Well it’s been recently confirmed that 5. Albert 6. Jim and 7. Tim we’re on the Mid Sodor by around the early 1900s (assuming they only arrived just shortly after Falcon) but that still leaves us to wonder what the Mid Sodor’s original 2 3 and 4 would’ve been before Stanley Falcon and Stuart. We know there were engines on the former Arlesdale Tramway, and an engine who Falcon came to replace that was scrapped whose backstory we don’t know. Maybe if possible there would’ve been at least three engines on the former Arlesdale Tramway. With the MSR being formed later and Duke arriving becoming the #1 they could’ve been renumbered 2-4 into the Mid Sodor numbering system coming after him. Afterwards, the original #3 would then be replaced and scrapped by Falcon with the original #s 2 and 4 also being out sometime by at least 1920 Stanley and Stuart would come in to replace them. With how things seem, The Mine Engine likely was privately owned by the Cas-ny-Hawin Mine being around by at least 1899. By the early 1930s either they could’ve been sold like Albert Jim and Tim or maybe while working at the mine they could’ve broken down from being worn out and rather than bothering to repair them, the CNH Mine Owner could’ve just left them there out of use unrepaired and the Mid Sodor itself not being able to do anything. Then after the mine’s flooding and closure, they could’ve just been left abandoned at the mine along with Stanley with Duke Falcon and Stuart not being able to go to the mine afterwards unaware of their fates.
As stated in the bottom left, this was provided to me by a chap called Lawrence Robbins - he goes by @lawrenceofthe on Twitter/X. That's him on the right in the picture with Wilbert, he was a member of The Model Railway Club in London of which Wilbert was also a member - and was there when he brought the Mid Sodor layout along.
I think the only problem with John being a Bagnall saddle tank is that, from what I have seen, they always lacked running plates above the wheels which John appears to have. So in that case I think he more closely resembles an engine built by Peckett similar to Gamecock. The only problem then is the forward bunker however this could have been added on to the design due to the distance it would have to travel on the MSR.
If the kit had a bigger boiler I'd 100% agree, the skinnier boiler is what put me in the mind of locos like Doll so I never really appreciated how close the smokebox, tanks and cab are to Caledonia. Certainly a good candidate for a "Real" version of the loco.
I presume other engines who came and went include Andreas and Bertram. In virginiacreeperailproduction's videos, the two mine engines are Alfred and Atlas. I presume both Smudger and Stanley got scrapped after the Mid Sodor Railway's demise. There were the Arlesdale Tramway engines too. Besides Tim, at least four other engines operated on the line.
The impact Luke's efforts have had on me since I first saw the video has been profound creative-wise for me. Since it came about, I was motivated to expand on the information Awdry left to create a definitive locomotive roster for the Mid Sodor line. This has ended up evolving considerably into a complete story saga that expands on the railway, and forms part of my "Thomas & Friends: Old & New" project, which I submitted to Mattel in late Sept. 2023. To help base ideas going into what I aptly call 'The Mid Sodor Chronicles', I searched up 'Festipedia', the Ffestiniog Railway's wiki site, which lists recorded information of their engines, and their operation and maintenance histories. Together with creative license, I ascertained where I was going with the characters concerned beyond what we already know. Here is a fine draft of the profiles I devised. - No. 1 'The Duke' - Erected at Boston Lodge Works (Ffestiniog Railway) between 1877-79. Was proposed to be called 'George England' before the decision was made to honour the Norramby family, since His Grace had paid toward the construction under license; Duke respected this. Rebuilt into his present shape in 1893-94 at Boston Lodge after a solid decade of hard work wore down his first boiler. Overhauled with new inner firebox in 1921. Boiler declared life-expired a decade later, just as the Skarloey Railway had planned Duke's 100 Year Gala. A new welded boiler was manufactured at Crovan's Gate during his overhaul in 1981-82, bringing Duke back to full health once again. - No. 3 'Falcon' and No. 4 the 1st 'Faline' and the 2nd 'Stuart' - Twins Falcon and Faline were first delivered as a pair in 1881 to answer a need for suitable backup power, but their tendency to buck on the track due to not having trailing wheels put pressure on their morality. Faline had a runaway accident in January 1885 (similar to an actual incident in Ireland in 1943) which saw her gain an early rebuild, and a more generous respect for her peers, followed by Falcon. In 1904 Falcon returned to the builders for a replacement boiler and new frames; they were found to date from that time when he was under repair on the Skarloey Railway. He has since been rebuilt again with a new cab outline. Faline was sidelined in late 1919 in need of heavy boiler work, and Stuart was brought in as a spare assuming her number. As Sir Handel, Falcon was the first to receive a new welded boiler at Crovan's Gate Works, shortly after Duke's initial return to service. - Nos, 5-7 - I ret-conned No. 5 from being called Albert on the grounds that: 1 - Awdry's material states that there was a general pattern of naming engines on the Mid Sodor after their builders, and 2 - It's more inventive that the Mid Sodor as an independent railway accepted female engines. I came up with the concept that Alyssa was named for her builders Sharp Stewart & Co. at their Atlas Works. A fun-lover but sweet in nature, her unassuming charm was reflected in her two divisive brothers who followed. I devised their design origin story, calling them the 'Alba' Class after the rose of the same name. They were joined by a sister engine, No. 8 'Kim', a vulnerable but game sort. They were well-liked by their crews, but also worked continuousky. 'Kim' along with 'Alyssa' and 'Tim' were stored when the 1929 Stock Market Crash hit, and these were the engines listed as up for sale in 1936. Jim was a very last minute inclusion in the auctioning. - No. 2 "Stanley" - In addition to pushing out the rails, he was known to tip over more than once, caused by the arrangement that his water-feedi system and wide water tanks; an issue already common to his type when working on the trench railways on the Western Front. Apparently, according to certain witnesses, he also talked in a high-toned voice. His ultimate fate was inflicted by a crippled frame following a serious derailment. Regards, Samuel Farris.
Just wanting some clarity: Jennings was created for Mk2 layout? Therefore there wasn't any No. 7 locomotive for the Mk1 layout, but Atlas (regardless if he was a spare engine) was numbered No. 8 during Mk1?
I feel like the “engines came and went” was probably inspired by Awdry’s fluidity with the engines on the layout. That just sounds like an awdry thing to do
