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Roy Plomley's castaway is Thomas the Tank Engine creator Reverend W. Awdry. Published on January 31, 2015.

DIDA: Reverend W. Awdry

The True Beginning of The Extended Railway Series Audio Project - created by fans of The Original Railway Series to continue the story where Wilbert and Christopher Awdry left off.

Our story begins on the Skarloey Railway, where a private owner engine comes to help with a very special extension project.

ERS 42 - The Foreword

Many years ago the Thin Controller decided to extend the Skarloey Railway around the Lake to draw in more visitors. To aid in construction he enlists the help of No.1, a privately-owned shunting engine who hasn't worked for a long while. No.1 gets the perfect chance to stretch his wheels, however, when Rusty needs help with his supplies train.

ERS 42 - Story 01 - Part of the Loop

Work on the loop line is going well, but Sir Handel is unhappy. He's fed up of his heavy supply runs and wants No.1's shunting duties instead, seeing the job of inherently easy. Following an argument with the Foreman, Sir Handel gets his wish - and almost instantly spills his supplies train all over the Yard! How could any engine clear such a complex mess? No.1 shows him how.

ERS 42 - Story 02 - Temporary Inconvenience

As the loop line nears completion, No.1 finds his work is leaving him more tired out than ever. Not wanting to let his Owner down with so little left to be done, he and his Driver resolve to say nothing unless something serious happens. Something serious does happen when No.1 has to take one of Rusty's supply trains all along the line and he runs out of steam halfway along. No.1 is rescued and put in his shed, but come the day of the grand opening, he's still nowhere to be seen...

ERS 42 - Story 03 - Out of Action

Many years later, Duncan is helping to clear the Lakeside Line sidings, which have become old and overgrown. The little engine has been acting worse than ever recently, to the point of having a serious breakdown. Left alone for a long time before being repaired, Duncan is eager to work again and redeem himself. This he does when he clears a mudslide on the hill and discovers an old friend of the Railway buried underneath...

ERS 42 - Story 04 - Redemption

Based on an incident from the Welsh Highland Railway in 1999, the engines on Edward’s Branch Line encounter a rude tractor called Shane, who has come to help deliver apples from the Orchard to Suddery Market with Trevor.  However, his teasing soon comes to an abrupt end when he breaks down on a level crossing, and ends up in BoCo’s way!

ERS 43 - Story 01 - BoCo's Tractor Bang

James is drafted in to help Edward whilst BoCo goes for repairs.  He is most dismayed to find that he will need to do his own shunting whilst he’s working there.  His rough treatment of the trucks from the Other Railway riles them up – they want to get their own back on James.  However, Edward takes pity on him and agrees to take over the goods work – landing himself in the hands of the vengeful trucks who decide to push him along.  However, Edward averts disaster through his own route knowledge and uses a hill to bring them back into line again.

ERS 43 - Story 02 - Edward's Essential Experience

At the China Clay Works, Bill tries to frighten Ben with ghost stories late at night.  Becoming so tired of it, Ben takes the opportunity to spend the night at the Harbour after delivering trucks there.  That night, Bill hears strange rattling noises inside the shed – and now he’s convinced there’s something creepy in there.  However, Ben’s Driver knows it’s only a blockage in the pipes – and after a day of letting Bill fret, he clears the pipe to find a birds nest has fallen down inside.  The twins find a nice new home for the chicks in the Vicarage Orchard and feel better.

ERS 43 - Story 03 - Things That Go Bump in the Shed

Edward’s mind turns to pastures new after his Driver reads an article in a Railway Magazine about a Locomotive Gala in Europe.  But shortly after, when the weather takes a turn for the worse and a tree is about to cause a disaster on the Branch Line, Edward soon realizes the true value of his friends on the Island of Sodor – and knows that there’s nowhere else he’d rather be.

ERS 43 - Story 04 - No Place Like Home

Written by Ryan. Told by Matt Cooper. Music by SudrianAfro. Art by 01Salty.

It's a time of change for the Main Line. The Fat Controller buys a Castle, Henry becomes a film star thanks to Harold, James receives an impromptu coat of paint, and Gordon becomes jealous of Sodor Castle. Will they ever be able to settle their differences and become really useful Express Engines?

