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Nictrain123 β ''Have you got some bootlaces ready?''
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#1925 #bootlaces #edwin #have #james #ready #scene #some #sprite #you #sodor #awdry #railwayseries #jamestheredengine #therailwayseries #tidmouth #islandofsodor #troublesometrucks #revwawdry #nictrain123 #foolishfreightcars #got #thebigstation #thebluetankengine
Published: 2016-01-29 18:57:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 10294; Favourites: 91; Downloads: 6
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"Here are your trucks, James," said a little tank engine. "Have you got some bootlaces ready?" And he ran off laughing rudely.DISCLAIMER:
I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine or the Railway Series. They are owned by the Awdry Family, HiT Entertainment and Mattel.
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Original human sprites by Zexion
Background: Already forgot... XP
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Comments: 34
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If that tank engine ain't Thomas, then who is he?.
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Where did the blue tank engine come from?
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Perhaps someday if I ever get motivated to.
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And he ran off laughing rudely, never to be seen or heard from again.
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In my RWS universe, I imagine the blue tank engine working on the Kirk Ronan Branch Line. Β Β
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Is this a portrayal of the blue tank engine seen in James The Red Engine that wasn't mentioned by name nor seen again?Β
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Why, yes. Yes it is. 
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I'm thinking of naming him cooper.
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So what do you think happened to him? What do you suppose his backstory was?
Also, do you think you could make a sprite scene of The Workshop Engines, along with Percy? My favorite one amongst the engines in the workshop was the green engine, who apparently resembled Edward, thus I presume was a 4-4-0.Β
I also notice you've added the NWR coat of arms to the engine's cabs.Β
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Well I'm still trying to think of a good idea, but what I have figured out was that he was gifted to the NWR by Sir Nigel Gresley in 1923 along with a few other pre-grouping locomotive designs (8562, 846, Claudia and a J6 0-6-0 tender engine for goods) to help the Fat Director witht eh locomotive crisis they've been having. This N8 will be used at Tidmouth as their station pilot whilst Thomas was still the pilot for Vicarstown. He will leave shortly after James arrives, but I haven't decided how and why as of yet. I'm thinking that he could leave on account of being too expensive to maintain since the superheated N8's had to be converted back into their original forms as they were to costly to run.
Im currently thinking about it, although I may have to make the engines look completely different than they do in the illustrations. I may have the scene set at Hunslet Locomotive Works in 1932, and I have to find suitable prototypes for the other engines that were built around that time period, which could prove to be a bit difficult...
Indeed. I figured that since it seemed in the RWS that the NWR's logo wasn't featured on the engines, that the company owners didn't want Awdry to feature their logo in his books due to copyright issues or something like that, and that in reality, the engines had the NWR coat-of-arms branded on themselves. Since the NWR was a pre-1923 grouping formed railway organization, I thought it would be natural for them to display their logo as a coat-of-arms, instead of the regular initials of their railway's name, NWR.
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who exactly is Claudia?
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That's the sort of research the Reverend would've approved of for a canonical consistency for his stories. 
The engines in the workshops were not necessarily built at the time of Percy's arrival on Sodor, though. According to most sources, Percy was built sometime around 1900, and the engines are presumably secondhand from other builders and railways in the works where Percy came from. Thus, it would be reasonable to believe they'd have 4-4-0s, which the green engine might be, even after that wheel arrangement declined in popularity after the Grouping, besides the Schools Class of the SR, and the Shires of the LNER for example. Besides that, I don't think you can have too many inside cylinder 4-4-0s. The green engine also seems to be in NWR green, so I think he'd fit quite nicely on the NWR.Β
Indeed, considering the NWR was a "pre-grouping" line, it would've made sense for it to have it's own coat of arms which even the smallest of Britain's railways had.
Another thought I've been playing with; I also think it would've been fascinating had Crovan's Gate Works built of few of the NWR's own engines, as opposed to having acquired all of the engines we know and love secondhand from other pre-grouping railways. Or, at least the NWR could've ordered an engine or two new from a mainland builder (North British, Robert Stephenson, Vulcan Foundry), to it's own design and Class (designed by The Fat Controller, who we know designed some engines in his day). And these engines of small number (2 or 3) would be 4-4-0s, designed to be improved upon Edward's design, built before the 1920s when Gordon showed up, thus supplying the NWR with all the passenger-carrying power it needed from there on end. Then, when Edward had his rebuild in 1923, he would've been modified closely to the specifications of the other 4-4-0 engines, allowing for at least of bit of standardization, despite that the NWR has it's engines carry an air of uniqueness in design and livery. Since even the smallest of Britain's pre-grouping railways designed and built it's own engines, and publicized them with pride in contemporary railway publications, and even Engine Driver's cap badges, I thought it would be splendid for the NWR to have done so itself.Β
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I'm sure. I enjoy looking more in-depth into the world of his books and adding a bit of my own ideas in order to tie up some loose ends.
