The British Railway Series

"The British Railway Series" is a model railway series currently shown on Youtube on the Copley Hill Works Channel. It is written and produced by Simon Alexander Martin, a student at Loughborough University.

The current series, "The End of the LNER" is set in the period 1950-1967, in Great Britain and on the Eastern Region of British Railways. Throughout the course of the series the look of the locomotives and rolling stock changes dramatically. This is due in part to the historical events such as British Railway's Modernization plan, and the replacing of steam traction with diesel locomotives.

The locomotives all live at an Eastern region yard, "Copley Hill", which has undergone and will continue to undergo changes in design.

Currently there have been 17 episodes. Although 26 episodes were planned, it seems that the series finale, which, apparently, will feature an appearance from "Tornado", is to be the 30th episode. This will have an appearance by every single character in the series, although likely in flashbacks.

3 more series are planned, although Martin has mentioned that he might only have time to make one.

Martin has commented that the inspiration is a combination of Thomas the Tank Engine and TUGS: Thomas the Tank Engine with Engines and family themes, and TUGS for the darker themes.

Characters

 * N.B. Originally the series was conceived with just three central characters, Stephen, Allen and Sir Ralph. It has been debated as to which of the three engines is the "Thomas" character of the series, the one which the series revolves around. Either way, the trio of passenger locomotives have established themselves as the main characters in the series.

Main Characters
"Stephen" is a Holden B12 locomotive, and the oldest locomotive in the series. He is named for the designer of his class, Stephen Holden. Numbered 61572, Stephen currently wears British Railways mixed traffic black livery, though he has also appeared in LNER green, and BR Express Passenger blue. The Green Stephen was used one more time after Episode 6 in the Black and White segments from Episode 10, and the Blue Stephen was cut up for scrap, and can be spotted with Geoffrey's face in Episode 15x. Wise and sensible, Stephen is the only character to have appeared in every episode of the series so far. He has established himself quite firmly as the fans' favorite character.

"Allen" is a Peppercorn A1 pacific, and one of the youngest locomotives in the series. Numbered 60114, named "W.P Allen", Allen is the prototype of his class. He pulls the "Fair Maid" express regularly, and is a powerful performer. Young, cocky, but well meaning, Allen wore the British Railways Express Passenger Blue livery with pride from Episodes 1 to 15X, but he now carries BR brunswick green along with Sir Ralph, Herbert and Scott.

"Sir Ralph Wedgwood" is a Gresley A4 pacific, and is a rather pompous character who has a good heart in his smokebox somewhere. Numbered 60006, and named "Sir Ralph Wedgwood", he is now painted in BR brunswick green, although he carried British Railways Express Passenger Blue from Episode 1 to Episode 15X. Not everything is what it seems, and Sir Ralph is not quite the locomotive he appears to be - originally, his name was Herring Gull. He gained the name "Sir Ralph Wedgwood" after his friend, Gadwall (whom had been the first to be renamed after the Chief Officer of the LNER), was destroyed in the Baedeker Blitz on York in 1942. This caused some confusion amongst the engines, happily this has now been resolved (see episodes 8-10). His old friend, Gadwall, was seen as a ghost in the first scene of Episode 17.

"Herbert" is a Gresley V2 locomotive, and is a nervous locomotive. Numbered 60903, and wearing British Railways Brunswick Green, Herbert is one of the few characters in the series to have his name or class included in the titles of episodes (namely "Veto a V2!" and "Nigel, Herbert and the Cows"). Although in reality 60903 was not named, the character of Herbert was named after his designer, Herbert Nigel Gresley (better known as Sir Nigel Gresley). Herbert's first appearance came in "Veto a V2!"

"Nigel" is a Gresley V3 locomotive, and is a powerful mixed traffic tank engine. Numbered 67673 and wearing plain black with a cycling lion crest, Nigel is, like Herbert, named after his designer, Herbert Nigel Gresley. He is known to listen to the cricket matches on his driver's old wireless set. His first appearance came in episode 4, "Nigel, Herbert and the Cows".

"Tavish" is a Gresley J39 locomotive numbered 64897, and is the only six coupled tender engine in the series so far. Scottish in origin, Tavish has a strong Scottish accent and a hardworking nature. Tavish first appeared in Episode 6, and has been a firm fans favourite ever since. As the series progressed, Tavish phased out of the series, and nearly stopped appearing completely in Episode 9. However, he appeared in the credits of Episode 14, and cameoed in 15, was prominently featured in 15x and 16, and played a major role in 17.

