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Description
In my Au, Thomas is a modified LNER J72 tank engine that is the North Western Railway's #1 engine. He runs the Ffarquhar Branchline, pulling passengers with his two coaches Annie and Clarabel. Thomas arrived on the island in 1915 due to a wartime mix-up, a LBSCR E2 was scheduled to arrive but the ROD officials meant to collect the engine had taken a NER E1 by mistake. It would be 1920 before the mistake was uncovered (as no one on the island had ever seen a E2), when the Fat Director contacted the LBSCR to enquire about purchasing the engine, which had gained the nickname "Thomas", only to discover the E2 had been listed as destroyed during the war! The LBSCR sold the engine to the NWR for a nominal sum to avoid an investigation into the matter. In 1922 the engine, now officially named Thomas, was sent to Crovan's Gate for a major overhaul. Emerging in 1923, the Engine had a considerably different shape with extended side tanks, larger coal bunkers, new smokebox and funnel, and new splashers. In 1925, he was given his own branchline as reward for his role in rescuing another engine. Following his 1923 rebuild, Thomas's running plate was curved to dip down at the front, this was changed back to his original flat running board in 1960 following an collision involving the station master's house.

Description
In my Au, Thomas is a modified LNER J72 tank engine that is the North Western Railway's #1 engine. He runs the Ffarquhar Branchline, pulling passengers with his two coaches Annie and Clarabel. Thomas arrived on the island in 1915 due to a wartime mix-up, a LBSCR E2 was scheduled to arrive but the ROD officials meant to collect the engine had taken a NER E1 by mistake. It would be 1920 before the mistake was uncovered (as no one on the island had ever seen a E2), when the Fat Director contacted the LBSCR to enquire about purchasing the engine, which had gained the nickname "Thomas", only to discover the E2 had been listed as destroyed during the war! The LBSCR sold the engine to the NWR for a nominal sum to avoid an investigation into the matter. In 1922 the engine, now officially named Thomas, was sent to Crovan's Gate for a major overhaul. Emerging in 1923, the Engine had a considerably different shape with extended side tanks, larger coal bunkers, new smokebox and funnel, and new splashers. In 1925, he was given his own branchline as reward for his role in rescuing another engine. Following his 1923 rebuild, Thomas's running plate was curved to dip down at the front, this was changed back to his original flat running board in 1960 following an collision involving the station master's house.