I just joined Discord recently and am in the New NWR Crew Lounge group where I have found myself enjoying the ideas talked about so far. I’ve seen some of your ideas brought up in them.
I like to think Class 40 could be Old Stuck Up (40125) when new as his RWS number is fictional. The real 40125's withdrawal in the 1980s could be a result of the Tidmouth crash.
The Norramby branch is run by twin diesel railcars, Derby & Matlock. More about their basis here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_151 BoCo is surprised they recognise him as a Metropolitan Vickers Co-Bo as they met CoBo (D5705) at Matlock goods shed during their trial service on the mainland:-)
The picture of the Class 47 on the train of hopper wagons is based on Hall Lane Junction in Staveley, Derbyshire. The track was lifted here a few years ago after the closure of Markham & Bolsover collieries in the 1990s and the opencast loading point at Oxcroft was cleared in 2007.
I like the idea that CoBo (D5705) joins the NWR; it would be fun to have the 2 Metropolitan Vickers diesels getting their own back on Bill & Ben:-) It would have made sense if the NWR bought some spare parts when BR scrapped the Metrovicks.
Seeing as how the show turned out that means that ironically, Bear, Boco, Duke, Culdee, Derek, Jock, Frank, Wilbert and many others were spared from having their characters ruined. Just imagine how cross people would be if the modern series made an episode of Culdee is being careless and falls off the mountain but instead of dying he starts flying like a rocket by shooting fire out of the mouth of his second face.
due to budgetary constraints, Bear's introductory story, Super Rescue, was not adapted for television. in 2015 sam wilkinson wanted to bring bear to cgi but it didn't happen
In my headcanon BoCo's brother CoBo joins the NWR after a meeting between BoCo and the Norramby diesels (Derby & Matlock) who met CoBo during their trial service on the Matlock line on the mainland. BoCo is surprised that Derby & Matlock recognise him as a Metropolitan Vickers Co-Bo!
Duck wouldn't have met a Hymek (Bear's class) or Warship class (Glory's class) diesel before coming to Sodor as they were introduced after his arrival on Sodor. Oliver may have met them as he was still in BR service in the 1960s though.
I like the idea that 40125 (Old Stuck Up) could be the diesel in Bowled Out as its number was fictional. In real life 40125 was D325 and may have been withdrawn as a result of the Tidmouth crash!
