1. The orange branch line coaches honestly feel like a perfect fit for Edward. They may have only appeared for a short time, but they left a strong impression, especially since they were the original basis for Annie and Clarabel and were featured in Thomas & Friends’ most iconic Edward episode, Edward's Exploit. I agree that they match Edward far better than the current red branch line coaches. The red coaches work nicely as general-purpose stock for engines like James or Percy, but the orange coaches have that older, classic branch line feel that complements Edward’s character perfectly. Since the game already leans heavily into the CGI-era designs, using the orange coaches instead of the green-and-cream Season 1 coaches also makes the most sense visually. And realistically, they do not seem impossible for Dovetail Games to add. They could essentially reuse Annie and Clarabel’s base models, remove the facial stitching and character details, and style them after their earlier appearance. Simple, nostalgic, and fitting. Even if they are not the flashiest rolling stock in the series, they have a charm that makes them memorable, and Edward pulling them would just feel right. 2. Next up are Emily's coaches. I don't really have much to say about this. This isn't pressing to me, but I feel like if you're going to have Emily, you might as well bring her coaches too. I don't hate Emily with the express coaches. After all, Sterling singles were express engines, so seeing her with express coaches is not anything strange at all. But the coaches that she was given just fit her like a glove, especially since during the heyday, the express coaches that they pulled were 6 wheeled coaches, and the coaches that she was given on the show were 6 wheeled. For the first cannon steam engine, that's a female, they certainly gave her flowers and respect for those coaches. This doesn't have to be a Dovetail thing, but I feel like it could also work if the coaches were actual characters like Annie and Clarabel. 3. Coming up in third, we have the Flying Kipper rolling stock. When Henry is going to be out in the game, many people are expecting him to have the flying Kipper, which makes sense. He is the engine who pulls that fish every 5:00 AM in the morning. When he does come, I would like the vans to be exactly how they were in the TV series, which were usually bigger vans, longer vans. Sometimes in different colors, but other times they were just the same Gray and brown. They also had bands that were similar to the mail train, but they weren't, so they were just crates and vans that just carried the fish. 4. Lastly, we have Spencer's coaches or special coaches. A lot of people want Spencer in the game, and frankly I do too. A streak of silver that is really causing all types of havoc among Sodor is a definite fan favorite. So naturally, when he comes, he usually brings the Duke and Duchess of Boxford in his special red coaches. Like the rest of the Express coaches in the CGI, these coaches were abnormally and insanely thin. But thankfully the game has made them a little bit thicker so they could fit more people in. Therefore, I feel like you can do this with the red coaches too. As of writing this, a brain blast just hit me. These coaches could be the coaches that Gordon pulls if the game was ever going to do an adaptation of paint pots and Queens. After all, these coaches are clearly based on Pullman coaches, which are arguably the most Royal and glamorous looking coaches in BR's history. It should only make sense that Gordon, being the Royal Engine, pulls out these types of coaches for the Queen.
Henrietta (when Toby is released) Spiteful Brakevan (When Donald and Douglas are released) Toad (when Oliver is released) utility van Old coaches or Emily’s coaches they’ve both similar designs Salt vans Cattle trucks Brakedown train Flatbeds Flatbed loaded with logs, there’s a sawmill in game so it’d make sense to transport them from Henry’s Forest to there (once Henry is added)
Ohh right, how could I forget Toad and Henrietta? No doubt in my mind that they will appear. All of these vans have to return because the vans that we have right now are kind of boring and too similar. This makes the freight trains kind of dull and predictable when we're spawning the trains. So, it'd be good to have salt vans, cattle vans, really any type of other van that differentiates from what we already have now. The Breakdown Train is an absolute MUST! As for the old coaches, I do want them to appear but I held it off because I felt like since the models are based on the CGI counterparts and the season 1 coaches only appeared in, well, Season 1 and only Season 1, I felt like there was going To be a big no from Dovetail since they're sticking to CGI only counterparts. I would love them to make a triumphant return into the spotlight, especially in the game, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Superb suggestions, Ian!
