Note: clicking on many maps will open a larger version in a new window, or downloading them will get their true scale.
Sodor was "discovered" in 1949, when Thomas' branch from Knapford to Ffarquhar was drawn, and the connecting line to Tidmouth.
 From "The Thomas the Tank Engine Man". Used with the approval of Brian Sibley |
A map of the complete island came to light around 1950:
 A leaf in the Rev W Awdry's model railway scrapbook. Part of the "Awdry Study" at the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn, Wales. With thanks to NGRM Secretary Chris White, Trustee Winston McCanna, Attendant Ron Whitaker and all other helpful TRPS members. |
By 1952 this was beautifully realised in a large relief map by PR Wickham, comissioned by Edmund Ward for the Rev. Awdry, now part of the "Awdry Study" at the NGRM, Tywyn.
 With many thanks to SiF member and recent NGRM patron, Clay H. for permission to post his photo of the map here. (Aug. 2007) |
PR Wickham faithfully built stock for the Rev's model railway and produced other plans and at least one map, such as this of Thomas' branch in 1959:
 From Railway Modeller December 1959. |
The Wickham relief map was the basis for this Edmund Ward publication of a 22" x 11½" map in 1958:
 Also later reproduced for the endpapers of "Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection." Copyright control. |
In the interim, Awdry produced this map in his typed book "Sodor History"
 Part of the "Awdry Study" at the NGRM, Tywyn. |
And painted this one as a wall hanging in the late 1960s:
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Which was the basis of this map by Peter Edwards in 1971 (Edwards I)
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Edwards had another go in the mid 70s but this lacked cartographic data (Edwards II), and published in endpapers of Engine Stories. Edwards I was improved a bit for the endpapers of More Engine Stories (also mid 70s) (Edwards III):
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Sodor: Edwards II |
Sodor: Edwards III |
Both of which thanks to Robert Michael Shemilt. Copyright control |
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Peter Edwards also had a go at Thomas' Branch in the "Surprise Packet" of 1972
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Edwards III was the basis for another elaboration of Sodor which included Christopher Awdry stories up to "Henry and the Express" in 1992:
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Another map with the same cartographical roots was published in the "Island of Sodor" (1987, 1992). The version below was painstakenly reproduced by hand by contributor Tony Griggs from the map plates found in the book.
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Later maps: Thomas fandom has created new versions of the map, such as Amos Wolfe's very lovely creations as a graphic map and intriguingly in the Harry Beck style of a tube map:
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which can be seen at his
wiki page - thanks for the link this way. Some rights reserved, wiki style. |
Fandom diverges : there is this brilliant Google Earth simulation from Jim Gratton, to whom many thanks.
... and this official version. At least it has the same shape and the line follows the broad general direction, while surrounding land masses have disappeared. It must be said that validity ceased at the start of TV Series One which obliterated Tidmouth as the main terminus station and replaced it with Knapford.
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 ©Egmont Books & Gullane (2010) |
The packet book (32 pages) with this map and other included goodies can be purchased directly from Amazon U.K. and U.S.
Egmont Books Ltd (7 Jun 2010) |
To accompany your country rambles and explain place names, you may like to read the full history of Sodor from Roman times onwards, compiled from Tony's notes on "The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways" by George and Wilbert Awdry. A Phrase Book is included to brush up your Sudrian.
The history of the North Western Railway is also available from the same source with descriptions of all the stations.
Likewise the Mid Sodor Railway, which can be traced in detail on many of the maps abover. This page contains a tour of the Rev W. Awdry's MSR layout.
As Diana Awdry points out, the 1958 map includes the (real) Isle of Walney, home to the real "Vickerstown", while other maps leave it out in favour of Sodor and the fictitious "Vicarstown".
The 1971 map omits Mavis' quarry line, as the Rev Wilbert's last book had then yet to be written. The later maps are up to date to the end of 1972.
Through the kind offices of David Devoy in Edinburgh, we have the British Library catalogue data for some standalone Sodor maps.
Place/Subject: |
SODOR (Island). Railways - Maps and charts |
Title: |
The Rev. W. Awdry's railway map of the Island of Sodor. Showing where Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends live and work. Designed by Peter Edwards |
Publication Details: |
London : Kaye & Ward, [1971] |
Scale: |
Scale 1: 270 000 |
Physical Details: |
84 x 52 cm |
Names: |
AWDRY, Wilbert Vere |
Notes: |
A map of an imaginary island situated between the Isle of Man and Barrow-in-Furness First published 1958 |
Former Shelfmark: |
1296.(1.) |
Shelfmark: |
1296.(1.) |
Place/Subject: |
Imaginative cartography - maps |
Title: |
Thomas the tank engine railway map : Island of Sodor |
Publication Details: |
London : Heinemann, 1992 |
Scale: |
[ca. 1:175 000] |
Physical Details: |
1 map : col,ill ; 47x61cm, folded to 11x5cm |
Names: |
Awdry, W. (Wilbert), 1911- Awdry, Christopher |
Notes: |
Companion to Thomas the tank engine story books - Cover title ISBN/Control No: mlc0742053 |
ISBN/Control No: |
mlc0742053 |
ISBN: |
ISBN 0434963488 |
Shelfmark: |
Maps X.1275. |
Place/Subject: |
Imaginative cartography - maps |
Title: |
Island of Sodor : railway map |
Publication Details: |
Tadworth : Kaye & Ward Ltd, 1983 |
Scale: |
[ca. 1:172 000] |
Physical Details: |
1 map : col ; 47x62cm |
Names: |
Spong, Clive |
Notes: |
First published: 1958 |
ISBN/Control No: |
mlc0700216 |
ISBN: |
0718208412 |
Shelfmark: |
Maps X.891. |
For other pre-TV series merchandising, see the page of Miscellaneous Awdryania.