North Western Railway

"Please tell everyone that whatever happens elsewhere, Steam will still be at work here. We shall be glad to welcome all who want to see, and travel behind, real engines."

- The Fat Controller, Enterprising Engines

The North Western Railway (abbreviated as NWR) is The Fat Controller's Railway and was first created in 1914 after a government-funded joining of the Island of Sodor's standard gauge (4'8½") railways. The railways involved were the Sodor &amp; Mainland, the Tidmouth, Knapford &amp; Elsbridge Light, and the Wellsworth &amp; Suddery Railways. In 1948, it became the "North-Western Region of British Railways", but this term was never used as the railway kept its operating independence. With Privatisation in the early 1990s, it officially became the North Western Railway.

The railway's works are at Crovan's Gate.

The railway's motto is "Nil unquam simile", which, translated from Latin, means "There's nothing quite like it!"

Routes

 * The Main Line
 * The Norramby Branch Line
 * The Kirk Ronan Branch Line
 * The Peel Godred Branch Line
 * Edward's Branch Line
 * Thomas' Branch Line
 * The Little Western

In the television series, the railway also has the following lines-
 * Quarry Branch Line
 * Ulfstead Branch Line
 * Toby's Branch Line
 * The Loop Line
 * Stepney's Branch Line
 * The Misty Valley Branch Line
 * The Killdane Branch Line
 * Arlesburgh-Harwick Branch Line

The Fat Controller's Railway
The standard gauge railway on Sodor in the television series is affectionately known as The Fat Controller's Railway. Some merchandising and promotional material has referred to it as Sodor Railways. The Adventure Begins marks the first time the name North Western Railway is stated in the TV series.