The Duke and Duchess of Boxford's Summer House

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The Duke and Duchess of Boxford's Summer House
Background Information
First appearance	Edward the Great (2004)
Last appearance	An Engine of Many Colours (2018)
Creator(s)	Abi Grant
Overview
Location	North-west of Maron, Island of Sodor (Sam Wilkinson map)
Operations
Managed by	The Duke and Duchess of Boxford
Line(s)	Ulfstead Branch Line (Sam Wilkinson map)
No. of platforms	1

The Duke and Duchess of Boxford's Summer House is a large house near the Whistling Woods used by the Duke and Duchess of Boxford when they visit the Island of Sodor. It is served by a halt named Boxford, on the Ulfstead Branch Line of the North Western Railway.

History

The Duke and Duchess of Boxford had their original summer house built when they came on their second visit to Sodor. This summer house was served by a small platform on a single-track line. It is unclear what became of the original summer house after the new one was built.

Much later, a new summer house was built and Spencer returned to Sodor to help out with its construction. Due to Spencer spending much of his time following Thomas to try and pay him out, however, the summer house was not complete by the time the Duke and Duchess arrived for their holiday. The summer house was eventually completed with the help of Thomas and the newly-restored Hiro.

The new summer house has a passing loop nearby and a halt named "Boxford". The new station is much more substantial than the original and has its own waiting room.

Gordon and Ferdinand were once tasked with the job of taking the Lion of Sodor statue here for the summer. Later, Percy and Diesel collected a calliope from the summer house for their scrap train. The calliope was later restored at the Sodor Steamworks after Percy figured out how to make it work again.

Appearances

• Television Series
• Other Media

Thomas & Friends Series 8 - Edward the Great Series 13 - Creaky Cranky Series 14 - Toby and the Whistling Woods Series 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand, Henry's Happy Coal and Spencer the Grand (mentioned) Series 16 - Percy and the Calliope and Welcome Stafford! Series 17 - Percy's Lucky Day Series 18 - Timothy and the Rainbow Truck Series 19 - Two Wheels Good Series 21 - Confused Coaches (mentioned) Series 22 - An Engine of Many Colours (fantasy) Specials 2009 - Hero of the Rails Music Videos Hero of the Rails - Go, Go Thomas

Books 2009 - Hero of the Rails 2018 - Character Encyclopedia (mentioned) My Thomas Story Library 2005 - Spencer 2010 - Hiro (mentioned) Engine Adventures 2016 - Hiro (mentioned) 2017 - Thomas' Trusty Wheels

Trivia

• The model for the original Summer House was later reused for Topham Hall in The Great Discovery.
• The new summer house has had modifications throughout the CGI era. These include:
  • Series 16:
    • The colour of the road leading up to the summer house is changed from light grey to black.
  • Series 17:
    • The name of the station is removed from the sign at the halt.
    • The sign at the halt loses its raised edges, now becoming completely flat.
    • The lamps on the platform become a matching blue to the frames on the station building.
    • The station benches change design.
    • The hanging baskets on the station building and flower beds on the platform are removed.
    • The road leading up to the summer house returns to its original colour.
  • Series 19:
    • The station's name returns to the sign.
    • A signal box is added between the running lines and passing loop.

Merchandise

• Tomica (discontinued)

Station Guide

Sam Wilkinson Map

Preceding station	North Western Railway			Following station
Maron FC		Ulfstead Branch Line		Ulfstead Castle