Small Railway Engines book cover, showing the engines (L to R): Mike, Bert and Rex
(with Duck in the foreground)

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 Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry. Image File history File links RS22. ... Image File history File links RS22. ... // Fiction (from the Latin fingere, to form, create) is the genre of imaginative prose literature, including novels and short stories. ... A map of the Island of Sodor showing the Railway system (click to enlarge). ... Map showing the railways on the fictional Island of Sodor (click to enlarge). ... The Reverend W. V. Awdry OBE (15 June 1911 – 21 March 1997) was a clergyman, railway enthusiast and childrens author, best known as the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine. ... Christopher Awdry (born 1940) is a British author best known for his contributions to The Railway Series of books featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, which was started by his father Rev. ...

It is a miniature railway based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in Cumbria. In the stories, it was originally built to bring waste from the lead mines in the hills to Arlesburgh at the end of Duck's branch line, where it would be distributed to the other railways on Sodor for use as ballast. The line also carries tourists. This article needs cleanup. ... The terminus of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at Dalegarth Station near Boot. ... Cumbria (IPA: ), is a shire county in the extreme North West of England. ... For Pb as an abbreviation, see PB. General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Post-transition metals or poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish gray Standard atomic weight 207. ... Chuquicamata, the largest open pit copper mine in the world, Chile. ... There are many fictional locations in The Railway Series of books by Rev. ... Duck was heavily featured in the Railway Series book Duck and the Diesel Engine. ... A map of the Island of Sodor showing the Railway system (click to enlarge). ... Concrete sleepers laid on Ballast Track ballast, consisting of gravel, cinders or other aggregate, forms the trackbed upon which railway sleepers are laid. ... Tourists on Oahu, Hawaii Tourism is travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes or the provision of services to support this leisure travel. ...

The railway's controller is Mr Fergus Duncan, a dedicated man known as the Small Controller. This nickname is a joke, as he is a very tall man.

The Arlesdale Railway made its first appearance in the book Small Railway Engines, and was the main focus of the book Jock the New Engine. It has also made cameo appearances in Oliver the Western Engine, Duke the Lost Engine and Wilbert the Forest Engine. However, to date the railway has not appeared in the TV series. This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ... This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ... This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ... This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ... This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ... Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (recently shortened to Thomas and Friends) is a childrens television series which was first broadcast in 1984. ...

Route

The line runs from Arlesburgh West (where it meets Duck's branch line) to Arlesdale village, stopping at Arlesburgh Bridge Street, Ffarquhar Road, Marthwaite and Arlesdale Green along the way. It follows part of the route of the old Mid Sodor Railway (aka Duke's old line). At Arlesdale Green it leaves this route and takes a new, southerly course to Arlesdale. There are many fictional locations in The Railway Series of books by Rev. ... There are many fictional locations in The Railway Series of books by Rev. ... Ffarquhar is a fictional town on Thomas The Tank Engine series Thomas is the best known engine at the town the station has only got one platform and 1 single track. ... There are many fictional locations in The Railway Series of books by Rev. ... // The Mid Sodor Railway is a fictional narrow gauge railway on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series of childrens books by the Rev. ... Duke the Lost Engine book cover Duke the Lost Engine is a fictional character from book of the same name in The Railway Series written by Rev. ...

Locomotives

The three original engines of the Arlesdale Railway – Mike, Rex and Bert –  were brought to Sodor from an unspecified railway in England which closed in 1967.

Mike

Mike is a strong, red engine who prefers goods trains to passengers. His temper matches his bright red paint, and he can often be hot-headed.

Mike is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's River Mite, owned by the R&ERPS and built in 1966 by Clarkson's. The terminus of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at Dalegarth Station near Boot. ...

Rex

Rex is a green engine with a sense of humour who enjoys nothing more than teasing Mike. He is a hard worker, but sometimes has problems with traction. The Railway Series by Reverend W.V. Awdry has many characters within its stories. ...

Rex is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's River Esk, built in 1923 in Colchester by Davey, Paxman & Co. The terminus of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at Dalegarth Station near Boot. ...

Bert

Bert is smaller and younger than Mike and Rex, and is the quietest of the engines. He is painted blue. For a long time he had trouble with steaming, but has been rebuilt with a taller chimney and cab which mean that he no longer suffers from shortness of breath. This modification has not appeared in the book illustrations, but is mentioned in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways. This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ...

Bert is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's River Irt, a Heywood locomotive built at Duffield Bank, Derbyshire, in 1894. The terminus of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at Dalegarth Station near Boot. ...

