The Main Line

The North Western **Main Line** travels from Barrow-in-Furness westward to Tidmouth through southern Sodor. It is approximately 80 miles long.

## Route:

The main line starts from Barrow on the Mainland. Crossing over the rolling lift bridge across the Walney Channel, the line calls at Vicarstown before passing through Henry's Tunnel. After this, the junction to the Norramby Branch Line is reached. The line passes a line after this, where Gordon's birdstrike incident happened. Also, in the television series, after passing through the Ballahoo tunnels and going past the junction to the Norramby branch line, there is a line that branches off the main line leading to Great Waterton which is nestled in between Stepney's Branch Line and the main line.

The line crosses River Hoo, and after that, it calls at Crovan's Gate, home to the Sodor Steamworks and the Skarloey Railway. After stopping here, the line crosses Ben Glas. Then it passes the place where Henry was stuck in the snow and was rescued by Donald and Douglas. Later comes the place where James' train brakes were mended with bootlaces. The line continues after passing by a ruined castle to Kellsthorpe Road, junction to the Kirk Ronan Branch Line. After that, it comes to the place where runaway James was caught by Edward. Crossing a bridge over a road, it comes to the stretch of line where Toby ran out of water. Later comes the bridge above Hawin Russagh. And the line afterwards reaches Killdane, junction to the Peel Godred Branch Line.

Cronk is next, and once leaving the station, trains cross a viaduct, and then arrive at Maron, junction to the Ulfstead Branch Line in the television series. Trains then descend Gordon's Hill and pass through two junctions that led to the Coaling Plant Branch Line and the Suddery Junction, the junction to Edward's Branch Line, respectively. After passing Wellsworth, the Cow Field is next, where James once had his first accident with the runaway trucks and when half of Edward’s cattle train was broken by some cows in the cow fields. Then, the trains arrive at Crosby, where Duck once crashed into a barbershop, propelled by the runaway goods train, and where Toad nearly got diverted into a siding before the switch points failed. After that, trains later pass through a mile-long tunnel and then stop at Knapford, the junction to Thomas' Branch Line. Crossing another tunnel, the main line passes Lower Tidmouth and terminates at Tidmouth. Afterwards, the line continues up to Tidmouth, home to the headquarters of the North Western Railway and the main line sheds. The junction to Duck's Branch Line, which leads up to Arlesburgh West, which is home to the Arlesdale Railway.

In the television series, Elsbridge serves as the junction between Thomas' Branch Line and the Main Line Loop Line, and Knapford is the ''big station''.

## Operations:

The main line carries several kinds of freight, including ballast, lead, zinc, silver, slate, bauxite, produce, building stones and fish, including the Tidmouth kipper, which is considered a delicacy. Tourism is a major part of the passenger traffic during the summer season, as Sodor has many beautiful lakes, mountains, and other beautiful scenery. The main passenger traffic is commuting, with either stopping trains that stop at all main line stations or the "Wild Nor' Wester", the railway's express, which stops only at the Works station before reaching the Other Railway.

### The Main Line Loop:

In the television series, there is a loop of the line between Maron and the Whispering Woods.

## Engines:

### The Mainline Crew:

HenryGordonJames8754698462AdamAlled GreedyAnthonyAxelBearBig City EngineClanlineDevinDiesel 10DuchessEmilyGeoffreyHankHiroHurricaneIsaacMariaMaxMurdochNormanPatrickPeterPip and EmmaRebeccaRichardRichardRyderShaneThe FrankensteinWillGradyCoreyWinstonAustinBarry