Albert was a narrow-gauge saddle tank engine that used to work on the Mid Sodor Railway. He did not appear in the Railway Series, but was featured on Wilbert Awdry's layout of the Mid Sodor Railway.
Biography
Railway Series
Albert, along with several other engines, worked alongside Duke, Stuart, and Falcon on the Mid Sodor Railway. Albert's fate was left unknown when their railway went bankrupt and closed, it is presumed he was either sold or scrapped.
Albert never physically appeared in any of the Railway Series stories, the existence of other Mid Sodor Railway engines was implied and indirectly mentioned, he was never mentioned by name.
Technical Details
Basis
The first model of Albert was built out of a Minitrains Baldwin, which was modified into an 0-6-0. The second version of Albert was based on an Falcon Hughes 0-4-2ST in original Corris Railway condition. The Corris Railway had three identical Falcon Hughes locomotives. Two of these locos were dismantled, "cannibalised", scrapped and rebuilt as a single loco using the best parts of each. The latter became Sir Haydn of the Talyllyn Railway. The Corris Railway is currently building a new locomotive to the same design.
Falcon is also based on this engine.
Livery
It is currently unknown what the livery of the original Albert looked like. However, the second model of Albert was painted sky blue. The footplate was painted black, and the sides of the running board and the bufferbeam were painted red, and the engine had brass fittings. Originally, his name and number were painted in gold lettering on his boiler.
Trivia
- Awdry's second model of Albert was put on display at the Reverend Teddy Boston's Cadeby Light Railway, before the railway finally closed in 2005.
- In the television series, Skarloey, Rheneas, and Duncan made various cameo appearances on the Mid Sodor Railway and were depicted as the other engines working alongside Duke, Falcon, and Stuart.
Gallery
