also referred to in stories concerning mainline British Rail trains.

Preceding station	National Rail		Following station
	Fictional railways
Terminus		North Western Railway Sodor Main Line	Vicarstown
Terminus		North Western Railway Ballahoo & Norramby line	Vicarstown
Terminus		Northern Rail Ballahoo & Norramby line	Vicarstown

Brendam

For the television series article, see Brendam

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 the Sodor China Clay company. The main source of traffic is china clay, and the waste heaps from the claypits apparently spoil 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, 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.

Route box: Suddery - (Brendam Branch) - Terminus

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 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.

Route box: Maron - (NWR Main Line) - Kildane

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 crashed into a barber's shop.

Route box: Knapford - (NWR Main Line) - Wellsworth

Cros-ny-Cuirn

Cros-ny-Cuirn means "The Ford of the Mountain Ash".

Ivo Hugh lives in a cottage near the station, which is a passing loop on the Skarloey Railway.

Nearby was the incident with George the Steamroller, which is worth recounting in some detail!

Route box: Crovan's Gate - (Skarloey Railway) - Glennock

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'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 railways.

Preceding station		Following station
Vicarstown	North Western Railway Sodor Main Line	Kellsthorpe Road
Ballahoo	North Western Railway Ballahoo & Norramby line	Terminus
Cros-ny-Cuirn	Skarloey Railway	Terminus

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 runs up its southwest side from Kirk Machan.

Culdee Fell Summit station:

Route box: Devil's Back - (Culdee Fell Railway) - Terminus

Devil's Back

The Devil's Back (ancient name Dreeym-y-Deighan) is a bleak ridge on Culdee Fell traversed by the Culdee Fell 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.

Route box: Skarloey Road - (Culdee Fell Railway) - Culdee Fell Summit

Dryaw

For the television series article, see Dryaw

Dryaw is located on Thomas's 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 owned by the Coastguard.

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.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Knapford		North Western Railway Ffarquhar Line		Toryreck

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 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.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Toryreck		North Western Railway Ffarquhar Branch		Hackenbeck

Ffarquhar

Main Article: Ffarquhar

The town of Ffarquhar is the terminus of Thomas's Branch Line.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Hackenbeck		North Western Railway Ffarquhar Branch		Terminus
Goods-only		Ffarquhar Quarry Company Tramway Line		Ffarquhar Quarry

Ffarquhar Road

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Arlesburgh Bridge St.		Arlesdale Railway The Small Railway		Marthwaite

Glennock

Route box: Cros-ny-Cuirn - (Skarloey Railway) - Rheneas

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 became stuck hauling a goods train and Edward had to push from behind. It is a place where a bank 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.

Interestingly, there is a real place in London called Gordon Hill, although it seems likely that this is a coincidence.

Hackenbeck

Hackenbeck is a small hamlet just to the west of Ffarquhar 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.

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.

Hackenbeck originated as a location on the Rev. Awdry's Ffarquhar Branch model railway.

Route box: Elsbridge - (Ffarquhar Branch) - Ffarquhar

Harwick

Harwick is a small fishing port in the far north west of the Island that has a ferry connection to the town of Ramsey 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 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 Viscountcy and Barony of Harwick.

Haultraugh

Haultraugh is a small seaside resort roughly half way 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's duck Dilly made her home.

Route box: Arlesburgh West - (Arlesburgh Branch) - Tidmouth

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.

Route box: Kildane - (NWR Main Line) - Crovan's Gate

Route box: Terminus - (Kirk Ronan Branch) - Rolf's Castle

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 Railway had its eastern terminus here after abandoning plans to have a station in the centre of Peel Godred.

Killdane

Killdane, originally Keeill-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.

Route box: Cronk - (NWR Main Line) - Kellsthorpe Road

Route box: Terminus - (Peel Godred Branch) - Abbey

Kirk Machan

Kirk Machan (pronounced 'Matshan') 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 hermit 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. (The CFR engine Culdee was pictured here being transferred, on return from his overhaul, in the book Mountain Engines).

