Over the course of 5 seasons, there were a handful of stories that contained ambiguous or unexplained aspects regarding certain characters. In this video we look at four of them.
Yup and i hate that They started as interesting and unique characters that are hidding in the shadows and in the next season They turned them into boring bully type character
I'd say Arry and Bert are from the other railway and heard of Stepneys escape from all their peers. They're later brought over by Sir Topham Hatt to handle the scrapyard so his Engines don't have to handle the grittier details akin to a gravekeeper. Sir Topham Hatt likely gave them a stern talking to afterwards given they're nowhere near as malicious to the other engines later on, although they do scare Fergus
To be fair, they probably also shaped up when they realized their class was next on the chopping block. A decently large number of Class 08s were preserved or still in service, but the class has gotten long in the tooth and they're slowly being decommissioned over time. The 08 is an early-generation diesel-electric switcher/shunter first produced in 1952. Almost 1000 were built, only 100 or so remain in service or preservation.
My take on the 4 mysteries: 1) I feel sorry for Smudger in a weird way, so I like to think he was restored and bought by another railway. No one wanted to buy Duke, but perhaps they did buy Smudger as there would be less work in maintaining himself. 2) 'Arry and Bert probably worked at the scrapyard that Stepney was rescued from. They may have scrapped some of his class, and were probably angry that another Terrier slipped through the cracks into preservation. 3) Perhaps the story is an exaggerated version of something Skarloey knew about, or maybe an event that happened to him in his past. Since the model in the flashback is a different engine to the shape made by the fireflies, there could be a chance it's entirely made up. 4) No clue about the boulder, but I like being left in the dark about it.
4) the mine was apart of the mid sodor railway until they closed, maybe sir tophamm hat use to work there before he was a controller and knew about the boulder
Given he seems to have been gone just before Falcon arrived in “Bulldog” (year circa 1904), it’s possible he could’ve been moved to a mine to work as a pumping engine a lot sooner than Wilbert’s lore. Personally I had him as a pumping engine at Morgan’s Mine at Great Waterton, which as we all know is flooded. Smudger probably made that happen after he broke down and the pump stopped working.
I would like to think he was possibly re-built as an engine and sent to work at the mines and when the railway closed he was sold off to a railway in Japan you know similar to The Valley Railway Series
The story about the narrow gauge engine falling off the bridge was fleshed out afterwards. I'm not sure who first came up with the story, but it was an excellent fan produced story told like the show would've, except using train simulator instead of models. I saw it on a channel called "WildNorWester" last year and the story arc is called "Adeline the Phantom Engine." It's a part of a larger fan made series that's been going on for many years now. The first part was across multiple seasons called "Sodor: The Early Years" and it's evolved to modern day. So naturally, some years ago it was changed to "Sodor: The Modern Years" and still continues to be made to this day. I would call it the best series bar none and is a wonderful successor to the tv series if you grew up watching it, though these stories do not actually take place in that timeline. It seems to be in the same universe as the railway series books, or at least a universe more similar to that than the tv show. Both are mentioned in the series in a very tasteful way. If anyone has any nostalgia for either the books or classic show it is a must watch (even if the earliest seasons can seem a bit dated).
Personally, I don’t believe Smudger was turned into a generator, or even exists for that matter. Since we only have confirmation of his existence through Duke’s story, I think The Sad Story of Smudger is just that. A story to keep Stewart and Falcon in order. Or not! Just my thoughts.
When I started this video, I was hoping you would mention Boulder. This is an episode that really sticks out in the minds of fans everywhere. So much so, that I read a fantastic story written by a fan that acts as something of a sequel to that story. Here’s a quick summary: The anniversary of Boulder’s first rampage is upon the trains and citizens of Sodor. Sir Topham Hatt feels anxious all day and just before bed he believes he hears Boulder’s deep, rumbling laughter. The next day Boulder does go on a second rampage following an earthquake where his laughter can still be heard and ends up back at the mine. It’s decided that a barrier will be set up all around that part of the island and Boulder will be left all alone forever. The last bit of the story says that as the last piece of the area was blocked off, Boulder’s face changed one last time so it looked like he was crying. It adds to the ambiguity of Boulder possibly being sentient which I really like. The notion of a deep, rumbling, evil laughter which is enough to send Sir Topham Hatt running to bed still sends a shiver down my spine.
