The Windmills

There are six known windmills on Sodor: one on Thomas' Branch Line, one on the Loop Line, one near Killaban, Toby's Windmill on Toby's Branch Line, The Main Line and one nearby Ruth's Workshop. Five of the six windmills grinds wheat grown on Sodor into flour for use in making bread for the residents of nearby villages and one was converted into an electro-magnet generator to power the workshop and gate.

Post Windmill

The Post Windmill is on Thomas' Branch Line, located between Crowe's Farm Crossing and Dryaw station. A railway line runs past this windmill and the marshes beside it. Thomas is most often shown passing by this windmill with Annie and Clarabel, however Toby has also been seen passing it.

This windmill appeared frequently throughout the first to seventh series and was featured at the start of the opening credits throughout this time, but has not been seen since the start of the eighth series, when the Tower Mill replaced it in the opening credits.

The Windmill's model has also been seen in three other locations on one-off occasions: on the main line between Lower Tidmouth and Knapford in Time for Trouble, immediately adjacent to Thomas' Branch Line before Crowe's Farm Crossing in Ghost Train and near Ulfstead in Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure.

Appearances

Trivia

• A scene from the first series episode, Thomas and Bertie, featuring the Post Windmill, was used in the opening credits for the first five series and the seventh series. A deleted scene from Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure also featuring the Post Windmill was used for the sixth series instead.
• In early drafts of Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, Thomas was meant to pass this windmill, but this was later changed to the Tower Mill for unknown reasons.
• This Windmill is similar to Brill windmill in Brill, Buckinghamshire.
• The base of the windmill is owned by Twitter user, TomsProps.^[1]

Merchandise

• ERTL (discontinued)
• Brio (discontinued)
• Wooden Railway (discontinued)
• Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)
• Capsule Plarail
• Tomix
• Lionel Trains (discontinued)
• Mini Mini Plarail (discontinued)
• Thomas Town (discontinued)
• Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)
• Waku Waku (discontinued)

Tower Windmill

The Tower Windmill is located on the Loop Line between Elsbridge and Elizabeth's Shed. Between the fifth and sixth series, its original sails - more similar to those of the Post Mill - were replaced by the set which it carries today. The Tower Mill has appeared in the opening credits from the eighth to the eighteenth series. Due to possible time constraints, starting with Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, the Tower Mill has seemingly replaced the Post Windmill on Thomas' Branch Line for the time being.

Appearances

Trivia

• The track layout changed in the seventh and eighth series.
• The bridge next to the windmill was removed in the eighth series.
• The model of the Tower Mill is currently on display at Drayton Manor.
• The ruined Tower Mill was originally going to appear in the aftermath of the storm in the 2005 special, Calling All Engines! but it was changed to the Sodor Suspension Bridge.
• The model of the Tower Mill is frequently used in promotional photos.
• This Windmill is similar to Stembridge Tower Mill in High Ham.

Merchandise

• Wooden Railway (discontinued)
• Plarail
• TrackMaster (discontinued)
• Hornby (discontinued)
• Bachmann
• Lionel Trains

Sodor Grain Windmill

This windmill is located between Killaban and Cabalnoo. Mr. Conductor landed on some sacks lying near the windmill after an encounter with Diesel 10 and it was here that he found a subliminal message about Lady and met up with Junior and Lily. Junior, seeing the windmill as a joyride, decided to ride on the sails on the windmill, but this resulted in him being flung up several feet in the air when the wind got too strong and ended up being thrown onto Diesel 10's roof.

Appearances

Merchandise

• Thomas Town (discontinued)

Toby's Windmill

This windmill is located near the junction for Tidmouth Bay and the Old Mine on Toby's Branch Line. The windmill was once struck by lightning during a fierce storm and was in jeopardy of closing down. After Toby found an old tree that had collapsed during the storm, the wood from the tree was used to rebuild the windmill and it has been in business ever since.

Appearances

Merchandise

• Wooden Railway (discontinued)
• TrackMaster (discontinued)
• Mega Bloks (discontinued)
• Motorized Railway
• TrackMaster Push Along

The Main Line Windmill

This windmill is located on the Main Line inbetween Balladrine and Kellaby.

Appearances

Trivia

• The windmill itself is actually an edited version of the Tower Windmill with the side building removed.

References