"Scott" is a Gresley A3 pacific, better known as Flying Scotsman. Numbered 60103, Scott made his full debut in Episode 8 "Scott and the Herring Gull!" although he has appeared in the background of other episodes. Scott was a very tense, angry character, and has been portrayed as being similar to Sir Ralph in terms of character, although there appear to be some more devious tendencies than the haughty A4 pacific. Scott has been the subject of an ongoing trilogy in which he accused Sir Ralph of being an impostor - happily it has been resolved, and the two engines are friends once more. In Episode 16, Scott is overhauled with a new coat of brunswick green paint and double chimney, which he despised dreadfully. The blue Scott appears in the flashback sequence for the same episode. Scott's face hopped around different characters throughout the series. In the original episodes, and in some shots, it was used by Sir Ralph. The double tender Flying Scotsman wears it in some of the black and white openings, the midland engine from Episode 6 wore it, and George wore it in Episode 6.

"Hawk" is an ex Great Western Railways "Hawksworth" pannier tank, specifically the 94XX class and is numbered 9400. He is quiet, and hard working individual with a great sense of right and wrong, and not afraid to speak his mind when it is needed. He returned to the series in episode 11, "Hawk Eyed" and left again in episode 14, "Silent Night". He also appears in the short episodes, "Diesel Depot" (cameo), "Night Hawk" and "Jerry's Ghost", which are three parts of the special episode, 15X entitled "The Parting of Ways". Geoffrey wore his face in Episode 7. Simon Martin has said that he is planning a new series for The British Railway Series; "Great Western Glory", which will feature Hawk.

"Thompson" is a B1 locomotive, numbered 61130, and is the grumpiest locomotive at Copley Hill shed. Rumour has it that he's bitter because of his designer's bad rap with the railwaymen of the old London & North Eastern Railway...

"Stewart" is a British Railways Standard class 6 pacific locomotive who appeared very briefly in episode 5 (as a background engine), however he is the other Scottish locomotive who will have a very significant role to play within the episodes to come. He is numbered 72009 and his full name is Clan Stewart. He is named for the first time in "Day of the Deltic" when it is revealed that Nigel was moved to the Out of Use line so he could pick him up.

"Gronk" is a British Railways Class 08 Diesel/Electric shunter. He has been Copley Hill's yard shunter since Episode 11. Timid, but hard working, Gronk tries his best to please everyone, however there are some characters who look to take advantage of his good nature. He was the engine that moved Nigel to the out of use and when the other engines found out they turned on him. Stephen helped him by saying that he could shunt at Leeds Central instead.

Recurring Characters
"George" is an Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T, numbered 41241. He first appeared in episode 6 where he was loaned to Copley Hill from the Midland Region after Stephen's accident. He soon became friends with Nigel after finding out that they both like cricket. He remained at Copley Hill until episode 9, where he left the yard to return to the Midland Region. He made a cameo before his first official appearance in episode 5 and also appeared in the opening of episode 10. He wore Scott's face in his first appearance.

"Jerry" is a Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 who first appeared in episode 6, talking to Stephen about the Modernisation Plan before leaving. In episode 15X, Stephen came to visit him at the diesel depot where Gronk had been sent. Jerry tells Stephen that he is just waiting for his crew to take him home, unlike the many other steam engines awaiting scrapping. Jerry also tells Stephen that he saw a ghost engine (Fowler's Ghost) after a shunter was scrapped. Stephen says that he has seen the engine as well, before leaving. Jerry, confused at Stephen's sudden departure, shrugs it off. Jerry is named after Simon Martin's father, who worked on the layout.

"Samson" is a Royal Scot 8P 4-6-0 who appeared in episode 6. He is the engine who was pulling the train that Stephen crashed into. The next morning, he tells Allen and Sir Ralph about the accident, and then leaves. He has since made a cameo in episode 7.

"Arthur" is an Ex-LNER Peppercorn A2 Pacific, numbered 60525. His full name is "A.H. Peppercorn", after his designer. He first appears in episode 9 as the engine who takes Sir Ralph's train after he is diverted onto the wrong line because of a wrong headcode. He then appears in episode 10's opening before making an official appearance in episode 12. He is helping move things to the Copley Hill carriage works before overhaul at Ardsley. He is found by Hawk after he follows him after seeing him take another van. He is then sent to Ardsley and returns in episode 14 in a new coat of brunswick green. He has developed a rivalry with Allen.

