The Brendam Branch Line, commonly known as Edward's Branch Line, runs from Wellsworth along a peninsula to Brendam. BoCo and occasionally Donald and Douglas assist in running the line. Thomas also worked on the branch line while a bridge was being repaired on his own branch line. Like in The Railway Series, the bigger engines were forbidden to travel along the line due to the weaker rail construction, however Gordon was once switched onto the branch line with the express by accident. But after that point, bigger engines were seen often traveling on the branch line with no trouble.
History[]
During the first series, maps from this time period show three stations on the line: Suddery, Lower Suddery, and Brendam. As seen in Percy Runs Away and on maps, the line's junction is after Gordon's Hill and not before the hill as it was in the Railway Series. As such, Lower Suddery is shown to be after Gordon's Hill in Percy Runs Away. Suddery and Brendam do not appear in the first series.
In the second series, a new line is added to connect the branch line directly to Wellsworth, just like in the Railway Series. A new station named Upper Brendam is built, located north of Brendam town. Brendam is shown for the first time this series, alongside its harbour. The Sodor China Clay Company is formed west of Brendam and is run by two identical yellow tank engines named Bill and Ben. A new diesel engine named BoCo comes to help work on the line. BoCo also occasionally works on the Main Line. Percy and Thomas occasionally worked at Brendam Docks and at the Hay Farms.
In the third series, a new quarry is built alongside the China Clay Pits. This new quarry is destroyed by a rockslide in Heroes. However, clay traffic never stopped since the original pits from the second series were still in service. The harbour at Brendam grows so much that Percy and Duck are sent to help shunt trucks to and from the quays.
In the fifth series, the docks was expanded and a new crane named Cranky was added. Sometime between the fifth and the eight series (according to the 2003 Thomas Bible), Brendam Docks far surpasses Knapford Docks (now used for minor goods export/import) as the main docks on Sodor. In the sixth series, a new diesel named Salty arrives on Sodor to help with the incremost intraffic, acting as the main shunter at the docks.
The branch line is now the busiest branch on Sodor, as Brendam Docks is the busiest port on Sodor. The Express comes here once a day to pick up passenger's from the S.S. Roxstar. Multiple engines are seen working along the branch, most in a specific location.
Route[]
1991 Map[]
From Wellsworth, the trains pass a crossing which is followed by a junction to the branch. Road and rail pass each other and meet at Crocks Scrap Yard and Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard. A line from Gordon's Hill crosses the branch line before running through The Hay Farm. The line reaches Suddery and runs through the country side. The route arrives at Lower Suddery and then runs through a coastal village. After the line climbs a hill, Upper Brendam is reached. The line finally terminates at Brendam, where an extensive harbour and engine sheds are located. There is a private quarry line to the China Clay Works and a new quarry, both serviced by Bill and Ben.
2010 Map[]
The line starts at Wellsworth and travels under a Bridge then turns onto a junction. The line continues passing by A Fishing Village which serves the town of Suddery. The line heads south past a Canal then into Brendam, where an extensive harbour and the Sodor Shipping Company is located. The line finally ends at the China Clay pits where Bill and Ben work.
2014 Map[]
The line starts at Wellsworth and travels under a Bridge then followed by a junction to the branch. The line than travels over The Fenland as it passes by the Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard and Crocks Scrap Yard. The line then passes the Flour Mill as it reaches the town of Suddery where it passes a Junction as passes a Castle and Lower Suddery. The Sodor Animal Park is next then the line passes a office building as it reaches Upper Brendam. A canal then extends into Brendam, where an extensive harbour and the Sodor Shipping Company is located. The line finally ends at the China Clay pits where Bill, Ben, Marion and Timothy work.
Operations[]
Reg works at Crock's Scrapyard. Scruff brings scrap metal to the scrapyard from Whiff's Waste Dump. Sodor Animal Park, and Dingley Hall are also located along the line. Also, between Suddery and Lower Suddery is a junction where a line goes past a coastal track going over a high bridge till it reaches the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre. Salty and Porter work on the line at Brendam Docks.
Locomotives[]
Non-Rail Vehicles[]
References[]
| Locomotives | Steam | Edward | Porter | Nia |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | BoCo | Derek | Salty | Philip | |
| Non-Rail Vehicles | Trevor | Cranky | Reg | Big Mickey | Carly | |
| People | The Vicar of Wellsworth | The Mayor of Sodor | The Dock Managers | |
| Affiliates | Sodor China Clay Company (Bill and Ben, Timothy, Marion) | Sodor Shipping Company | Sodor Search and Rescue Centre (Belle, Flynn, Rocky, Harold, Butch, Captain) | |
| Stations | Wellsworth | Suddery | Lower Suddery | Sodor Animal Park** | Upper Brendam | Brendam | |