Route box: Abbey - (Peel Godred Branch) - Peel Godred

Route box: Terminus - (Culdee Fell Railway) - Shiloh

Kirk Ronan

Kirk Ronan, named after the church of St Ronan, was the terminus of the Sodor & Mainland Railway, the first standard gauge railway on the Island. Originally just a fishing port, with the coming of the railway, the town developed considerably.

Route box: Rolf's Castle - (Kirk Ronan Branch) - Terminus

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's main line and Thomas'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 two previous stations at Knapford, both south of the River Els whereas the present one is north of it.

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.

It was at Knapford Harbour station that Percy made his promise to get the Vicar's Sunday School excursion back home safely (Percy the Small Engine: 'Percy's Promise').

The name "Knapford" first appeared on a sketch map drawn by the Rev. 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.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Tidmouth		North Western Railway Sodor Main Line		Crosby
Terminus		North Western Railway Ffarquhar Line		Dryaw

Lakeside

Must check out how this route works!

Route box: Rheneas - (Skarloey Railway) - Skarloey

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. Bank 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.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Wellsworth		North Western Railway Sodor Main line		Cronk

Marthwaite

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Ffarquhar Road		Arlesdale Railway The Small Railway		Arlesdale Green

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 Rail 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's 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.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Ballahoo		North Western Railway Ballahoo & Norramby line		Terminus
Ballahoo		Northern Rail Ballahoo & Norramby line		Terminus

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.

Route box: Kirk Machan - (Peel Godred Branch) - Terminus

Route box: 'Terminus' - (Peel Godred Branch) - goods-only line to Sodor Aluminium Company

Rheneas

Route box: Glennock - (Skarloey Railway) - Skarloey

Route box: Terminus - (Skarloey Railway) - Lakeside

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.

Route box: Kellsthorpe Road - (Kirk Ronan Branch) - Kirk Ronan

Shiloh

Route box: Kirk Machan - (Culdee Fell Railway) - Skarloey Road

Skarloey

Route box: Rheneas - (Skarloey Railway) - Goods only, to Slate Quarry/Ammunition Dump/Uranium Mine

Route box: Rheneas - (Skarloey Railway) - Lakeside

Skarloey Road

Route box: Shiloh - (Culdee Fell Railway) - Devil's Back

Suddery

Despite being just a small town, the "city" of Suddery is, in fact, the capital of Sodor and was at one time the seat of the Bishop of Sodor.

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.

Route box: Wellsworth -(Brendam Branch) - Brendam

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 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.

Route box: Dryaw - (Ffarquhar branch) - Elsbridge

Tidmouth

Main Article: Tidmouth

The borough of Tidmouth is the largest town on Sodor, situated on the River Tid estuary. The headquarters of the North Western Railway are now here.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Terminus		North Western Railway Sodor Main Line		Knapford
Haultraugh		North Western Railway The 'Little Western'		Terminus

Ulfstead

Ulfstead is a small town located almost in the centre of the Island, not far from Ffarquhar. At one time there were plans for the NWR's Ffarquhar Branch to be extended here.

The former Mid Sodor Railway once considered connecting the town 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.

Ulfstead Castle is the seat of the Duke or Earl of Sodor.

Vicarstown

For the television series article, see Vicarstown

Vicarstown is situated on the east coast of Sodor 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.

Vickerstown is actually a town on the Isle of Walney, which Sodor replaces in the Irish Sea – the new name is an obvious choice for a town created by W.V. Awdry, an Anglican priest.

Preceding station		Following station
Barrow Central	North Western Railway Sodor Main Line	Crovan's Gate
Barrow Central	North Western Railway Ballahoo & Norramby line	Ballahoo
Barrow Central	Northern Rail Ballahoo & Norramby line	Ballahoo

Wellsworth

For the television series article, see Wellsworth

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 in the books.

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 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.

Preceding station	Fictional railways			Following station
Crosby		North Western Railway Sodor Main Line		Maron
Terminus		North Western Railway Wellsworth & Suddery line		Suddery

External Links

A site with maps of Sodor including those by Rev. W. Awdry.