Looking at the verse said in "Trouble in the Shed" upon the introduction of Percy, and I quote:
"He went to an Engine Workshop, Β and they showed him all sorts of Tank Engines. Therre were big ones, and little ones; some looked happy, and some sad, and some looked at him anxiously, hoping he would choose them.
So that would narrow down my search somewhat. Even though the illustration shows the engines differently than what is described of them, I will follow what Awdry wrote for accuracy. Can't really trust Dalby for his illustrations anyhow. 
From what me and my friend, who is a fellow serious RWS researcher, looked up, we concluded that Percy could've well been built around 1899-1901 by Avonside, to the design of 1340 "Trojan" and classmate 1341 "Alexandra," with a longer wheelbase. Whether or not he was fixed with a bunker for longer distance is questionable, but the early illustrations show his bunker as a Swindon design, whilst late (Gunvor/Spong) illustrations show him with a Hunslet-style bunker and cab.
Also, it is said that he has a number of Hunslet parts fitted to him, so I would figure at one point in his pre-NWR career, either he was overhauled and rebuilt by Hunslet by order of his owner, or else given unbuilt to Hunslet and finished up at their works. By the time the Fat Controller purchased him, it would be about 1931-1935 (I would personally set the date at '32 circa) and he would be used at the works as a shunter until he found a proper buyer, of course this would be the NWR. I figure the illustration takes place inside the Hunslet workshops at Leeds, so it would require for me to show Hunslet-built engines around that time period. At least 4 to take the place of the other engines as seen in the illustrations, but must be all tank engines. After all, that's what the Fat Controller was planning to buy anyway, so....
Yeah, but I would prefer to think the Fat Controller got all of his engines from the companies they were built from as Awdry said they were, like Thomas coming from Brighton, Henry 1 from Derby and later Crewe when rebuilt into a 5MT, Gordon from Doncaster and so on... I don't think Crovan's Gate would be capable of repairing or manufacturing engines at least till sometime after World War II. The closest place capable for manufacturing locomotives on Sodor, I figure, would be the Vickers shipyards at Barrow, which have immediate access to ironworks built around the ship port. And since the Coffeepots were all built at Tidmouth, I figure they too would have a suitable sized ironworks and shipyard to contract the construction of little vertical boiler 0-4-0 locomotives, it being the largest and busiest port on the island, so why not? The shipyards at Barrow were no strangers to modifying or perhaps even making locomotives I'm sure; I've heard of Coppernobb and even Flying Scotsman making their way there, getting overhauls during their time there and afterwards were said to be running just as good as a sewing machine!
And yeah, I agree with you there... I would imagine the NWR would like to broadcast itself in bright, beautiful colors to attract the interest of the Sudrians along with the mainlanders, to give them a bright, colorful spirit which would be needed to lift the people out of the post-war period into a new age of glamour and luxury with rail travel.
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Awdry of course said Tank Engines, but did he say the workshop didn'tΒ have Tender Engines?
As for Crovan's Gate, I do believe its could be perfectly reasonable for the NWR to have built it's own engines (maybe Awdry would've never mentioned them for the same reason we're never told about the Other Mid Sodor Railway Engines, or the Wellsworth & Suddery Tank Engines, etc.) for the map of Sodor for The complete Collection does state "Engines are Made and Repaired at Crovan's Gate", and the map does not state what year on Sodor it represents. The formation of the NWR was government-funded, thus who says they weren't supplied with funds to create a self-sufficient enough works?Β
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I suppose you're right, but I'll have to figure out if Hunslet built any tender engines circa 1932, which would make my research a bit more difficult.... Oh well, I'm sure I'll find something...
I suppose, but if that were the case then I would suspect they would've been able to take care of Gordon and Henry's overhauls just fine when they were in need of it in the 1930's, thus preventing the need to go on the long trip all the way to Crewe and be overhauled there...
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The Reverend himself decided on the real-life counterparts for all of his engines merely for a consistency the artists at the time lacked, and I'm beginning to believe you're endowed with that skill as well.
Well, perhaps they wouldn't have had the necessary patterns and jigs for overhauls all large as what Gordon's and Henry's needed. (Gordon had to have his Gresley, three-cylinder, valve gear removed, and have a new, Stanier one custom fit, and a new running plate, and if what you think is true, Henry would have had all his parts melted down, then re-cast into new ones altogether.(!)) TFC was owed a favor by Stanier, and got the overhaul on the cheap. I believe Crovan's Gate would be able to build engines as large as a 4-4-0.
I personally imagine, if the NWR could've built its own engines to its own designs, then it would be on a scale smaller than the likes of what, say, the North Staffordshire or the Midland & Great Northern railway did. And, in my imagination of what would've been likely for the NWR, they would've settled for the inside cylinder 4-4-0 (slightly modified and improved upon from Edward's '23 rebuilt form), since around 1914, most railways were building bigger engines, and that wheel arrangement would've suited all of the needs for the NWR's traffic (The Great North of Scotland Railway built 4-4-0s for both passengers and goods well up to 1920), and Gordon's arrival finalized all passenger service needs what with his run to the Mainland, until Pip and Emma had him dismissed from this run in 2010.
