Skarloey Engine Sheds

“What a small shed! This won't do at all! We're much too smart for this old shack!"
"I think it's nice.”

― Sir Handel and Peter Sam, Four Little Engines

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Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds is where the locomotives and rolling stock of the Skarloey Railway rest.

Sheds in the Railway Series

The sheds and rails were raised up above the standard gauge tracks and there was a 'ramp' where narrow gauge rolling stock could be transferred onto a standard gauge flatbed or wellwagon.

Engine Shed

When the Skarloey Railway was under construction in 1865, a small engine shed and a carriage shed was being built by the wharf at Crovan's Gate. Originally, the engine shed was a brick structure with a single road. However, when Peter Sam and Sir Handel were purchased, an open-side shed was added to make it into a two-road shed. Later, a second track was added to the brick part of the shed, making it a three-road shed.

In 1961, when Rheneas returned, the open-side shed was repaired and closed (as shown from Gallant Old Engine, although other books inconsistently show it open sided).

After Duke's rescue and rebuilding in 1969, the main shed was extended to the rear, able to hold six locomotives. Doors at the back of the shed give access to a turntable installed in 1965.

Carriage Sheds

The original shed of 1865 was timber built and open at the base. At an unknown date, prior to the events of Four Little Engines, the Carriage Shed's timber footings had been replaced with slate slabs.

When the revival in the railway's fortunes began in 1954, and passenger stock increased, the Carriage and Wagon Shops were extended. This made it necessary to re-lay the main line to clear the enlarged sheds.

Sheds in the Television Series

When the Skarloey Railway was introduced in the fourth season, the engine and carriage sheds were identical to their Railway Series counterparts, except reversed and the wooden part of the shed had two tracks instead of one and the sheds and rails were lowered to ground level. Across from the sheds was a standard gauge shed/shunting yard and a roundhouse. The sheds were seemingly replaced by the Depot from the sixth season onwards.

In the eighteenth season, similar looking sheds reappeared on a curve track right behind Crovan's Gate station, however the carriage shed is missing, the brick shed does not have a back with the rails running right through them and the wooden shed is single lined only. They do not appear to be used for resting at night.

Gallery

Railway Series Sheds

First appearance, with both sheds single-lined

Skarloey and Sir Handel at the sheds

The sheds in The Little Old Engine (note that the brick shed becomes double-tracked)

The narrow gauge transfer 'ramp' seen in Gallant Old Engine (note that the open sided shed is now closed on the sides)

The carriage sheds in 1865 from Very Old Engines

The sheds in Mountain Engines

Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, Peter Sam and Duke at the sheds

The Railway Series engine shed as seen in a Story Library Book

Television series Sheds

The Skarloey Railway sheds in the fourth season

Duncan at the carriage shed

The yards outside the sheds

Duke, Peter Sam, Sir Handel, Skarloey, Duncan and Rheneas at the sheds

George working behind the sheds

The sidings behind the sheds

The standard gauge sheds nearby

The back of the sheds

The sheds behind Crovan's Gate station in full CGI (top right corner)