Other Mid Sodor Railway Engines

"Other engines came and went, but Duke outlasted them all."

- The Narrator Several other engines worked alongside Duke, Stanley, Falcon and Stuart on the former Mid Sodor Railway. By 1936, the Mid Sodor had six locomotives (excluding Stanley), three of which (Albert, Jim and Tim) were sold off that year to keep the company's head above water, leaving only Duke, Falcon and Stuart to run the line.

Although these engines never appeared in any of The Railway Series stories, they appeared on the Reverend W. Awdry's model layouts of the Mid Sodor Railway. Though their existence was implied, they were never mentioned by name. Some of these engines were on display at the Reverend Teddy Boston's Cadeby Light Railway before the railway finally closed in 2005.

In the television series, Skarloey, Rheneas and Duncan made various cameo appearances on the Mid Sodor Railway as though they were depicted as the other engines working alongside Duke, Falcon, Stuart and Smudger.

Albert
Albert was a maroon narrow gauge tank engine who worked on the Mid Sodor Railway until 1936.

The Railway Series
Little is known about Albert's origins, however he was at some point acquired by the Mid Sodor Railway and given the number 5. According to Awdry's scrapbook, Albert pulled a passenger service named "The Parliamentary". In 1936, he was sold off alongside Jim and Tim in order to keep the railway's head above water.

Basis
Awdry had a number of models of Albert, all bearing slight differences from each other.

The first model of Albert was built from a Minitrains Baldwin 0-4-0ST. Alfred was also made using this model. A spare twin of Albert Mk2 was later made using a Minitrains Baldwin 0-4-0ST, in case the regular model broke down.

In 1974, Awdry wished to update the layout to more closely match the Mid Sodor Railway as depicted in Duke the Lost Engine, and thus Albert had to lose his American look. The second model of Albert was based on the Corris Railway's Hughes Falcon locomotives, albeit with Tramway skirts. Initially, this model was given an 0-4-0ST wheel arrangement, however it was later turned into a spare model with an 0-6-0 chassis and new sideplates sourced from a GEM Vari-kit type B.

The third and final model of Albert was built from a GEM Vari-kit type B, which was also used to build Tim.

Livery
The first model of Albert was painted red with gold domes. His name was painted on the sides of his saddle tank and a number 3 was applied to his cab sides.

The second model of Albert was initially painted in a deep maroon livery. He retained the name and number on his saddle tank and bunker respectively, however the number was now updated from 3 to 5, as Falcon had by this point taken the number 3. The spare Baldwin 0-4-0ST made as a backup was painted in a similar maroon livery, with black wheels, a gold dome and a copper-capped chimney.

The second model was later repainted a sky blue similar to Falcon, albeit with red wheels and black sideplates, this time lacking the name and number, which were given to the final model of Albert.

Albert's final model is painted a deep maroon similar to the original Mk2 model, with red wheels and a gold dome. His name and number 5 are painted in gold on his side tanks and cab respectively.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion volumes
Television Series=
 * 1976 - Railways of Sodor
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Thomas & Friends
Other Media=
 * Series 4 - Granpuff

Books

 * 1996 - Granpuff

Trivia

 * Albert Mark III was featured in a 1984 episode of the Anglia Television series Bygones, in a brief segment focusing on Wilbert Awdry and his layout.

Jim
Jim was a green narrow gauge tank engine who worked on the Mid Sodor Railway until 1936.

The Railway Series
Jim worked on the Mid Sodor Railway and was given the number 6. According to Awdry's scrapbook, Jim pulled "the Horse and Cart" (the railway's goods train) and occasionally did mineral traffic.

Jim was one of three engines to be sold in 1936 due to the railway's financial burdens. It is unknown what his fate was after his selling.

Basis
Jim's model was built by the Rev. W. Awdry from an OO9 scale Gem Vari-kit type A. The Gem Vari-kits are freelance designs.

Livery
Jim was painted green with a bronze dome and a black footplate. His name was painted in yellow on the sides of his tanks and his number was also painted yellow on each side of his cab.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion volumes
Television Series=
 * 1976 - Railways of Sodor
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Thomas & Friends
Other Media=
 * Series 4 - Granpuff

Books

 * 1996 - Granpuff

Tim
Tim was a black narrow gauge tank engine fitted with side-plates who worked on the Mid Sodor Railway until 1936.

The Railway Series
Tim was purchased by the Mid Sodor Railway as a tram engine for passenger duties and was the railway's number 7. In one of Awdry's scrapbooks, it is noted that Tim pulled workman's trains to Cas-ny-Hawin.

Tim was one of three engines sold off in 1936 to keep the railway's head above water, alongside Albert and Jim.

Basis
Tim's model was built by Awdry to be a generic tram locomotive, from a OO9 scale Gem Vari-kit type B, the same type used to build Albert Mk3. The Gem Vari-kits are freelance designs.

Livery
Tim was painted black with a brass dome. His name was painted in yellow on the sides of his tanks and his number was also painted yellow on each side of his cab.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion volumes
Television Series=
 * 1976 - Railways of Sodor
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Thomas & Friends
Other Media=
 * Series 4 - Granpuff

Books

 * 1996 - Granpuff

Trivia

 * It has been theorised that Tim may have originated from the Arlesdale Tramway, as the route of the old tramway eventually became part of the Mid Sodor Railway.

The Mine Engine
The Mine Engine was a cabless narrow gauge pannier tank engine who worked at Cas-ny-Hawin mine.