"The show didn't get too dark." _Proceeds to start talking about the equivalent of chopping someone's limbs off and somehow harnessing their body heat to heat a shed simply because they had club feet and complained about it all the time_ (Note: the reason Smudger kept derailing and ran rough was because he was built out of gauge tolerance)
Rusty and the boulder - so Indiana Jones visited Sodor? Smudger - who looks surprisingly like Rheneas - is either still quietly rusting away in a forgotten quarry soemwhere, or was remembered, and cut up for a wartime scrap drive. A fair number of abandonned locomotives met that fate, I'm afraid.
Aside from Grandpuff, all these episodes were released in the US on the "Chills and Spill" VHS cassette, and they were undeniably some of the scariest moments of my life. It's a shame TatMR had to come and rip away the whole legacy the creators had built for the series.
@@fanofeverything30465 Right you are sadly. Everything Britt Allcroft gave us the two decades leading up, she and her cohorts took it all away in the space of that hour-and-a-half long circus. No ill-will towards Britt, but clearly she lost sight of what was important to the RWS when she made it.
@@elirosen1391 I honestly wonder if she lost sight of what was important in the RWS when she made Season 5 so crazy (Don't get me wrong I love Season 5 but I don't think Awdry would approve)
@@fanofeverything30465 to some extent yes. But I feel the Rev. W. Awdry would have been forgiving of Season 5 in that most episodes, except for a few, were based upon real occurances. I.e., in the late 19th/early 20th century, an engine fell 200 feet beneath a mine shift, which served as the inspiration for Down The Mine, and possibly for Duncan Gets Spooked.
I've always semi-believed that Smudger was found at the same time Duke was and rebuilt into Duncan. Would explain why he seems to hate Peter Sam and Sir Handel so much. For years they just chugged along past him.
That's a pretty interesting theory that sounds plausible, but I'm not a huge fan of it for one main reason. I like the idea that he's just that way all the time because he woke up in the works one day and decided to be a total douche, no preexisting history or bad blood, he's just awful because he wanted to be 😂
How about this? Smudger looks similar to Rheneas, right? Well, in The Railway Series Rheneas had ANOTHER Mid-Sodor Railway doppelgänger named Jennings, so what if Jennings and Smudger are the same engine?
Here is how it could work. Jennings could have worked alongside Duke, and somehow gained the nickname “Smudger”, and when the Mid-Sodor Railway closed (or sometime beforehand), he could have been bought and restored to working order, he could also eventually be bought by the Skarloey Railway. This would also explain why Rheneas sometimes appears as a background character in some Season 4 episodes, even though he is supposed to be away for repairs.
As a bit of a TTTE nerd, I'd be happy to provide answers. At least for the first 2, the second 2 are much more subjectice. 1. Smudger is a counterpart to a character from the Railway Series, the book series TTTE is based on. His counterpart, Stanley, rode roughly and recklessly, being turned into a pumping engine behind the engine shed so that he could finally be useful. After that, he was moved to a mine to help with keeping water from flooding the mines. As time went on though, he became more and more worn due to lack of maintenance. Then, finally, he broke down, which resulted in the mines flooding. Due to all the other mines on the railway having dried up, the flooding of this last one resulted in the railway closing for good. Afterwards, Stanley was most likely sold for scrap, or abandoned. You can be optimistic and think he was bought but considering he was rundown, it's not likely. Since Smudger is his counterpart, then the same thing happened to him. 2. With Stepney, it's more or less like you said but here's a bit more context: Stepney is a real engine in real life, one who's well over 100 years and still in service on his heritage line (The Bluebell Railway). Arry's remark towards Stepney is more of a reference on how Stepney in real life narrowly escaped scrap. Steam Engines were scrapped en masse around the 60s and were replaced with diesels, which is why in the series there's always conflict between steam and diesel, as diesels were the ones taking all those steam engines to be scrapped and taking their jobs. 3. Most likely Duncan was just imagining the figure, as he was already scared and seeing things. 4. Topham knew that part of the island was mysterious and had been untouched for so long, the events making him realize that it was best to leave it alone. The implication is that the area was somewhat supernatural. Though with the last two, they're from TV exclusive stories, the TV series having more supernatural stuff in it.
