Origins of the 2nd Red Engine from "Sad Story of Henry" Confirmed!
Just found a old thread on Sodor Island Forums confirming the origins of the 2nd Red Engine from "The Sad Story of Henry." SiF user CabForward quoted a letter from Christopher Awdry saying the engine was not James, but was simply "an engine visiting from the mainland."
Visit our forum at: sodor.proboards.com
So this red engine was simply a loanee, not an actual NWR-owned engine. Possible leftover from the Furness/Midland loaners during WW1? This takes place in 1922, so the engine still would've retained either its original Furness or Midland red prior to the Grouping.
Whether it being an actual 2-6-0 or 0-6-0 is debatable. As no such engines existed on either the Furness & Midland prior to 23, we can count it as just another Dalby illustration error. Same with the Johnson/Fowler tender. My best guesses for this engine's basis is either a MR Johnson 3F or FR D5.
Looking at the illustration closely, I'm kinda leaning closer towards the Johnson 0-6-0, particularly for these traits:
-Red livery & wheels
-Deeley/Fowler-style straight sided tender
-Style of firebox, cab & boiler
Problem is, the Johnson Class 3 doesn't quite fit the criteria.
The Johnson 3F's only ever wore black, only exception was 43586 when it got lining on its splashers for the last BR-pulled passenger train on the Worth Valley. Most of them never had straight-sided tenders either, only a select few did in the 30's during LMS days.
No. 3435 was fitted with a straight-sided tender from a withdrawn 4-4-0 in about 1931 or 1929. The events of "The Sad Story of Henry" take place summer 1922.
So could it have been a D5 then? They were red during their pre-grouping tenure. Plus, they were local to Barrow. Shape of the firebox can be excused, along with the tender. Least the red would match, plus we know the Furness retained running rights over the NWR after the war.
Some D5's were given Belpaire fireboxes and smokebox doors Horwich-style to resemble the L&YR 0-6-0 goods engines, but this wasn't till LMS days.
What do you guys think the 2nd Red Engine was? FR D5 or Johnson 0-6-0?