"Geoffrey" is an Ex-LNER J50 0-6-0 tank engine, numbered 68952. He is rather grouchy and is the leader of the small tank engines. He first appears in episode 13, shunting Nigel into the shed for repairs to his cylinder. He made a cameo beforehand in episode 7. His main appearance is episode 15, where he is angry at Gronk for moving Nigel to the Out of Use line, and insists that Gronk is thrown out. He wears the face of the Old Western Engine from Episode 1, although, interestingly, he wore Hawk's face in his cameo from Episode 7. The blue Stephen model, used as scrap in Episode 15x, wore his face.

"Holden" is an Ex-LNER J83 0-6-0 tank engine, numbered 68463, who has made a number of cameos in the series starting with episode 10.

"Deltic" is the English Electric Prototype Diesel-Electric Express Locomotive, the DP1. He is the first major villain in the series and is very keen on the Modernisation Plan. He turns up unexpected in episode 15, and shows up around the yard many times after in the same episode. He interrogates Gronk about him moving Nigel and he tells him of the Modenisation Plan. He also tells the engines about Gronk before threatening Allen, who stands up to him. When he is pulling an express afterwards he suddenly fails, leaving Allen to take his train. The next day, he is about to be taken away, when he apologises to Gronk before passing out. He is then taken away. Simon Martin has said that he will return in another episode, as this was not the 1961 failure that ended the DP1's real working life as the year was 1959 in episode 15. He first made a cameo in episode 11.

"Tornado is the first Peppercorn A1 Locomotive built in 50 years. Tornado was finished in 2008, 40 years after the end of British mainline steam. Simon Martin recently custom built a Tornado model; it cameoed in the Credits of Episode 14, and made a rather obvious cameo in Episode 16 in the yard from the flashbacks (many fans think that he found a TARDIS with a very large door!). Tornado will be featured in Episode 30, Tornado and the Last Run to the Cross, the Series Finale for "The End of the LNER".

List of episodes
1. A Great Problem Goes West!

2. Veto a V2!

3. Hawk, Aye!

4. Nigel, Herbert and the Cows

5. Hand of the Fair Maid!

6. Goodbye, Stephen the Green Engine

7. Christmas, 1952

8. Scott and the Herring Gull!

9. Birds of a Feather!

10. The Legacy of Gadwall

11. Hawk Eyed!

12. Hawk the Hunter!

13. Suburban Tank

14. Silent Night

15. The Day of the Deltic

15X. The Parting of Ways - Includes "Diesel Depot", "Night Hawk" and "Jerry's Ghost".

16. Great Scott!

17. Fowler's Ghost

17X. The Ghosts of Engines Past (Coming September 2010)

18. The Lady of Malta (Coming September 2010?)

Final Episode: 30. Tornado & The Last Run to the Cross

Shorts
In the special video, "The Making of The British Railway Series", there were three special "shorts" which continued the story of Episode 15.

The names of the shorts are:
 * 1) Diesel Depot
 * 2) Night Hawk
 * 3) Jerry's Ghost

Predominantly, the main character in the shorts is Stephen, though he is joined by Gronk, Hawk, Tavish, Jerry (Episode 6's standard 4MT character), and the first appearance of the class 47 diesel, "Brush" (who was unusually nice for a diesel).

These shorts were later merged together into a special episode for Youtube numbered/named Episode 15X, "The Parting of Ways". It was intended to bridge the gap between Episode 15 and Episode 16. It is considered canonical in the series, though not being an episode in its own right.

Another series of shorts are being made for the special episode, Episode 17X, "The Ghosts of Engines Past". The names of the shorts are unknown, but they will feature the winners of the British Railway Series Character Competition. The episode was scheduled for a 10th August 2010 release, but Simon Martin announced that he was reshooting parts of the episode to satisfy his expectations, so it would be released at a later date. This would be the longest hiatus the series have ever experienced, but Martin has promised that the wait will be worth it.
 * Plans are afoot to release a special DVD to help fund the building of sets and new camera equipment. The DVD will contain, for the first time, the full Episode 15, a full hour special named "The Day of the Deltic & The Parting of Ways".

A trailer for the new episode was released on September 4, 2010. It used test footage from the episode and featured Stephen, and a cameo by Sir Ralph.

N.B. Updates and behind the scenes pictures can be viewed on the new dedicated website: http://www.britishrailwayseries.com, where there are complete episode guides, character profiles, interviews, a guestbook and many other features!