Maithwaite/Behind the Scenes

Television Series
Maithwaite is a fictional town north-east of the Island of Sodor, created by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton. It serves as a station and small hamlet on the Thomas' Branch Line.

The station first appeared in the fifth series episode Baa!, which first aired in 1998. Its last appearance was in twenty-fourth series episode A New Arrival, which was released in 2020.

Gauge 1 model
Maithwaite was first modelled in the fifth series of the television series.

Maithwaite station and its surroundings have undergone numerous changes throughout the model series:
 * Series 5:
 * There was only one track going past the platform.
 * Series 6:
 * The track became double-lined, the water and coaling siding disappeared.
 * The station building had an overhang. This is most likely because the station building for Killaban used in Thomas and the Magic Railroad was repainted.
 * Series 7:
 * The overhanging canopy is removed.

The architecture of Maithwaite was based off of Angerton railway station.

Close-up model
Close-up models of some areas of Maithwaite station were built to be used for scenes involving the close-up scale figures.

CGI model
In 2009, the series introduced Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) as a replacement for the show's long-standing live-action models. Maithwaite was recreated from scratch in CGI by Nitrogen Studios for the 2009 film, Hero of the Rails. The model was "hand-sculpted" in Maya, a 3D animation and modelling software.

According to Greg Tiernan, the CGI models are subjected to many rounds of review before they are submitted to HiT Entertainment for final input and approval.

Maithwaite has had modifications throughout the CGI era. These include:
 * Hero of the Rails:
 * The station became a dark brown colour.
 * A poster of Emily at Black Loch from the eighth series episode, Emily's New Route is seen on the side of the station. There is also a poster of the Fishing Village near the front door.
 * Series 13 (excluding Tickled Pink and Double Trouble):
 * It returned to its original beige colour.
 * Series 18:
 * The sign on the station platform (to the right-hand side of the station building) moved to the left-hand side of the station.
 * The road leading to the station became dirt.
 * The Great Race:
 * Signals were added just outside the station.