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Yeah, I try to go along with what Awdry says and pictures in the RWS/TiOS the best I can, whilst trying to also be as realistic and accurate to the original prototypes as close as possible.
Yeah, you got a point there... Well, anything's possible I reckon. Perhaps that what Awdry was thinking before he decided to base the engines off of real-life prototypes, he did originally intend to have Edward, Gordon and Henry working on separate railways before bringing them all together in the fourth book by request of the publishers.
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Do you have any association with Sodor Island Forums, or the TTTE wiki? If not, you'd certainly gain much attention and respect with your exquisitely accurate and realistically interpreted drawings and background information of the NWR's engines. I know of no such work so dedicated that Awdry himself would approve of nowhere else. Do you make these entirely from scratch, or do you find dimension sheets of the prototype engines?Β
The Great North of Scotland Railway also built only a number of ten engines in its own works during its pre-grouping life. It was the smallest of Scotland's railways, thus it wouldn't be unknown for a railway as small as the NWR to build its own engines to at least an extent half that number. Perhaps Crovan's Gate would only be capable of repairs and repaints when TFD was desperate for a locomotive and acquired Henry Mk1, and borrowed the Midland Railway engines, and then the NWR would've received perhaps an additional governmental grant, and wisely chose to spend it on engines, first buying one from a builder (North British), and then following the example to build its own engines at Crovan's Gate, as real railways tended to have the first one made by an outside contractor for locomotive building. The engines would be inside cylinder 4-4-0s, and designed by TFD, who was heavily inspired by the GNSR class V, which was built before the NWR became in 1914. Then, when Edward was rebuilt in 1923, he would be modified to share more common dimensions and components with these other 4-4-0s, which would still be a bit more modern and powerful than him (and could also be interpreted as some of the unnamed engines that made fun of him in Edward's Day Out, given knowledge of the prototypes are scant). Curiously, according to a Japanese website, Edward is thought to be based off of a GNSR Class F 4-4-0 (maybe because of the language barrier they were unaware of The Real Lives of Thomas the Tank Engine), and the resemblance is alarmingly strong, and would fool anyone to my mind.Β www.medicalart.co.jp/mokei/imaβ¦ And perhaps these engines would've been assigned to run the little-known Peel Godred branch line before it was electrified, thus an explanation of their obscurity to some extent.Β
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Unfortanatly, no, but they are a big help with information and resources that I need for my sprites. It depends on how many resources are avaliable for the engine that I want to sprite. With most engines I've sprited,Β I would only have a drive wheel diameter for size reference or a cylinder bore and stroke, but I do use a size dimension scale or blueprints/diagrams with photos for reference if available.
Interesting to know, I'll have to look into it if I get the chance to.
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I recently read on the TTTE wikia, that according to The Island of Sodor: It's People, History and Railways, no less, the North Western has at least a total of 80 locomotives, the vast majority being undocumented in The Railway Series! This means, in my opinion, that it wouldn't be unreasonable to believe that the NWR built its own engines at Crovan's Gate, as clearly since TFD was in a desperate situation to obtain engines when Henry came along, there were probably few occasions where a generous surplus of locomotives was available for purchase, in order for the NWR to have a number more than 80.Β
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Perhaps.. I'm starting to think that the Works may have indeed been capable of building their own engines since I've read in "The Thomas the Tank Engine Man" that they built custom square buffers for both Gordon and Henry as early as 1923, and of course would need to build other spare parts and boilers in case the engines need service or an overhaul, and if they could do more than that, then who knows?
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Yes, I agree that they would have. I doubt that the NWR could have had 80 engines, if all of them were bought second-hand, considering that TFD had to buy Henry from a disreputable and unknown seller, who gave him a White Elephant. Plus, I love to entertain the thought that the NWR designed and built its own engines in the same sense that other mainland pre-grouping railways did with pride.Β
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Mind if I ask, what class of that Tank Engine in that picture?
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That would be a W.Worsdell NER Class N/LNER Class N8 0-6-2 tank engine. He was the station pilot at Tidmouth in the early 1920's, whilst Thomas was pilot for Vicarstown.
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what about to him after that
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It is rumored he may have gone down one of the branchlines or moved to Barrow after the agreement was made between the NWR and LMS in 1925.
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ok was he scraped
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Perhaps. Like I said, they are just rumors. We don't know the full story as of yet. It will require more research till we find the truth...
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In Toby the Tram Engine, a similar looking blue tank engine appears to be pulling the Breakdown Train after James collided with some tar tankers It is unknown whether or not this is Thomas or the same engine.
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I really like that model you've depicted. Brilliant. I prefer the LT&SR 69 Class for him though. Either one would do splendidly though.
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Nobody's gonna let James catch a break from his first follies like his bootlace fail.
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