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Mid Sodor is a "rabbit-warren" style model railway constructed by Wilbert Awdry between 1966 and 1968. The layout has seen three forms over its lifetime, being reworked and updated in August 1969 and 1974. The three iterations of the Mid Sodor layout are referred to as Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3.

History[]

Conception[]

After the Awdry Family moved to Stroud in 1965, Wilbert found that the Mk1 Ffarquhar Branch layout did not fit well in his railway room, so something new would have to be built to replace it. His initial plans for the room included rebuilding the Ffarquhar layout and extending it just beyond Elsbridge, as well as building a new "rabbit-warren" style depiction of the Skarloey Railway. Although models of four of the Skarloey engines and six of the rolling stock were eventually completed, the Skarloey Railway layout idea never materialized. These initial plans would, however, lead to the construction of the Mid Sodor layout and Mk2 Ffarquhar Branch layout.

Mk1[]

Construction of the layout started in 1966, and was finished in September 1968 for an exhibition in Worcester. The layout had to be 3 ft x 6 ft to fit in the boot of Wilbert's car. In April 1969 it was exhibited at Bristol.

There was no operating sequence, which had been fine for the one day at Worcester, but was extremely boring for the three days at Bristol. An upcoming six-day exhibition in London (MRC) in August, followed soon afterwards by another 5-6 days at Clifton motivated Awdry to create one.

Mk2[]

Between April and August 1969, changes were made to establish the Mk2 version of the layout. These included a new station building (inspired by Esgairgeiliog station on the Corris Railway and built by Doris Stokes, a friend of Wilbert), updated passenger figures in correct period clothing, a timetable and operating sequence, and additional engines.

The engines used on the Mk2 layout, in numerical order, were Duke, Stanley, Albert, Alfred (spare), Gerry, John, Jennings, Atlas (spare), and the Mine Engine. Jennings, Atlas, and the Mine Engine were built during the reworking of the layout into the Mk2.

Mk3[]

The Mk2 layout was last exhibited in 1969, before Duke the Lost Engine had been published. Thus, when in 1973 the layout was requested to appear at an exhibition the next year, it was decided to rework the layout to more closely resemble what was seen in the Railway Series book. The notable changes included modifying Stanley's model into a pumping engine, and the making of several new models to replace those used on the Mk2.

Stanley was replaced by Tim, Gerry was replaced by Jim, John and Jennings were replaced by Falcon and Stuart, and Albert Mk1 was heavily modified to a more contemporary English design which was designated Mk2. A third model of Albert was built at a later date, and Albert Mk2, becoming a spare engine, was repainted and further modified to closely resemble Falcon. Gerry and Jennings became spare engines, with their names and numbers removed, and Jennings was repainted from blue to red. Alfred was also heavily modified into a spare engine and painted maroon. The second model of the Mine Engine and Duke Mk2 likely date from this time.

In 1986, Wilbert commissioned Paul Windle to build a new model of Stuart, as well as a new Peter Sam. A second model of Falcon also dates from around this time, likely built by a member of Wilbert's model railway club.

With the sad passing of Wilbert Awdry in 1997, the layout found its way to the museum in the rectory at Cadeby, under the care the late Rev. Teddy Boston's widow, Audrey. After the museum was closed, the layout was returned to the Awdry family, and is presently in the care of Christopher's son, Richard Awdry.

Operations[]

Mk2[]

Duke and Albert Mk1 pulled stopping passenger trains, with Duke handling The Picnic while Albert took The Parliamentary. Stanley pulled workmen's trains, Gerry pulled the Horse and Cart, John and Jennings pulled the Boat Expresses, and the Mine Engine transported tipper wagons between Arlesdale and the mines at Cas-ny-Hawin. Alfred and Atlas were spares.

Mk3[]

Duke and Albert Mk2/3 continued to pull the Picnic and the Parliamentary. Tim now pulled the workmen's trains, Jim pulled the Horse and Cart, Falcon and Stuart pulled the Boat Expresses, and the Mine Engine continued to transport the tipper wagons. Gerry, Jennings, the rebuilt Alfred, and later Albert Mk2 were kept as spares, along with spare models of Duke and the Mine Engine.

Locomotives[]

Mk1-Mk2[]

Mk3[]

Spare Engines[]

The following engines are "spares", most of which were rebuilt from engines used on the Mk1 and Mk2 layouts with their identities as characters removed:

Rolling Stock[]

Passenger[]

Mk1-Mk2[]

Mk3[]

Goods[]

Mk1-Mk2[]

Mk3[]

Trivia[]

External Links[]

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