Elsbridge (RWS)

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Elsbridge
Background Information
First appearance	Tank Engine Thomas Again (1949)
Last appearance	Thomas and his Friends (2011)
Creator(s)	Rev. W. Awdry
Overview
Location	Elsbridge, Island of Sodor
Year opened	1910
Operations
Managed by	North Western Railway Tidmouth, Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway (formerly)
Line(s)	Ffarquhar Branch Line
No. of platforms	2

Elsbridge is a small town and station on Thomas' Branch Line located in the Els Valley, with a population of 4,500. The nearby River Els flows underneath the Elsbridge Viaduct and Elsbridge Road Viaduct and enters the Sudrian Sea at Knapford.

History

St. Pedroc's Church tower is visible for miles across the fen and marks the site of a centuries-old river crossing at the end of a path through the bog, known only to local people. Even natives were sometimes confused in the thick mists often covering the area. In September 1758, Peter Carnane, an Elsbridge shopkeeper, was caught in just such a mist, and only found direction and safety when he heard the church clock strike. Accordingly, he bequeathed land to the Vicar and Churchwardens directing that the rent thereof be used to pay for the ringing of a bell daily during the half-hour before sunset "forever". A tablet in the church records this bequest. The need for it has gone, but a token ringing of the "Carnane Bell" continues to this day.

Another tablet records the building of the Town Bridge by public subscription in 1779/80 and gives a list of the principal contributors. It was needed to replace an old and dilapidated packhorse bridge. The road width was 15ft between parapets, quite generous for those days. In 1927 it was widened, but great care was taken to preserve its original design and appearance. For many years it carried two-way traffic, but with the increased width of vehicles this became dangerous, and the traffic flow is now alternate and controlled by lights. The bridge is a pleasing structure with five arches, full of character, built by local masons to meet a local need, and Elsbridgians are proud of it.

If Elsbridge is proud of its road bridge, the railway people are certainly proud of theirs. From 1910 to 1925 Elsbridge was the terminus of the branch line, following the Tidmouth, Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway's roadside extension into the town itself, having originally terminated at the wharf. The North Western Railway held powers to extend, but money was short, and the necessary bridge and tunnel would be expensive, so nothing was done. In 1924 however, quarrying began at Ffarquhar. The quarry needed a railway for transport, and an attractive structure to show potential customers the quality of its stone. The NWR agreed to extend its line on condition that the Quarry Company provided stone for the bridge free of charge and paid half the cost of the tunnel at Hackenbeck. The bridge was designed by Mr. Michael Kirk and was completed in 1925, and has since needed only minimal maintenance.

Elsbridge is a pleasant small town of some 4,500 inhabitants in 1981. It has a flour mill and bakery, together with several small firms specializing in different forms of agricultural engineering; but the largest employer is St. Pedroc's Dairy situated in what was once a glebe field behind the Vicarage and adjacent to the station. The Dairy has won fame for its Callan Cheese and Elsdale butter, the latter being made from the milk of cows pastured in the rich water-meadows along the upper reaches of the Els.

The Curragh or Fenland Museum is a "must" for visitors. In addition to items both domestic and industrial, collected from the neighbourhood and imaginatively displayed, life in the Fen is depicted both before and after drainage began over a hundred years ago. Most of the land on the west bank is by now drained and cropped, but some 4,000 acres were left untouched, and are preserved by the Sodor Nature Conservancy Trust as a Wild Life Sanctuary.

The banks of the upper Els are beloved of Anglers, many of whom come year after year with great regularity. These tend to stay at the two Hotels - The Trout and the Char - which cater admirably for their needs, and which own most of the fishing rights. Visitors with other interests will find comfortable accommodation elsewhere. The Railway Arms in Station Road and The Bridge in Ulfstead Street are highly recommended. Elsbridge is an attractive place, well served by public transport; and from it to northward the visitor has ready access to some of the most beautiful parts of the Island.

Landmarks

• Elsbridge Station - the main station for the town of Elsbridge.
• Elsbridge Wharf - a wharf just outside the town of Elsbridge, and the original end point of the Elsbridge and Knapford Light Railway until the roadside extension into the town in 1910.
• Elsbridge Viaduct - a rail viaduct carrying Thomas' Branch Line over the River Els.
• Elsbridge Road Viaduct - a road viaduct parallel to the railway viaduct, also crossing the River Els.
• Elsbridge Cricket Field - a field around a mile south-west of the station on the eastern side of the railway line, used by the Elsbridge Cricket Club.
• St. Pedroc's Dairy - a large dairy situated adjacent to the station, in what was once a glebe field behind the Vicarage.
• St. Pedroc's Church - the village church, known for its tall tower which can be seen across the fen.
• Elsbridge Flour Mill - a flour mill within the town of Elsbridge.
• Elsbridge Bakery - a bakery within the town of Elsbridge.
• The Curragh - a museum dedicated to the life on the fenlands surrounding Elsbridge, containing several historical artefacts.
• Elsbridge Wildlife Sanctuary - a roughly 4,000 acre nature preserve on the west bank of the River Els, preserved by the Sodor Nature Conservancy Trust.
• The Trout - one of two hotels for anglers who visit the town.
• The Char - one of two hotels for anglers who visit the town.
• The Railway Arms - a hotel on Station Road.
• The Bridge - a hotel on Ulfstead Street.

Appearances

• Railway Series
• Other Media

The Railway Series Tank Engine Thomas Again - Thomas Goes Fishing and Thomas and Bertie Percy the Small Engine - Percy's Promise Tramway Engines - Woolly Bear Really Useful Engines - Stop Thief! (mentioned) Thomas Comes Home - Washout! (mentioned) and Toby's Megatrain Wilbert the Forest Engine - Percy's Porridge and Foaming at the Funnel Thomas and Victoria - Overloaded and Toby's Vintage Train (mentioned) Thomas and his Friends - Thomas and the Swan Companion Volumes 1984 - Thomas's Christmas Party 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways (mentioned) 1992 - Thomas and the Hurricane Pop-Up Books 1983 - Bertie the Bus and Thomas the Tank Engine 1986 - Thomas the Tank Engine Goes Fishing

Books

• 1986 - Thomas Goes to Town and Percy to the Rescue

Trivia

• Elsbridge is named after Elsworth, where the Rev. W. Awdry was Rector between 1946-53.
• The official term for a resident of Elsbridge is an Elsbridgian.
• Elsbridge Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, USA is named after the town.
• The Rev. W. Awdry originally planned to feature Elsbridge on his Ffarquhar Branch Mk2 layout - including the Elsbridge Viaduct and St. Pedroc's Dairy - but this plan was dropped in favour of a much simpler corner piece depicting the Hackenbeck river and tunnel.

Station Guide

Preceding station	North Western Railway			Following station
Toryreck		Ffarquhar Branch Line		Hackenbeck

Preceding station	Tidmouth, Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway			Following station
Toryreck		Elsbridge Branch Line		Terminus

References

North Western Railway

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Ffarquhar Branch Line

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