The Railway Series
The mine engine was built at Decauville, in France circa 1899. It was later shipped to Sodor to work at Cas-ny-Hawin mines on the Mid Sodor Railway.

No information was given about the fates of the engine when the mine and railway were later closed. It can be assumed that it was either scrapped or sold.

Basis
The Mine Engine's models were built by the Rev. W. Awdry to OO9 scale. They were created from Jouef models of the Decauville Type 1 0-4-0PT locomotives, with the cab removed. On the second model, the funnel was also shortened.

Livery
The Mine Engine was painted light brown with bronze domes. An early model currently preserved at the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Tywyn also featured the number 9 on one side in gold. It was originally painted green.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion volumes
Television Series=
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Thomas & Friends
Other Media=
 * Series 4 - Granpuff

Books

 * 1996 - Granpuff

Trivia

 * The model Awdry used for the Mine Engine was prone to motor burnouts.
 * Although the original model was numbered 9, the second model featured no number at all and was not included as one of the six engines owned by the Mid Sodor Railway in 1936. Presumably, this means that the engine was privately owned by the Cas-ny-Hawin Mining Company.

Alfred
Alfred was an American narrow gauge saddle tank engine.

Basis
Alfred's model was built by Awdry from an AHM Minitrains Baldwin 0-4-0ST. Albert Mk1 was also made using this model.

Livery
It is unknown what colour Alfred was painted, however surviving photographs indicate he had gold domes. His name and number were painted on his saddle tank and cab side respectively.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion volumes
Television Series=
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Thomas & Friends
Other Media=
 * Series 4 - Granpuff

Books

 * 1996 - Granpuff

Trivia

 * Like Atlas, Alfred only appeared on the first and second versions of Awdry's Mid Sodor Railway layout and were not part of its operating sequence. The two would be used as spares until Gerry and Jennings were made redundant, and thus they were removed from the layout entirely. It is unknown what happened to their models afterwards.

Gerry
Gerry was a narrow gauge tank engine.

The Railway Series
Gerry was designed by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. and built at Caledonia Works circa 1919. He was later purchased by the Mid Sodor Railway.

Basis
Gerry’s model was built by Awdry from am OO9 scale Peco "Jeanette" kit. The model itself is of a freelance design. However, the kit has a resemblance to the narrow gauge locomotive named "Doll". "Doll" and its older sister "Gertrude" are preserved. After becoming a spare model alongside Jennings to replace Alfred and Atlas, Gerry's middle wheels were removed, making him an 0-4-0.

Livery
Gerry was painted green with a bronze dome, red wheels and a black footplate. He originally had his name and the number 5 painted on his side tanks and cab respectively, however these were removed when Awdry made him into a spare model and gave the number instead to Albert.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion volumes
Television Series=
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Thomas & Friends
Other Media=
 * Series 4 - Granpuff

Books

 * 1996 - Granpuff

John
John was a narrow gauge saddle tank engine.

Basis
John's model was created using a Peco James kit on an 0-4-0 chassis. The kit is based off of no engine in particular, however bears a notable resemblance to 0-4-0STs produced by Bagnall, one of which named Pixie was owned by Teddy Boston

Livery
John was painted the same light blue livery as Jennings and wore his name and the number 6 on his saddle tank and cab sides respectively.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion volumes
Television Series=
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Thomas & Friends
Other Media=
 * Series 4 - Granpuff

Books

 * 1996 - Granpuff

Trivia

 * John's model was later dismantled and the chassis reused for Stuart.

Jennings
Jennings was a narrow gauge well tank engine.

The Railway Series
Jennings was designed by Henry A. Fletcher and built at Fletcher, Jennings & Co. circa 1866. He was later purchased by the Mid Sodor Railway.

No information was given about his fate once the railway closed due to bankruptcy. It can be assumed that he was either scrapped or sold.

Basis
Jennings' model was built by Awdry from a OO9 scale Peco James kit and modified into an 0-4-0WT. The result strongly resembles Dolgoch, the basis of Rheneas and Smudger.

Livery
Originally, Jennings was painted the same light blue livery as John and wore the number 7 on his cab. Jennings was later repainted red with a brass dome and a black footplate to become a spare model along with Gerry, replacing Alfred and Atlas.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion volumes
Television Series=
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Thomas & Friends
Other Media=
 * Series 4 - Granpuff

Books

 * 1996 - Granpuff

Trivia

 * Jennings' model was originally used for Rheneas.

Atlas
Atlas was an American-influenced narrow gauge saddle tank engine.

Basis
Atlas' model was built by Awdry using the saddle tank, boiler, funnel and domes of a Minitrains Baldwin (the same type used to build Albert Mk1 and Alfred) along with a spare cab and an Atlas 0-6-0 chassis.

Livery
It is unknown what colour Atlas was painted, however surviving photographs indicate he had gold domes. His name and number were painted on the sides of his cab.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion volumes
Television Series=
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Thomas & Friends
Other Media=
 * Series 4 - Granpuff

Books

 * 1996 - Granpuff

Trivia

 * Like Alfred, Atlas only appeared on the first and second versions of Awdry's Mid Sodor Railway layout and were not part of its operating sequence. The two would be used as spares until Gerry and Jennings were made redundant, and thus they were removed from the layout entirely. It is unknown what happened to their models afterwards.
 * Atlas' name originates from the manufacturers of his model's chassis.