- "Thomas liked the Steamworks. There was hustle and bustle, sparks and spanners. It was lively and friendly. And there was Victor. Thomas liked Victor."
- ― The narrator introducing the audience to the Steamworks
The Sodor Steamworks is a large repair facility that specialises in fixing steam engines, though also carries out general repair work. It is situated along the Main Line at Crovan's Gate.
History and Operations
The Steamworks is accessible to and used by the steam engines on both the North Western and Skarloey Railways. It is managed by Victor - who runs on a set of narrow gauge tracks which wind throughout the building - and his assistant Kevin. All of the essential components for steam locomotives are kept and made here. Heavy overhauls are also carried out here.
The company's logo consists of a chimney with steam coming out and is surrounded by a large cog wheel. Both Victor and Kevin have this logo on their liveries, as do the staff on their uniforms.
The Steamworks houses a large array of equipment for the maintenance and repair of steam engines. This includes an in-house foundry and forge with steam hammer, a machinery area with several lathes, hot-air blowers, a locomotive hoist and an inspection pit. Inside the third bay of the Steamworks there is also a large turntable with dual gauge tracks.
The Steamworks can be accessed by either a dual gauge transfer table at the front or narrow gauge tracks running through the back. An open shed is situated in front of the main building - also accessed by the transfer table - which houses Victor and Kevin.
Outside the Steamworks, there is a small yard adjacent to the main building. A coal hopper and small halt are located here.
Residents
Appearances
Books
My Thomas Story LibraryEngine Adventures
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Trivia
- Whilst Hero of the Rails was being developed, David Eves came up with the creation of the Sodor Steamworks as one of his last contributions. The idea was luckily accepted by the writers and the new animators.
- Although it is titled the Sodor Steamworks, diesel and electric engines have been repaired there before. Since Day of the Diesels, it has been superseded by the Vicarstown Dieselworks as the main repair workshop for diesel engines.
- The Sodor Steamworks has had numerous modifications throughout the years:
- Series 13:
- The area around the transfer table was brown in the episodes; The Lion of Sodor, Tickled Pink and The Early Bird.
- King of the Railway:
- The area around the transfer table returned to its original grey colour.
- It was confirmed that Henry did not need "special coal" anymore so the coal hopper dispenses normal coal.
- The tracks leading to Victor and Kevin's shed have been removed and it is now a normal shed.
- Series 18:
- The turntable gains narrow gauge track running to the original.
- The narrow-gauge track has been re-positioned by a few feet, now leading onto the turntable and the buffers were removed. On the opposite side of the turntable, a set of narrow gauge points are added, also leading onto the turntable.
- The centre track in doorway three now runs right out the back of the building instead of stopping at buffers, also the perpendicular storage tracks now disappeared.
- Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure:
- The buffers return, but the narrow gauge track does not.
- Series 13:
Merchandise
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (three versions; discontinued)
- Adventures (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (reintroduced 2014; discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail
- Mega Bloks (discontinued)
- Tomica (discontinued)
- Trading Cards (discontinued)
| Locomotives | Steam | Thomas | Henry | Gordon | James | Donald and Douglas | Emily | Murdoch | Molly | Nia | Rebecca |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | BoCo | |
| Former | Edward | |
| Rolling Stock | Passenger | Annie and Clarabel | Emily's Coaches | Green Express Coaches | Red Express Coaches |
| Former | The Spiteful Brake Van | Slip Coaches | |
| Trains | Passenger | The Express | The Local | The Great Waterton Special |
| Goods | The Flying Kipper | The Midnight Goods | |
| Infrastructure | Stations | Tidmouth | Lower Tidmouth** | Knapford | Crosby | Wellsworth | Maron | Cronk** | Killdane** | Lower Kellsthorpe** | Kellsthorpe Road** | The Workmen's Halt** | Crovan's Gate | Great Waterton** | Vicarstown | Barrow-in-Furness** |
| Sheds | Tidmouth Sheds | Tidmouth Yard Sheds | Knapford Sheds | Crovan's Gate Sheds* | Vicarstown Sheds | |
| Tunnels and Bridges | Tidmouth Tunnel (South) | Henry's Tunnel | Crosby Tunnel** | Crosby Bridge* | The Viaduct | Sodor Suspension Bridge** | Maron Bridge* | Standard Gauge and Narrow Gauge Viaduct | Vicarstown Bridge** |