Railway Series Weekend

Railway Series Weekend
Event Overview
Licensor	Mattel
Venue	Talyllyn Railway
Date(s) Held	10 May 2025 - 11 May 2025

The Railway Series Weekend was an event held at the Talyllyn Railway to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of The Railway Series.

Overview

This event featured a lecture held on the evening of the Saturday which covered the Rev. W. Awdry's hand-written account of how The Railway Series came to be and the rules he developed for writing, followed by a panel of experts discussing the impact of The Railway Series on both railway preservation and the fandom.

For this event, Sir Haydn was repainted in the Skarloey Railway's red livery as Sir Handel. Additionally, a new face was created for Ivo Hugh.

Exhibition

• Original rough sketches for the layout of the sixth and seventh illustrations of the story The Flying Kipper from Henry the Green Engine
• A concept drawing by Wilbert Awdry for third illustration of the story Percy and the Trousers from Henry the Green Engine
• Original artwork from Tramway Engines, Toby, Trucks and Trouble and Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines.
• Wilbert Awdry's OO scale layout, the Ffarquhar Branch.
• Gauge 3 props of Thomas and Skarloey, as well as the modified 7-plank truck used in the tenth series episode Follow that Flour.
• A selection of the Gauge 3 Thomas' faces as well as his CGI tracker from the twelfth series.
• The close-up scale Toby prop, as well as the close-up scale Sir Topham Hatt in marine uniform from the eleventh series episode Thomas Sets Sail.

Special Trains

• Sir Handel Comes to Breakfast, hauled by Sir Haydn (dressed as Sir Handel) on the morning of both days; includes a special breakfast, a guided trip up the line and a photo stop at Dolgoch station.
• The Picnic, hauled by Sir Haydn (dressed as Sir Handel) on the afternoon of both days; includes a photo stop at Rhydyronen and an afternoon tea at Abergnolwyn.

Trivia

• The date of the event coincides with the weekend before the 80th Anniversary of the first publication of The Three Railway Engines.
  • The first day of the event also coincided with the world premiere of the fifth and final Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go special, Sodor Sings Together.

Gallery

Veronica Chambers with Sir Handel

Ivo Hugh

Sir Handel, Rusty and Fred at Tywyn Wharf

Exhibition

Original sketches for The Flying Kipper

Reference sketch for The Flying Kipper drawn by Wilbert Awdry

Reference sketch for Percy and the Trousers drawn by Wilbert Awdry

Original sketch for Golden Jubliee

The Gauge 3 Thomas and Skarloey props

Gauge 3 Thomas' faces

The close-up Toby prop with the Fat Controller