Stepney's Branch Line (also known as The Bluebell Railway in some of the classic series episodes) runs from north of Crovan's Gate to Great Waterton. Due to a vast amount of bluebell flowers beside the tracks, the line is nicknamed the "Bluebell Railway".
Engines
Stepney and possibly Flora, are currently the only locomotives known to work on this line; however, Thomas has been seen travelling up and down it numerous times and other North Western Railway engines sometimes use this line to get to Great Waterton instead of using the Main Line.
Route
The line begins north-east of Crovan's Gate, at the Transfer Yards on the Norramby Branch Line and travels up to the Skarloey Railway Depot and Mr. Percival's House, where it runs next to the Skarloey Railway until it splits at Bluebell Valley Station. The two lines reconverge to go through two parallel tunnels, before the branch line splits up at a junction with one line going to the Rolling River Bridge and the other running past Green Hills Junction until the line finally stops at Great Waterton at a spur of the Main Line.
Appearances
Trivia
- The branch line is loosely based on the real life Bluebell Railway.
- Another name of this line is the Bluebell Branch Line.
- Though located on the Island of Sodor, the branch line itself in many classic series episodes is considered to be a separate railway from the North Western Railway, as the North Western Railway does not own nor operate the line. It was stated many times that it was a separate railway that is far away from Sir Topham Hatt's railway.
Rolling Stock
Locomotives
Television Series only
Coaches and Trucks
Television Series only
Gallery
Thomas & Friends
| Locomotives | Stepney | Flora |
|---|---|
| Former | Sodor Tramway Engines |
| Rolling Stock | Branch Line Coaches | Flora's Tram Coach |
| People | Stepney's Controller |
| Locations | Skarloey Railway Depot | Bluebell Valley (Engine Sheds) | Rolling River Bridge (Junction) | Green Hills Junction (The Man in the Hills) | Great Waterton (Engine Sheds) | Morgan's Mine |