The Harwick Branch Line is a branch line that runs from Arlesburgh West up to Harwick. It was originally planned as early as 1916, but was deemed unnecessary until several decades later.
History[]
The Little Western was originally intended to reach Harwick; however, by the time Arlesburgh West was reached in 1916, it was found there was no longer a need for a further extension and it was dropped.[1] In the 1940s, a rail link between Arlesburgh and Harwick was again proposed, but yet again deemed unnecessary, for it was found that Sodor Roadways could provide adequate transport both for stores and personnel.[2]
The extension was eventually constructed at some stage between the 1990s and 2020s, to facilitate the development of a nuclear modular power plant near Droghan-y-Claghan (taking advantage of uranium sourced from the former lead mines) as well as on- and off-shore wind farms in the north of Sodor, which would be difficult to access via road. Proposals were initially made to instead significantly upgrade the road to Harwick to handle the new traffic, though these were frowned upon by both the governing body of Sodor and the Sodor Industrial Relations Service.
In 1993, Sir Stephen Topham Hatt III trialled Wilbert on Sodor to assess the suitability of an engine of his type with the possible extension in mind. At an unspecified date after Wilbert's trial ended, another engine of his class named Walter was brought to Sodor to help construct the line.[3]
Operations[]
The branch line operates a relatively sparse but regular passenger service. Goods traffic includes the important (though infrequent) nuclear waste trains which run from the new power plant to Sellafield on the Mainland, as well as more regular coal trains from the north, taking advantage of the coal reserves discovered along the northern coast during the 2010s.[4][3]
Rolling Stock[]
Locomotives[]
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
Companion Volumes[]
- 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways (mentioned)
Lectures[]
- 2025 - Sodor in 2025 (mentioned)