Jock, shunting a lorry trailer at Arlesburgh

Image File history File links RS34. ... Image File history File links RS34. ...

Jock

Jock is the newest steam engine on the railway, and also the strongest. He was almost entirely built at the Arlesdale Railway's works. Having been first mentioned in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, his first actual appearance was in the eponymous book Jock the New Engine - Rev. W Awdry had intended to include the character, but it was left to Christopher to write him in to the stories some years later. Union Pacific Big Boy #4012 at work on a cold November 29, 1941 A steam locomotive is a locomotive powered by steam. ... This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ... This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ...

Jock was very cocky when he was first built, but soon learned the value of teamwork and is now a Really Useful Engine. His name comes from the fact that he is painted in a yellow-green colour resembling the locomotives of the Highland Railway in Scotland. The name was suggested by Douglas, who remembered the Highland Railway from his youth. The Highland Railway was a Scottish railway company which was grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic and Scots1 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... Donald and Douglas Donald and Douglas are characters from The Railway Series by W.V. Awdry and its spinoff TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. ...

Jock is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's Northern Rock, which was built at Ravenglass in 1976. The terminus of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at Dalegarth Station near Boot. ...

Frank

Frank is a diesel engine with a tendency to be grumpy. He sometimes loses his temper, which once caused him to crash into the back wall of the shed. Despite this, he is a hard worker and is sometimes called upon to rescue engines who have broken down. A modern Diesel locomotive. ...

Frank is painted light grey and is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's Perkins, which was constructed in 1984 at Ravenglass, a rebuild of a 1929 Muir-Hill tractor. The terminus of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at Dalegarth Station near Boot. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Blister I & Blister II

Blister I and II are small twin diesels that have not appeared in The Railway Series books, but are mentioned in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways. Map showing the railways on the fictional Island of Sodor (click to enlarge). ... This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ...

Not much is known about them, apart from the fact they have regular engine troubles, and are particularly difficult to start - which is how they got their names. This is based on the trouble experienced with the Muir-Hill Fordson granite tractors that worked at Ravenglass until 1953 on stone traffic.

Blister I and II are painted black, with black and yellow stripes around their faces. They are based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's Lister diesel Cyril. The terminus of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at Dalegarth Station near Boot. ... R A Lister & Company was founded in Dursley in 1867 by Robert Ashton Lister to produce agricultural machinery. ...

Sigrid of Arlesdale

Sigrid of Arlesdale is a diesel working on the Arlesdale Railway who has not appeared in The Railway Series books, but is mentioned in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways. She is painted a two-tone blue livery. Map showing the railways on the fictional Island of Sodor (click to enlarge). ... This list consists all of the Railway Series books by both the Rev. ...

She has however been seen on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway: her real-life counterpart, Shelagh of Eskdale, is now dressed up with a face to represent her at "Day out with Thomas" events, whereas formerly they named her "BoCoBo", after the locomotive's wheel arrangement. Not much is known about her. The terminus of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at Dalegarth Station near Boot. ...

Rolling Stock

The railway has a number of passenger carriages for tourist traffic. The original coaches, which were a mixture of open (roofless) and "semi-open" (open-sided) types, were obtained from the same railway in England as the locomotives. The semi-open coaches have since been replaced with closed saloon carriages built at Arlesburgh Works. All the coaches are painted a deep pink colour.

For ballast traffic, the railway has a fleet of smooth-running bogie hopper wagons. These can be unloaded via a chute into waiting (standard gauge) trucks on the Fat Controller's Railway. The hopper wagons and unloading chute are based on similar designs once used on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, who have provided much co-operation to the line. As railways developed and expanded one of the key issues to be decided was that of the rail gauge (the distance between the two rails of the track) which should be used. ... A map of the Island of Sodor showing the Railway system (click to enlarge). ...

Merchandising

Arlesdale Railway characters have appeared in merchandising lines based on the television series.

Ertl Die-casts

• Jock
• Frank

Take Along Vehicles

• Mike

Wooden Railway

• Mike
• Frank

Sources

• Awdry, Rev. W., Small Railway Engines
• Awdry, Rev. W., Oliver the Western Engine
• Awdry, Rev. W., Duke the Lost Engine
• Awdry, Christopher, Jock the New Engine
• Awdry, Christopher, Wilbert the Forest Engine
• Awdry, Rev. W. and G., The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
• Awdry, Christopher, Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
• Clutterbuck, Martin, The Real Lives of Thomas the Tank Engine
• Sibley, Brian, The Thomas the Tank Engine Man