Duck's Branch Line

The **Duck's Branch Line**, commonly known as **The "Little Western"**, and also known as **Arlesbrugh Branch Line,** is a coastal branch line operating between Tidmouth and Arlesburgh West. It is nicknamed so because the line is decorated in Great Western Railway colours and is worked by Duck and Oliver, two Great Western engines. Occasionally, Donald and Douglas assist.

## History

The branch was at first a one-line extension of the North Western Railway built after a Government order in 1916. It was intended to reach Harwick; however, by the time Arlesburgh was reached, there was no longer a need for further extension. Material from the Arlesdale mines was needed for the war effort, but when the mines closed in 1947, there was not enough traffic. Permission was requested to close the line, but this was refused and thus a minimal service was operated.

In 1964, the need for a new harbour to ease congestion at Tidmouth had once again become acute, leading Sir Topham Hatt to search for a suitable site for developing a new harbour. Arlesburgh proved ideal and during the surveying of the area, he noticed that while the branch, that was still open under a skeleton service, the line was noticeably overgrown, while the former trackbed of the MSR was still relatively weed-free. Inquiring locally he was told that this was due to the fact that the bootstrapped company resorted to using spoil from the lead mines as ballast that was free to them. After exhaustive tests were conducted and proved the spoil to be weed resistant Sir Topham met with the management of both the Culdee Fell and Skarloey railways, suggesting they join the NWR in a consortium to exploit this still freely available material. Mr. Richards, Manager of the Culdee Fell suggested that given the natural beauty in the Arle valley that this venture should be expanded into that of tourism. This suggestion was seconded by Sir Handel Brown and Topham Hatt, leading to the construction of the Arlesdale Railway.

Both the branch line and narrow gauge railway were relaid and new exchange facilities were built at Arlesburgh West. With two Listers diesels assisting with the laying of the narrow gauge line on top of the MSR's former trackbed progress proceeded rapidly. The new railway was close to completion when Duck came to Arlesburgh to investigate the rumours of the small railway engines and after working well with them was put in charge of the branch line, with Donald and Douglas assisting. A turntable was installed for the Caledonian Twins at Arlesburgh West. As a further reward Duck was given two auto coaches-Alice and Mirabel, that were repainted in GWR livery. The Arlesdale Railway passed its BoT inspection and opened with passenger services in Easter 1967. During this same year Oliver, after his rescue and restoration to GWR livery, came to work on the branch line along with his faithful coach Isabel and brake van Toad. Sir Topham Hatt also tracked down a fourth GWR autocoach named Dulcie to allow the two engines to operate a push-pull service and the branch line soon gained the moniker "The Little Western", with which Duck and Oliver were delighted.

On its opening in 1916, no engines had been known to run this line, although is possibly that engines on trial had been known to work here.

In Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure an extension of the line was built from Arlesburgh to Harwick, thus becoming the Harwick Branch Line.

### Locomotives

MainDuckCGI.pngDuckMainDonaldCGI.pngDonaldMainDouglasCGI.pngDouglasMainOliverCGI.pngOliver
### Coaches and Trucks

MainToadCGI.pngToadMainS.C.RuffeyModel2.pngS.C. RuffeyMainOldSlowCoachModel.pngOld Slow CoachSlipCoach1.PNGSlip Coach 1SlipCoach2.PNGSlip Coach 2SlipCoach3.PNGSlip Coach 3MainJudyCGI.pngJudyMainJeromeCGI.pngJerome

## Non-Rail Vehicles

MainBulgyCGI2.pngBulgyBulgy'sFriend.pngBulgy's Friend
# *The Railway Series*=

CentenaryRS1.pngTidmouthGordonProvesHisPointRS5.pngTidmouth ShedsTheFlyingKipperRS1.PNGTidmouth HarbourFamousEngines24.jpegTidmouth TunnelBulgyRS5.pngBulgy's BridgeDonald'sDuckRS1.pngFaarkey-Y-SudraghResourceAndSagacityRS3.pngBulgyRS3.pngHaultraughDonald'sDuckRS7.pngDilly's PondBulgyRS7.pngBulgy's FieldDonald'sDuckRS5.pngToadStandsByRS4.pngArlesburgh WestDonald'sDuckRS2.pngArlesburgh Shed
## *Thomas & Friends*

OliverOwnsUp18.jpgTidmouthHenryintheDark81.pngTidmouth Goods StationEmilytotheRescue106.pngTidmouth ShedsABadDayForHaroldtheHelicopter60.pngTidmouth FieldABadDayForHaroldTheHelicopter13.pngTidmouth Signal RunbyToad'sBrightIdea15.pngTidmouth JunctionBestDressedEngine1.pngTidmouth CrossingSplishSplashSplosh87.pngTidmouth Town SquareANewArrival283.pngCallandale JunctionStuckinGear86.pngConrad's BridgeSodor'sLegendoftheLostTreasure763.pngConrad's HillPercy,JamesandtheFruitfulDay28.pngLogging HaltTheAdventureBegins623.pngTidmouth TunnelThomasAndTheRubbishTrain48.pngTidmouth BeachSpecialAttraction5.pngThe Seaside VillageToad'sBrightIdea37.pngTimeForTrouble72.pngTidmouth HaultHappyEverAfter40.pngTidmouth Hault ShedsDonald'sDuck11.pngDilly's PondEscape73.pngThe Cliffs RunbyBulgyRidesAgain8.pngBulgy's BridgeBulgy(episode)21.pngHaultraughJourneyBeyondSodor9.pngBluff's CovePercy'sPromise5.pngArlesburghSodor'sLegendoftheLostTreasure199.pngArlesburgh WestOliverOwnsUp27.pngArlesburgh YardsOliverOwnsUp61.pngArlesburgh ShedThomasandtheInventorsWorkshop17.pngArlesburgh HarbourBlownAway25.pngArlesburgh Maritime Museum

**North Western Railway**

*\* RWS only* | *\*\* T&F* only | *~~---~~ Dropped*

Template:The Little Western