#ThrowbackThursday - The Awdry Centenary Special (18/6/2011)

On Saturday June 18th, 2011, the day before Father’s Day, I went on a special trip to the Talyllyn Railway in Northern Wales with my dad for a train ride along the lovely little line. It was a lovely afternoon by the time we arrived at Tywyn station to book our tickets, but it was decided that we both explored the station and museums first.

I even got to explore the gift shop in Tywyn filled with classic Thomas books and toys that were on the shelves among many Railway related items, and even had a picture taken next to one of the narrow gauge mining engines in the museum. As we explored the place from upstairs, I had a chance to explore the special centenary exhibition in honour of the late Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry (1911 - 1997). The cabinets and green boards filled with Wilbert’s possessions, the Railway Series books in which he was the writer and author, and some archival photographs during his lifetime.

During some exploration while filming, I had a brief chat with some lovely railway staff about the legacy of Wilbert Awdry, the centenary celebration and how I met his son Christopher in person a few times. I then decided to film the Awdry Study place which was another one of the highlights of the trip from my perspectives.

Shortly after, my father and I went out to take a train ride from 1:50 PM along the line with Edward Thomas (who inspired Awdry to create ‘Peter Sam’ based on the particular engine) taking us to Nant Gwernol and back. Along the way, we passed Tom Rolt and stopped at a crossing next to the locomotive sheds for a couple of minutes before the train can move again.

In the middle of our train journey after passing many beautiful countrysides and fields filled with cows and sheep, in which my father remarked that it was like the countryside in ‘The Lord of the Rings’, I met Veronica Chambers at Abergynolwyn station (where Sir Handel and Rusty were around during the time) and we both had a brief yet pleasant chat about her father before I headed back into the train onward to our final stop at Nant Gwernol.


By the time we arrived, Peter Sam was uncoupled and changed tracks for the return journey to Tywyn, while I filmed some shots of the rushing rivers, waterfalls and a steep hill that was used to be an incline. However it was decided for a short stroll along the rivers of Dolgoch Falls and explored the caves.



After some additional exploration on our little railway adventure, my father and I took another train (pulled by Tom Rolt) back to Tywyn and went safely home by car for some well earned rest after a long journey.

See five videos and a photo album of the trip in these links!

Part 1: https://youtu.be/aKhMsfxH9Zk

Part 2: https://youtu.be/tPr6se69e9M

Part 3: https://youtu.be/mm6oM7ezsyQ

Part 4: https://youtu.be/Uks6FssRFQQ

Part 5: https://youtu.be/CtWeHaqPAmQ

Photo album: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Dan5589/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2381861712050947&ref=page_internal

The History of Thomas & Friends - A Blog Report by SmurfyDan

On the cloudy morning of Saturday May 18th, my father drove up to the car park of the Midland Railway - Butterley station where I was dropped out of the car and bought the train ticket to Swanwick. There I met Lewis the Racoon inside the train where he showed off his replica gauge 1 van with a laughing face on!

As we had a short train journey to Swanwick, we walked outside the station to our destination ~ even though it was initially going to be inside the church, now moved to the cafe place for there was enough room to see the ultimate Thomas exhibition display!

To my surprise, there was a lot to explore throughout the exhibition display tables but my personal highlights are looking through folders of character models, behind the scenes pictures from Series 5 and Thomas & The Magic Railroad and Bob Gauld Galliers’ Series 4 storyboards, Owein Bell’s artwork of Edward, Gordon, Henry and the Fat Controller, original manuscripts of The Three Railway Engines and most importantly ~ seeing Rocky, TFC, rolling stock and lots of unique and authentic TV series props.

There was even a display table dedicated to the Mr. Perkins segments which filled with books, oil portraits of The Fat Controller and Thomas and the late Ben Forster’s engine driver outfit. There was even a Thomas table for children to play with toys and watching Thomas DVDs on a television set, and there was even a huge Thomas statue waiting to welcome the visitors, as they enter the station cafe. 

During my stay at the exhibition throughout the weekend, I met some familiar faces like TEngine, Terrier55Stepney, sparkshot and CraneProductions27 who bought in a special victoria sponge cake he made with red icing letters ‘THOMAS & FRIENDS’ written on it. He showed the cake to everyone and it looked terrific and scrumptious. It had been a pleasure meeting new faces as well and I even had a photograph taken next to one of fellow Thomas fans on Twitter.

I even got around with some great friends for a group photo which was really nice, and before I left earlier at 3 PM on Sunday with my father for the journey home due to traffic, Ross offered me a slice of his lovely cake which tasted delicious, and I even left a quotation of the Fat Controller saying ‘Well D’jun!’ (in which Michael Angelis used his Yorkshire accent for the character that was very well known) as a feedback to sum up my experience.

Overall I have had a terrific time exploring different exhibition tables from props and pictures to merchandise like books, toys and artworks. The exhibitors were pleasant to engage a conversation and were very helpful on answering questions and offering advices. They had all done an excellent job making visitors happy both young and old.

 

One more year and we will all be having a real celebration for the legacy of Awdry and Thomas.

~ SmurfyDan

You can now see the video and photo album through these links!
https://youtu.be/l9lEqFuZ1mk
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8bBwKmdAZAocttYz5