Edmond

Edmond is an E4 0-6-2T that worked on the Wellsworth & Suddery Railway (W&S) from 1895 to the formation of the North Western Railway (NWR) in 1915.

Bio
Following the loss of Emily in December 1894 and an increase in suburban traffic on the W&S, the need of a more powerful suburban tank locomotive became apparent. Despite the arrival of the E3 0-6-2T No. 21 "Elizabeth" early in 1895, the workload was still too great for the W&S which resulted in the order of a E4 0-6-2T, an improved and larger version of the E3, from Brighton Works in April that year. Three months later, the new E4, No. 29 "Edmond" was delivered at Brendam Harbour and pressed straight into service, proving his worth to the suburban fleet. During the Duke's visit that year, Edmond was tasked with handling a goods train from Crosby to the shared station with the rival Sodor & Mainland Railway (S&M), Killdane. Despite originally refusing to take the over how "spendid" he was, Edmond took the train and showed how powerful he could be, especially over Wellsworth Bank between Wellsworth and Maron, to the Duke.

Edmond's life was quiet for a while until he was reboilered with a new E4 boiler designed by Douglas E. Marsh in 1908 which modernised his appearance. In December 1915, Edmond was passed into North Western Railway (NWR) ownership and renumbered to '64' by the new company, but wouldn't receive his new number until repainted in 1920. In 1938, Edmond seemed to disappear just before he was due for withdrawal by the NWR and became largely forgotten until he was discovered in 1990, 52 years later, outside the station limits of Peel Godred by NWR 4-4-4T No. 49 "Dalby" and experimental steam-electric 2-4-0ST+T No. 45. He was purchased by the Sudrian Preservation Society (SPS), the same society that owns Gwen and Worthington, and restored to operational condition at Crovan's Gate Works into his Wellsworth & Suddery condition after 1908.

Personality
Prior to 1900, Edmond is a rather cocky and envious engine who would try make himself the centre of attention, even going as far as trying to head express services.

Livery
Edmond is painted in the standard Wellsworth & Suddery Railway Maroon.

Appearances

 * German Spy (cameo)
 * Dukes and Railways (first official appearance)
 * Brighton Baltic (does not speak)

Basis
Edmond is based off a LBSCR E4 class. The class was introduced by Robert John Billinton in 1897 as an improved and larger version of his E3 class 0-6-2T radial tank from 1891, with 75 constructed by 1903. The design was modified and reboilered by Douglas E. Marsh to have a more modern appearance to compliment the increasing passenger trains, with four even rebuilt with larger boilers, labelled as "E4X", in 1909. In 1942, No. 2483 'Hellingly' was damaged beyond repair at Eastbourne engine shed by Luftwaffe bombers during the Baedeker Blitz, resulting in its disposal in 1944. Official withdrawals began in 1955 when the Southern Region of British Railway began closing down major branch lines and electrifying their mainline services following the publishing of the Beeching Axe, the last one was retired in 1963. One, No. 473 'Birch Grove', has been preserved by the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, in the heart of their former territory.

Trivia
Edmond is a paradox as he was built two years before his class was even introduced!

Edmond was original planned to be "scrapped" or "sold to another railway" but this was changed after the author listened to the Arcade Productions original song 'End of the Line' with the verse "Let the Branches of the Sodor Pine, Keep me hidden from the test of time."

A model of Edmond in his reboilered form was created using a Bachmann E4 for OO gauge.

Edmond is referred to by the author as a "tank engine version of Railway Series James".


 * This can be confirmed as he sees himself as "splendid" and has a great dislike to hauling goods trains, even when told to haul them.
 * He also has a variant of James' Triumphant Theme from the Season 1 episode "Troublesome Trucks".