Ah yes, to quote from Wilbert Awdry 1970s lecture he performed at the talyllyn railway “Topham Hatt from Swindon was put in charge of the work. The distance was now too far for horses but the mining company was unwilling to spend money on locomotion, so Topham Hatt built for them an engine out of spare parts.” “At the first building an old portable engine was married to a wagon chassis, and the drive taken to the wagon axles by reduction gearing. All went well for a few years ‘till the boiler wore out, whereon Topham Hatt substituted the vertical boiler from a ship’s donkey engine, and connected it up to the cylinder as shown. “ I love this story Mike, you pulled out every possible detail from that lecture and turned it into a beautiful story. A.W. Dry being boat builders, Topham being from swindon, and the reasons why this engine was made, to avoid the expensive dredging at knapford, so they expand to tidmouth along the coast line. Just like Mr. Dry I tip my hat to you for making a very detailed and clever story from what was offered nearly 50 years ago. I also like the character of Ethel, I like that she’s a ready to do anything optimist. It makes there dynamic with topham fun. I hope we get one or two stories with these two before moving forward. But i’m getting ahead of my self, remarkable work as always, filling in the gaps before NWRs formation in 1914.
My god Mike. I never thought I’d see it but if The Fat Director had an origin story pre-S&M days, this is exactly what I’d expect. Stellar job as always.
What a strong start! I love pre NWR stories, where Sudrians were much more skeptical of the steam locos than they are today. Amazing lore drops, continuity with the lore, I'm very excited to see what Ethel and a young Topham.
Well this was unexpected. Then again the TTKEL Railway's number one was introduced recently. Overall I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of these stories and the trials and tribulations Ethel will likely have to overcome.
@@Iron_Blood_Enjoyer1933 Yes while this is technically an original character the basis you see here represents what was the original No.1 was for the TKELR.
Didn't expect this so soon after the Extravaganza. Really excited to finally see these given some adaptation. Ethel seems so sweet too, man will 1914 suck.
@@RicardoGaming09 I didn't either, but from what's online: There are three other unused book ideas besides Barry, which only got as far as a manuscript. (Richard Awdry just briefly mentioned they existed, not what they were) Thomas was originally a Jinty, with Edward being either a GWR 1334, a 2P, or a Claud Hamilton. There was never a J50. TK&E 1 is based on the Coed Talon Colliery "Express", aka what Ethel is. Awdry's Percy mk1 model is the "true" version
Well this was a great birthday surprise! I really enjoyed it, like all of your stories your voice is soothing to listen to and I always come back to one of your stories whenever I’m having a hard day or I just want to listen to a good fan made story.
I like what I'm hearing. The Fat Controller in his early days creates a brand new steam engine. I can see Mr Dry and his workers are having some doubts about Ethel.
@@jamesthomas5109 the form you see her in here is based on the engine’s description in the IOS book - she’s a portable engine’s boiler and smokebox, mounted to a wagon chassis and geared up to move!
Hello, Buried Truck. I have a question about this story. Was Ethel as a portable engine sentient, or did she gain sentience as a locomotive? And if she WAS alive as a portable engine, are things like stationary ship boilers alive in their own rights too?
@@theflyingscotsman4472 I like to think she was, which is why she remembers not being able to move on her own. As for whether or not stationary ship boilers are alive, that’s a whole other debate that I haven’t given much consideration to!
@TheBuriedTruck I just realized how perfectly Ethel being female works for this story. You know how most engines in The Railway Series and (For a long time, at least) Thomas and Friends are male, but people often refer to engines as "she" in real life? Why do people call engines "she?" Not just because they seemed to be living creatures; "He" would work just as well for that. If "Set Up Running: The Life of a Pennsylvania Railroad Engineman" by John W. Orrstead is anything to go by, it was because some engineers would tend to their engines with such care that their coworkers would joke that they needed to spend less time washing down their engine and more time with their wives. Yet most engine drivers in Thomas and Friends, at least, seem distant rather than doting. I mean, how many times has a stranded Percy been ditched by his driver and fireman in favor of a warm night at the pub? Just weather the storm with your engine and keep his fire running! Yet Sir Topham Hatt's relationship with Ethel seems something special. Ethel is like a daughter to him, and his fatherly role in her life will prepare him to be a father figure to engines in whose construction he took no part. That is why Ethel being female is perfect. She still makes me smile, by the way. A very heartwarming character.
@@TheBuriedTruck Ah. Well, thanks anyways! Hope someone adapts these stories soon (Although it would mean the extra effort of creating new maps in Trainz). Ethel is such a lovable character, by the way. Her innocent enthusiasm endears her to the audience, and it's a joy to watch it endear her to her human co-workers. Also, seeing young Sir Topham Hatt as a spunky innovator mellowing out into a father figure is a pleasure to witness.