ERS 44 - The Foreword

This is another story that came from an issue of Heritage Railway in 1999, taking place on The Jacobite service between Fort William and Mallaig.  To remain faithful to the actual event, this story takes place on the Peel Godred Branch Line – running into the mountains of Sodor.  In the story, Henry is running a special excursion train into the mountains, and being filmed from above by Harold.  However, the Director of the film demands a close-up of Henry as he passes by, and flies in far too close to the train – causing a blowback in the firebox.  This is essentially the same as what happened to the crew and locomotive of that Jacobite service.

ERS 44 - Story 01 - Blowback

This was the first story to feature Sodor Castle.  The Fat Controller decides to expand his Express services and drafts in a new locomotive to help Gordon.  Gordon is somewhat perturbed by his presence, and is clearly troubled by something that the Fat Controller has told him.   Meanwhile, James raises the subject of the standard livery now that the railway has been re-privatized, recalling how dull he found the old ‘standard blue’ from when he first arrived.  However, a forklift accident in the yard leaves him covered in blue house paint – and puts a grin back on Gordon’s face.  But all the same, he’s less than enthused to find that he’ll be doing James’ work whilst he’s at the Works...

ERS 44 - Story 02 - Paint Problems

Gordon’s rivalry with Sodor Castle intensifies as work goes on at the Big Station to lay new track.  The engines are to use a new ‘whistle code’ to let the Signalman know their requirements or intentions.  Gordon turns this to his advantage and tricks Sodor Castle into believing there is an ‘Express Whistle’ – four short blasts to let the Signalman know to clear a road for him.  However, when Sodor Castle uses it, he causes confusion – the Signalman think he’s tried blowing an ‘emergency whistle’ of three blasts.  Gordon tries to brush it off as a slight misunderstanding, but Sodor Castle is by no means convinced and is determined to get his own back...

ERS 44 - Story 03 - Fourth Time Unlucky

After a heated debate over the legacies of speed held by their LNER and GWR brethren, Sodor Castle and Gordon agree to hold ‘time trials’ to see who is fastest.  Sodor Castle puts in a fine performance, but Gordon’s Driver is a little more apprehensive with the big blue engine.  Gordon takes no notice and forges valiantly on, but is soon met with the indignity of suffering a hot box and being taken off the train.  It’s here that he learns why he has been demoted from Express duties and why Sodor Castle has come – Gordon is going to be overhauled and given a new boiler.  The two engines make up their quarrel, and double-head the Express to the Works Station on the day of Gordon’s withdrawal from service.  But despite warming to the newcomer, Gordon knows he’ll always be the best!

ERS 44 - Story 04 - The Express Engines

Suite from the feature film - Thomas and the Magic Railroad

Suite from “Thomas And The Magic Railroad“

After returning from his trip to the Talyllyn Railway, Sir Handel recounts his adventures to fellow members of the Skarloey Railway. 

"Sir Handel Comes Home"

-Written by Christopher Awdry
-Narrated by TheRedEngine

-Original "Thomas" Music by Mike O'Donnell & Junior Campbell
-Re-created by Toby's Windmill (Flouncing Fiddlesticks)

-"Countryside" Sound Effect from the Cinesounds Library
-"Light Rain" from YouTube (Royalty-Free)

"Sir Handel Comes Home" Narration

A revoice of the lyrical version of the ending of Sonic The Hedgehog 2, my favorite Sonic game. Please don't use this without my permission.

Sweet Sweet Dream (Proteus Remix)

So a few months back, whilst I was working on the "Tillie to the Rescue" special, I was looking into various dubs of the D-T-V "Little Engine That Could" special from 1991, and I wound up making QUITE a discovery...
As it turns out, the Croatian dub of this had the ENTIRE DUBBING TRACK, SOUNDS AND ALL on the right channel. I've mostly been using it for sounds (and potential use in the special), so I thought I'd share the OG instrumental of the theme tune of the special (which surprisingly came from the same guy who did the DuckTales theme, Mark Muller!). Enjoy my fellow train lovers!

The Little Engine That Could (1991) © MCA Home Video/Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Nothing Can Stop Us Now(instrumental)

BBC Radio feature about the creator of 'Thomas the Tank Engine' and the books in Famous Railway series. Written and presented by BRIAN SIBLEY, with contributions from Wilbert AWDRY, Margret AWDRY, Christopher AWDRY, Richard Awdry and Britt ALLCROFT. Readings by Alison DRAPER. Produced by John FORREST
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 15 May 1986

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Raymond Daniel Ledesma