Culdee Fell Railway

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Mountain Engines book cover

A map of the Culdee Fell Railway

A map of the Island of Sodor showing the Railway system (click to enlarge).

The Culdee Fell Railway is a fictional railway on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series of children's books written by Rev. W. Awdry. It is based on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, and is a steep rack and pinion railway high in the mountains of Sodor. The line runs from Kirk Machan, where it meets the standard gauge line from Kildane to Peel Godred, to the summit of Culdee Fell.

Fictional history

According to "research" by Rev. W Awdry, the railway was the brainchild of the tourist Mid Sodor Railway. Construction started in 1897; the line was inspected in March 1900 and opened to the public on Whit Monday, but after just a month one of the locomotives was destroyed when it derailed and fell down a cliff. The line remained closed until the following season whilst improvements were made. It is popular with tourists and runs from Easter to Michaelmas, maintenance being undertaken in the winter.

The engines of Culdee Fell have only featured in one book, Mountain Engines of 1964. They are all painted purple, but each has its own distinctive personality. The book features three of these engines, whilst the others are only mentioned in passing. Each locomotive pushes a single coach uphill, but is not coupled to the coach. One of these coaches is called Catherine, and works with Culdee.

The railway can be reached by the Peel Godred branch of the North Western Railway. This railway's Works are responsible for major repairs on the Culdee Fell Railway's engines. Previously, engines requiring overhaul had had to be sent to their manufacturer Switzerland, a long and expensive journey.

Devil's Back is a high exposed ridge which the railway runs along, corresponding to Clogwyn of the real Snowdon Mountain Railway.

Locomotives

These engines are all based upon equivalent locomotives from the Snowdon Mountain Railway.

No. Culdee Fell locomotive SMR equivalent Notes
1 Godred L.A.D.A.S. Arrived in 1900 - Ran away on opening day and received extensive damage after jumping the rails and tumbling down the mountain side. Was broken down for spare parts.
2 Ernest Enid Arrived in 1900, he played only a minor role in the third story of Mountain Engines. Has been superseded by Alaric and Eric. Current working status unknown.
3 Wilfred Wyddfa Arrived in 1900, he played only a minor role in the third story of Mountain Engines. Has been superseded by Alaric and Eric. Current working status unknown.

4 Culdee Snowdon Arrived in 1900. Named after the mountain and has a coach named Catherine. He provides the role of narrator for the first two stories of Mountain Engines, and plays supporting roles in the third and fourth stories.
5 Shane Dooiney Moel Siabod Arrived in 1900. Not present at the time of publication, he was away being overhauled in Switzerland. Following his return, all overhaul procedures for rack engines were transferred to Crovan's Gate for a cheaper and more efficient service.
6 Lord Harry Padarn Arrived in March 1962. A reformed troublemaker, he once lost his name for behaving recklessly. He is now named Patrick following a gallant emergency rescue in high winds. Built to a contemporary 'super-heat' design.
7 Alaric Ralph Arrived in May 1962 - built to a contemporary 'super-heat' design. Plays only a minor part in the stories.
8 Eric Eryri Arrived in July 1962 - built to a contemporary 'super-heat' design. Plays only a minor part in the stories.

No.	Culdee Fell locomotive	SMR equivalent	Notes
1	Godred	L.A.D.A.S.	Arrived in 1900 - Ran away on opening day and received extensive damage after jumping the rails and tumbling down the mountain side. Was broken down for spare parts.
2	Ernest	Enid	Arrived in 1900, he played only a minor role in the third story of Mountain Engines. Has been superseded by Alaric and Eric. Current working status unknown.
3	Wilfred	Wyddfa	Arrived in 1900, he played only a minor role in the third story of Mountain Engines. Has been superseded by Alaric and Eric. Current working status unknown.
4	Culdee	Snowdon	Arrived in 1900. Named after the mountain and has a coach named Catherine. He provides the role of narrator for the first two stories of Mountain Engines, and plays supporting roles in the third and fourth stories.
5	Shane Dooiney	Moel Siabod	Arrived in 1900. Not present at the time of publication, he was away being overhauled in Switzerland. Following his return, all overhaul procedures for rack engines were transferred to Crovan's Gate for a cheaper and more efficient service.
6	Lord Harry	Padarn	Arrived in March 1962. A reformed troublemaker, he once lost his name for behaving recklessly. He is now named Patrick following a gallant emergency rescue in high winds. Built to a contemporary 'super-heat' design.
7	Alaric	Ralph	Arrived in May 1962 - built to a contemporary 'super-heat' design. Plays only a minor part in the stories.
8	Eric	Eryri	Arrived in July 1962 - built to a contemporary 'super-heat' design. Plays only a minor part in the stories.

Television and Other Media

The Culdee Fell Railway has never appeared in the television series. However, a location in Season 9 was referred to as "Culdee Caves" in a nod to the Railway Series.

Merchandise has been produced based on the Mountain Engines, particularly Culdee and Catherine.

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