Paul_sterling Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) Hi Tom, it is one of those unfortunate things, that in order to make a hobby like ours appeal to non-railway enthusiasts, a lot of stuff is changed (the footage of the NYMR, The great model railway challenge etc), and it usually renders it unwatchable to real enthusiasts. Nevertheless, the Thomas and friends tv series has probably done more good than harm to our fraternity, and preserved railways alike. A definite low low point in the tv series for me was the line “firey Flynn has to rescue Thomas, thomas’ Firebox was on fire”, you know at that point the writers, producers, narrator and anyone else involved know sod all about steam engines..... Edited January 31, 2020 by Paul_sterling 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben B Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 What I rather liked about the Railway Series books , and it's demonstrated in practise by the models you are doing here, is the logic applied to the choices of motive power. Branch line? Couple of tank locomotives. Tramway restrictions for operating? The ex-Wisbech and Upwell designs, Toby and Mavis. Light passenger duties? 0-6-0 and 2-6-0 types. 08 for shunting, single-carriage DMU for off-peak passenger services... A couple of mainline-sized express passenger locomotives for working through-traffic with the mainland. Where the Rev wanted to introduce locomotives he'd seen and was personally fond of (Toby, Bill and Ben) he created logical reasons to have them on the island, or they were fitting to the area like choosing the relatively obscure BoCo as a character, fitting as most of the class were dumped on Barrow in Furness shed to keep them out of the way. The last time I tried to watch the TV series, with the son of a mate from Uni days, it occurred to me that Sodor now probably has a bigger fleet of locomotives than most real-world freight TOC's, and of individual types no less, and either so specialised for the traffic they couldn't do anything else, or vastly unsuitable for anything other than their assigned roles. Sodor must have a lot of stock sat around idle as traffic fluctuates, which rather undermines Sir Topham Hatt's reputation as a canny businessman. Mindyou, a line which has so many accidents and deaths of sentient rolling stock would probably have had Health and Safety and the ORR down on them like a ton of bricks by now anyway 2 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aire Head Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Ben B said: What I rather liked about the Railway Series books , and it's demonstrated in practise by the models you are doing here, is the logic applied to the choices of motive power. Branch line? Couple of tank locomotives. Tramway restrictions for operating? The ex-Wisbech and Upwell designs, Toby and Mavis. Light passenger duties? 0-6-0 and 2-6-0 types. 08 for shunting, single-carriage DMU for off-peak passenger services... A couple of mainline-sized express passenger locomotives for working through-traffic with the mainland. Where the Rev wanted to introduce locomotives he'd seen and was personally fond of (Toby, Bill and Ben) he created logical reasons to have them on the island, or they were fitting to the area like choosing the relatively obscure BoCo as a character, fitting as most of the class were dumped on Barrow in Furness shed to keep them out of the way. The last time I tried to watch the TV series, with the son of a mate from Uni days, it occurred to me that Sodor now probably has a bigger fleet of locomotives than most real-world freight TOC's, and of individual types no less, and either so specialised for the traffic they couldn't do anything else, or vastly unsuitable for anything other than their assigned roles. Sodor must have a lot of stock sat around idle as traffic fluctuates, which rather undermines Sir Topham Hatt's reputation as a canny businessman. Mindyou, a line which has so many accidents and deaths of sentient rolling stock would probably have had Health and Safety and the ORR down on them like a ton of bricks by now anyway I do sometimes think that having a big powerful Pacific in Gordon is slightly excessive as it seems his job can also be done by Henry and occasionally James Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold A Murphy Posted January 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) Pooh pooh, surely you're not implying that they could possibly be as capable, interesting or good looking as me??!? Gordon, BE Edited January 31, 2020 by A Murphy missed coma 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kumata Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 35 minutes ago, Aire Head said: I do sometimes think that having a big powerful Pacific in Gordon is slightly excessive as it seems his job can also be done by Henry and occasionally James It's a little odd that in one of the earliest books (James the Red Engine IIRC) Gordon states that when he isn't there to pull the express they need two engines, this being at a time when Henry and James were already on the island. Indeed in the very first book the express needed both Edward and Henry to pull it. Yet later books seem to contradict this as Henry, James and even Bear are shown to pull the express without major difficulty. A little embellishment on Gordon's part perhaps? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aire Head Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 7 minutes ago, Kumata said: It's a little odd that in one of the earliest books (James the Red Engine IIRC) Gordon states that when he isn't there to pull the express they need two engines, this being at a time when Henry and James were already on the island. Indeed in the very first book the express needed both Edward and Henry to pull it. Yet later books seem to contradict this as Henry, James and even Bear are shown to pull the express without major difficulty. A little embellishment on Gordon's part perhaps? Nah seem too out of character for Gordon to be vain, arrogant and boastful. 1 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted January 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2020 There's an entire site and forum dedicated to it: https://www.sodor-island.com/ I'm sure that everything one wished to query has been discussed to death and beyond on there Also includes the salvaged and re-hosted site of Martin Clutterbuck - 'Real lives of TTTE' https://www.sodor-island.com/the-real-lives-of-thomas Caveat is I think the site is being rebuilt so a lot of 'work in progress'. Also I have a PDF of The Island of Sodor: Its People History and Railways if anyone wants it as it has the answer to nearly every question you want to ask the late Reverend Awdry in it. Drop me a PM if you do. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke123 Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 3 hours ago, Ben B said: The last time I tried to watch the TV series, with the son of a mate from Uni days, it occurred to me that Sodor now probably has a bigger fleet of locomotives than most real-world freight TOC's, and of individual types no less, and either so specialised for the traffic they couldn't do anything else, or vastly unsuitable for anything other than their assigned roles. Sodor must have a lot of stock sat around idle as traffic fluctuates, which rather undermines Sir Topham Hatt's reputation as a canny businessman. Mindyou, a line which has so many accidents and deaths of sentient rolling stock would probably have had Health and Safety and the ORR down on them like a ton of bricks by now anyway I have a running joke with my friend about my loco fleet, every time I go to a model shop I try to buy 'duplicate' class of engine because (and Ii quote my friend Adam!) "it'll start to look like Thomas the Tank engine if all your locos are different classes and liveries!" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke123 Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Kumata said: It's a little odd that in one of the earliest books (James the Red Engine IIRC) Gordon states that when he isn't there to pull the express they need two engines, this being at a time when Henry and James were already on the island. Indeed in the very first book the express needed both Edward and Henry to pull it. Yet later books seem to contradict this as Henry, James and even Bear are shown to pull the express without major difficulty. A little embellishment on Gordon's part perhaps? I always thought it was changes in traffic, as time has gone on STH either put on more services with fewer coaches or there was simply not enough passengers to justify a large rack, so shortened it. Either way it would mean a smaller engine such as James or Henry could mange. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph the L&YR lover Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Kumata said: It's a little odd that in one of the earliest books (James the Red Engine IIRC) Gordon states that when he isn't there to pull the express they need two engines, this being at a time when Henry and James were already on the island. Indeed in the very first book the express needed both Edward and Henry to pull it. Yet later books seem to contradict this as Henry, James and even Bear are shown to pull the express without major difficulty. A little embellishment on Gordon's part perhaps? Henry wouldn't be able to pull the express before getting welsh coal so he could run better and actually do work without running slow all the time. After the kipper accident he was rebuild in the shape and style of a black five which made him a lot more useful. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 Back to Ffarquhar. I love this illustration. Why? For me, it feels real in a way the TV series never has. I can feel the heat from the cinders. The sound of the Drewry engine, the sound of the J70......and the people! They feel real! 7 7 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 Also shows how most of the machinery on the island seems sentient. You can just see the vestige of a face on that blue tractor next to Toby. