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Vicarstown is a town on the eastern side of Sodor.
History
The Railway Series
The monkish chronicler, Arnold of Cronk, recorded that when in 1150 Cronk Abbey was founded as a daughter house of Furness Abbey, the Abbot of Furness asked for a grant of land on which his Agent or Vicar could build a residence. King Ogmund, suspecting that this might lead to English infiltration, would only grant him land for a house here; hence the place’s name. A town eventually sprung up around the Vicar's house.
The North Western Railway extended to Vicarstown in 1915, and built their main Motive Power Depot and Administrative Headquarters here, as well as a rolling lift bridge connecting Sodor with the Mainland. After the 1925 agreement with the LMS to allow NWR trains to travel across the bridge to Barrow-in-Furness there was no further use required. A smaller replacement station and shed were built for the engines operating the car ferry service in 1927/8, and the turntable was taken up and installed at Barrow, while the headquarters moved to the other end of the main line at Tidmouth. Thomas served as the station pilot here until being transferred to Wellsworth in 1925.
Thomas & Friends
Vicarstown Station is situated on a viaduct, which contains shops in several of its arches. The station is the largest on Sodor, consisting of 8 platforms with a lower level beneath them. The station is built in an elegant Victorian architectural style and is covered by a glass roof, with clock towers on each end.
There is an electric tramway running along the roads underneath the viaduct, and a cathedral is located in the town, near the station.
The Vicarstown Goods Depot, Vicarstown Sheds, Vicarstown Goods Yard, Rolling Bridge and a Viaduct are located here. The Vicarstown Dieselworks is also located a short distance west of the town.
Appearances
Trivia
- The name comes from the Rev. W. Awdry's time as an Anglican priest, and on maps of Sodor it replaces the real Vickerstown, a suburb of Barrow situated on the Isle of Walney.
- As seen in the concept art, several different designs were tested for Vicarstown Station before the final design was decided upon.
- In one concept, the station was on ground level, with access to streets without walking down.
- In another concept, the station's train shed was more level, with a gentle curve, unlike the final version.
- As of the twenty second season, it appears in every end segment.
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway
- Wood (Busy Island Set)