Well that explains a lot and could certainly be taken as canon with good reason buuuut since the show deviates from the books and does its own thing often, I still think it's reasonable that not every aspect of it is carried over exactly and there's still room for speculation if you want
this is my au for rusty’s ghost engine. the engines name was warren he was built by the same company as skalroey talylln rheneas and dolgoch and was painted in a black livery with fools lining. warren didn’t care for rules to him they felt like a prison and would break them at any chance he got skalroey rheneas warned him on many occasions that he’d regret his decision but he never listened. one night the old iron bridge that led to quarry was indeed of repairs and warren was told to go slow when ever he crossed but of course as usual he didn’t listen. but one night that was the final straw as he sped across the bride he hit a bad bumped and tipped over the side and fell into the river below. the crew managed to get out of the engine just in time but warren was never seen or here’d from again.
I’ve always chocked it up to ‘Arry and Bert being aware of Stepney and his story, instead of knowing him. They could just be saying that he won’t get away this time around.
Maybe it’s because Duke’s shed was up against a hill, or maybe I’m reading too much into it, but something I’ve always wondered is if Duke’s shed got buried, and Smudger never was moved, was he burried alive, and unlike Duke, had no protection to save him from the elements? Glad that’s how the video started off, because I never see or hear anyone talk about it
This was a great video! I enjoyed it very much. If I may add my own unexplained mystery, I want to know what the canonical deal is with Bertram. Imo he’s the only named vehicle character that we know VERY little about. Also why does he have the title “The Old Warrior”? It’s these unanswered questions that make me like Bertram so much. Sure, he has no personality, lines or anything, but the fact that he was introduced in a mysterious way makes him so much more interesting. But that’s just mi. Sub. Scribed!! 👍
3:00 I like the version in the Valley Rap Series where he's completely restored and sent to Japan. 😊 It's originally written by Nanaki and adapted by GeebMachine. 😊
Victor in the CGI movie blue mountain mystery was said to fell off a ship into the sea so maybe this curse happened to him, which is why he was never mentioned in model series and Luke was still hiding so they were there before the CGI series as well either that, or it’s Luke getting payback
Regarding "Duncan gets spooked", it is possible the original engine was fished out of the water. The Tay Bridge Disaster in 1879 took the lives of up to 75 people. The locomotive, North British no. 224 was fished out of the water, repaired and returned to service. It served for another 40 years and was known to the crew as "The Diver".
Regarding Smudger, the Extended Railway Series fan-made book "Mid Sodor Engines" posited that he was moved from the sheds to one of the last mines around the Second World War in an effort to keep the mine, and thus the railway, running. But when his old age finally catches up with him and he fails, the mine floods and the Mid Sodor finally has no choice but to close.
As a kid, the Boulder episode scared me, as it felt so strange and real with the production design. Same with Duncan getting spooked, but especially Percy's Ghostly Trick. The uncanny valley effect and sounds add to this, even in the non-horror moments like James's face in Buzz Buzz.
There is RWS lore that reveals that Stanley, Smudger's RWS counterpart, was moved to one of the mines to help keep it around as a pumping engine, as it was the only mine operating as the Mid Sodor Railway is losing business. In the end, Stanley broke down and the mine flooded, claiming Stanley in the process. In plain basic, Stanely drowned and caused the Mid Sodor Railway to close down.
Please do more of the where which ones survived you could do the railway series charcthers as well as old slow coach since you forgot her in the other video
The scary thing about about Rusty’s ghost rusty never said his story was not real so as far as we know that firefly engine could have been the ghost engine. Also there is a real life accident that was based on this story about two workmen taking a narrow gauge engine over a old bridge and did fall too their demise
I think the number one biggest mystery here is: Why does favourite not have a “u” in one of your video’s thumbnail and spelling in general? 🤔 Are you American?
I'm Welsh but my brain has been frazzled by consuming media from both sides of the pond and I just kinda pick and choose how I want to spell it on a whim. As long as it's spelled right in at least one of those then it doesn't really matter to me lol
Smudger was originally moved to the mine before it was the mine closed however the pump broke and the mine flooded there is a expansion book I don’t remember the title
