The Engines of Sodor was a series on Youtube based on the books and the Thomas & Friends show created by Thomas1Edward2Henry3
The series follows the engines as they experience various hinjinks throughout the island. The first episode was released on June 13 2013 with a remaster in April of 2020. On December 3rd 2015, the series would further expand with the addition of "NWR Orgins" The series concluded on October 19th 2019 with “Wrath on the Rails.” Though as of 2023, two prequel episodes were released.
Tropes of The Engines Of Sodor:
- Actually Pretty Funny: After reconciling with Thomas in "Trouble With Two" Edward mentions that Thomas’ comment about blue engines was rather humorous.
- Adaptational Backstory Change: "Ten Out of Ten" reveals that Diesel 10 used to work on a line near the line Lady worked at. After getting into a argument with her, he chases her only to fall off a bridge. He was sent for scrap only for Phil Boggiston to rescue him and send him on Sodor.
- Numerous engines have their backstories changed in "NWR Origins".
- Adaptational Expansion: Unlike the books and show, the series shows how Diesel was found out for his devious deeds.
- Adaptational Jerkass: Before he came to Sodor, Boco had the same supremest attitude that other diesels had regarding steam engines. After some mishaps though he gets better.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: Sir Topman Hatt is far more forgiving towards his engines when they make mistakes as he never blames them for something that was out of their control.
- Gordon is less boastful than he usually is and is more outwardly friendly to the other engines. He even calls the other engines family at the end of "Pride of The Line".
- Ax-Crazy: Oh yes is Alfred is this.
- Big Bad: Phil Boggiston is revealed to be this since he’s the master of Wretch and Diesel 10.
- Composite Character: "The Search for Smudger" reveals that Smudger was recovered from his generator role on the Mid Sodor Railway, and through a series of events rebuilt into Bertram.
- Connected All Along: Turns out, the numerous crashes and accidents that occured in the fifth season were attempts to ruin the NWR via Phil Boggiston. Even some of the early accidents such as the bridge collapse back in the second season? That was thanks to Phil.
- Darker and Edgier: At times the series can go into much darker territory with PTSD, violence and death.
- Demythification: With Thomas and the Magic Railroad non-canon to this universe, "Ten Out of Ten" presents a series of events based on those in the movie, but branding itself as, "the story of a diesel with a claw...but not the "magic" one you've heard of": The Magic Railroad is simply the nickname of a heritage line that a non-magical version of Lady works on, and Diesel 10 chased her over the viaduct after a spat but ended up falling off. The episode also begins with Diesel 10 thundering past Thomas and Gordon, terrifying the latter, just like how the movie began.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: The characters were far more prone to swearing in the early episodes while in the later episodes, the swearing was dialed back.
- Even Evil Has Standards:
- Granted he was already tired of his master’s plan but Diesel 10 is horrified when Boggiston decides to blow up the Fat Controller and his father.
- The Troublesome Trucks were horrified when they overheard Alfred planning on murdering Gordon and Henry with a Suicide Attack after learning he was going to be sent away to be scrapped.
- Evil Is Petty: The villain’s motive for causing chaos and mayhem? All started by Phil blaming Sir Topham Hatt for what Phil feels was an unjust job loss. Furthermore, Phil was the one who got himself into trouble in the first place as he not only raised the fuel prices to a ungodly amount according to Topham but became even more of a awful boss than his father was.
- George Lucas Altered Version: Some episodes get this treatment with the most notable being the remasters of "James and the Wretched Day" "Gordon Goes Swimming" and "Stuck" as they not only remove the swearing that was frequent in the early episodes the ending of "Stuck" is changed to where Topham’s fart scares a workman into dropping his blowtorch into the snow pile causing it to melt rather than Topham’s fart igniting the fuel they’ve put down in their attempt to get Donald and Dogulas out.
- Heel–Face Turn: Both Diesel and D199 do this before the series begins. Crovan later follows suit as well.
- Hypocritical Humor: In "The Bridge of Caledonian Doom" D199 mentions that he hates the twins latching onto a out of date hatred towards diesels before Bear mentions that he was exactly like that when he first arrived to Sodor.
- Karma Houdini: Diesel was meant to be sent away and never return after causing mayhem with his arrogance and poor attitude but he’s given a new chance to many of the engines’ chargin. Justified since "Revolutionary Redemption" reveals that Diesel earned his chance by saving the lives of Oliver, Toad and Salty from a fire.
- Karmic Jackpot: Diesel saving the lives of Oliver, Toad and Salty "Revolutionary Redemption" gives Diesel one more chance to redeem himself after causing trouble. After this, Diesel becomes a better engine.
- Patchwork Fic: The series combines the canons of the Railway Series books and the show, with book-exclusive characters such as the Culdee Fell engines, Bear, and Ivo Hugh co-existing with TV-exclusive characters such as Bertram, Derek, and Diesel 10.
- Reformed, but Rejected: "Revolutionary Redemption" mentions that while Diesel has truly changed, many engines didn’t believe it for a long time.
- Red Herring: In "Phantom Saboteur", it seems that Otto Grub is trying to kill Sir Topham Hatt in revenge for losing his trial but it turns out that it’s Phil Boggiston.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Sir Topham Hatt is even more reasonable than usual as he never blames the engines for anything and always gives them advice when they need it.
- Wham Shot: The ending of "Tarnished Legacy" reveals that Thitkins is the one who’s been orchestrating the accidents albeit under a higher power and Diesel 10 is in on it.
