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- “The express is the longest passenger train on the island. I always cross the island twice by teatime. ”
- ― Gordon to Emily
The Wild Nor' Wester[1], also known simply as the Express, is an express passenger service train of the North Western Railway. Gordon is best known for having the duty of pulling the train, with assistance from Rebecca starting with the twenty-second series.
History[]
The Express was created to provide an express passenger service from London to Sodor. Services from the train starts at the big station, Knapford to Vicarstown where other engines - such as Gordon’s brother Flying Scotsman - take the rest of the train to the Mainland.
At some point in time, the Fat Controller purchased Rebecca from the Mainland to help out Gordon with the passenger work.
Stops[]
The Express stops at the following stations:
Rolling Stock[]
A variety of engines have pulled the Express. Gordon mainly pulled the express; later gaining assistance from Rebecca, though Henry, James and Emily would sometimes do it. When Class 40 failed, Stepney and Duck took his place. Edward also helped Henry pull the express when Gordon burst his safety valve.
The Special Coaches were generally used as part of "The Special Express", and were pulled by either Gordon or James on special occasions.
Locomotives[]
Coaches[]
Appearances[]
Annual Stories
Magazine Stories
Books
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Trivia[]
- Although it is the Main Line service, the Express has frequently been seen stopping at Brendam Docks from the fifth series onwards. According to Landmarks of Sodor, it stops here once a day to pick up passengers from liners such as the S.S. Roxstar.
- Once the Express went on an extravaganza to the Blue Mountain Quarry with Samson.
- The Express was only ever called the "Wild Nor' Wester" in the script for the cancelled second series episode The Missing Coach.
- According to a magazine fact by Sir Topham Hatt, Gordon pulls the Express twice in the morning and four times in the afternoon from Mondays to Thursdays. On Fridays, Gordon makes an extra trip in the morning.
- The consist gets ready at Knapford Yards. There either Stanley, Charlie, Stafford, Philip or Diesel form the consist. Later, Thomas or Percy come to bring it to Gordon. From there, it departs and is likely brought back to the shunting yard and is being inspected and cleaned in the evening.
References[]
- ↑ Script for The Missing Coach
| 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** | Balladrine** | Kellaby** | Whispering Woods Halt** | Kellsthorpe Road** | 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** |