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kumata Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Tom F said: Back to Ffarquhar. I love this illustration. Why? For me, it feels real in a way the TV series never has. I can feel the heat from the cinders. The sound of the Drewry engine, the sound of the J70......and the people! They feel real! For me that's not so much a strength of the RWS as much as it is this particular illustrator (team), Gunvor and Peter Edwards. Have attached one of my all-time favourites of theirs, it just oozes atmosphere. Spong did a good enough job but he was a step down in my opinion. Edited January 31, 2020 by Kumata 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben B Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 Quote Back to Ffarquhar. I love this illustration. That book, and that section, is probably my favourite from the whole series! I've been wanting to model that bit of line, with the track between two walls and set in mud and grime, for years... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedGemAlchemist Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 2 minutes ago, Kumata said: For me that's not so much a strength of the RWS as much as it is this particular illustrator (team), Guvnor and Peter Edwards. Have attached one of my all-time favourites of theirs, it just oozes atmosphere. Spong did a good enough job but he was a step down in my opinion. Also easily my favourite RWS artists. Here are some favourites: So much emotion, detail and, well, life, to their paintings. 2 4 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedGemAlchemist Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 3 hours ago, Luke123 said: I have a running joke with my friend about my loco fleet, every time I go to a model shop I try to buy 'duplicate' class of engine because (and Ii quote my friend Adam!) "it'll start to look like Thomas the Tank engine if all your locos are different classes and liveries!" All of mine are different classes but at least they're the same set of liveries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben B Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 I love the expressions on the face of Mavis throughout that story, but it's a particular favourite, that one where she's pulling Toby out of the gorge. Her character is very much the stroppy teenage emo girl, thirty/forty years before the concept! 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedGemAlchemist Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 4 minutes ago, Ben B said: I love the expressions on the face of Mavis throughout that story, but it's a particular favourite, that one where she's pulling Toby out of the gorge. Her character is very much the stroppy teenage emo girl, thirty/forty years before the concept! It's also the very relatable expression of relief on Toby's face that gets me in that one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Ben B said: That book, and that section, is probably my favourite from the whole series! I've been wanting to model that bit of line, with the track between two walls and set in mud and grime, for years... I'm looking to include it! Edited January 31, 2020 by Tom F 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted January 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2020 I' m really going to have to re-read the books! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 9 hours ago, AlfaZagato said: Also shows how most of the machinery on the island seems sentient. You can just see the vestige of a face on that blue tractor next to Toby. Well, much of the action in later books was set after the Windscale fire not far away . 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritishGypsum4 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 (edited) On 30/01/2020 at 20:14, Tom F said: You are going to get @BritishGypsum4 all excited with posts like that, Gibbo! I'd love a model of this one to be honest..... https://www.google.com/search?q=LNER+13&rlz=1C1DSGQ_enGB728GB728&sxsrf=ACYBGNSniUim1YFtkCroyt0kgPzIyzy3bQ:1580552911857&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjwnvC2krDnAhXhlFwKHXHqA74Q_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1366&bih=663 I should have been more specific but the NER/LNER No. 13 which only ran about 2,200 miles and was stored until broken up by BR in the 1950s. Shame it never made it to preservation Edited February 1, 2020 by BritishGypsum4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 (edited) 48 minutes ago, BritishGypsum4 said: I'd love a model of this one to be honest..... https://www.google.com/search?q=LNER+13&rlz=1C1DSGQ_enGB728GB728&sxsrf=ACYBGNSniUim1YFtkCroyt0kgPzIyzy3bQ:1580552911857&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjwnvC2krDnAhXhlFwKHXHqA74Q_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1366&bih=663 I should have been more specific but the NER/LNER No. 13 which only ran about 2,200 miles and was stored until broken up by BR in the 1950s. Shame it never made it to preservation Didn't you know, 13 was transferred to an Island off Barrow for working into the mountains! Edited February 1, 2020 by Tom F 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 Thomas will be hopefully secured to his chassis later today. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peach james Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Here I was, thinking James is supposed to be red, and Thomas Blue... Looks really good, James P. (not #5, with wooden brake blocks...) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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