Lakeside

Lakeside
Overview
Location	Lakeside, Island of Sodor
Year opened	1965
Operations
Managed by	Skarloey Railway
Line(s)	Skarloey Railway Rocky Ridge Line (T&F)
No. of platforms	1 (RWS) 2 (T&F)
Station Guide
← Previous	Rheneas
Next →	Skarloey Tea Room Station (Rocky Ridge Line) (T&F)

Lakeside is a station on the northern end of the Skarloey Railway, reached by a loop line. Excluding stock footage, it only appeared in Series 4.

History

The Railway Series

In 1963, the Skarloey Railway began preliminary work to construct a loop around Skarloey Lake. The loop line was completed in time for the railway's Centenary Celebrations in June 1965. It deviates from the main line at Lakeside Junction, and runs round and above the lake on a ledge cut in the hillside among the trees. Lakeside is the sole station on the line, and serves a picnic area. The loop was mostly financed by the sale of the old Ward Fell slate quarry to the Ministry of Defence.

The loop line has proved its worth as a succesful tourist attraction. From Easter to Christmas all passenger trains between 10.30am and 4.00pm run round the lake through magnificient scenery; but for the rest of the year, when traffic is mainly local, the old main line direct to Skarloey station is used.

Thomas & Friends

Lakeside is a sizeable community situated around the mouth of the lake, and has a harbour which houses a variety of fishing boats, and the paddle tug Lakesider III. The railway runs through the town in a loop, and a bascule bridge carries it across the lake. The station consists of two platforms and a separate ticket office. A variety of businesses are located here, such as a Neptune Refreshments shop owned by the Refreshment Lady.

Appearances

• Railway Series
• Television Series

The Railway Series

• Very Old Engines - Duck and Dukes (mentioned)
• Great Little Engines - Pop-Special

Thomas & Friends

• Series 4 - A Bad Day for Sir Handel, Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady, Rock 'n' Roll, Passengers and Polish (stock footage), Fish (stock footage) and Mind that Bike
• Series 7 - Bulgy Rides Again (stock footage)

Trivia

• Although Lakeside's Talyllyn Railway equivalent is Nant Gwernol, the two extensions are very different. The Lakeside extension actually pre-dates the TR's Nant Gwernol extension.
• Several buildings from Lakeside were reused in other places:
  • Small town at the Standard Gauge and Narrow Gauge Viaduct
  • Norramby Fishing Village
  • Miner's Halt
  • The large factory would be one of buildings at Ffarquhar Quarry, The Coaling Plant and Sodor China Clay Company in Series 5
  • The Antiquates and Newspaper the Bakery and Fruit & Veg, the church and the Fish and Chips shop would appear in many locations on Sodor such as Knapford, The Seaside Village, Callan, Norramby Fishing Village, Kirk Ronan, Ulfstead, Peel Godred, Rolf's Castle, and even the Antiquates and Newspaper would appear as one of the buildings at Tidmouth Sheds. The shops (except the Bakery and Fruit & Veg shop) would then have new buildings made in Series 10 and appear in CGI, albeit with it's signs removed.
• The pointy tops of the Lakeside Drawbridge were actually made from superglue lids.

Gallery

The Railway Series

Main Series

Duncan at Lakeside

Thomas & Friends

Model Series

Lakeside at night

Skarloey and Rheneas at Lakeside Junction

Peter Sam at Lakeside

The station platform

Peter Sam leaving Lakeside without the Refreshment Lady

Lakeside Bridge

The Mail Van going over the road bridge at Lakeside

Promotional Material

Behind the Scenes

A behind the scenes shot of the set

Others

Nant Gwernol, the basis for Lakeside

Skarloey Railway

---

* RWS only | ** T&F only