The LNER Encyclopedia

Interesting article on the BBC website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13872542

I remember buying a map of Sodor, when I first learned of its location. Long since lost, I'm afraid.

Reading the link, I note Thomas' antecedent as an LBSCR E2. But only the front end has the distinctive running plate kink. There is no corresponding kink at the rear, a fact which I'm told displeased Audrey because it implied differential buffer heights.

Had I been Audrey, I might have been irritated by some other aspects of the illustrations. There are several "continuity errors" in the illustrations, such as the disappearing shed supports in the first story. But the most serious concern Henry. He was the most troubled of the locos on Sodor (at least until his spell at Crewe, after which he was reborn as what I suppose we should call a "Green Five"). Whether cause or effect I don't know, but I'm sure we should attach great significance to the fact that Henry could never decide whether he was a 4-6-0 or a 4-6-2! At least Thomas was consistently wrong.

(I'm sure I know more about the early books on Sodor than is healthy at my age.)

Kudu

I'm sure we should attach great significance to the fact that Henry could never decide whether he was a 4-6-0 or a 4-6-2!

He was always a 4-6-0 although Awdry's initial plans called for a 4-4-2. It's just a case of sloppy artwork due to the illustrator at the time.

Thomas's initial illustrations had him looking similar to an LNER J50. This website has some useful information, if you hadn't seen it yet.

http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/

Too bad many of these stories were never adapted into the TV series, but that is another story.

Fascinating website, haven't visited it for a few years but thanks for the link, lots of pages new to me on there - I like the possibility of the Shildon Electrics being used!

LNER Fan 60008 wrote:

I'm sure we should attach great significance to the fact that Henry could never decide whether he was a 4-6-0 or a 4-6-2!

He was always a 4-6-0 although Awdry's initial plans called for a 4-4-2. It's just a case of sloppy artwork due to the illustrator at the time.

Yes, the sloppy artwork was the subject of my post. Interesting about the Atlantic possibility.

Thanks for the link - I'll take a look.

Kudu

That is an interesting article because for most of my years I have just assumed it was based on the Isle of Wight. Where that idea came from I cant remember, just something told to me many decades ago, and most probably which I completely misunderstood.

I really am finding out new things every day.

There's a map linking Sodor to somewhere on the West Coast in my collection of Thomas stories book, it should be just above Wales.

On a dark desert Island.............

The "Pegnsean" website I linked to earlier has a big page about all the maps of Sodor. Here it is.

http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/mapsection.htm