Concentrating on the lines we currently have rather than any new branches, I'd like to see: Based on the 6 engines we have: Some variation in the named expresses' stopping patterns, with one being non-stop. Some trains continuing to terminate at Tidmouth (nothing stops there). Thomas's special coach: one of the expresses has a through coach onto Thomas's branchline. With new locos: Henry takes 50% of James's services, with them both taking on mainline freight. Emily remains passenger only. Toby takes over quarry work, freeing up Diesel and particularly Percy to do more shunting at Knapford. Donald and Douglas adding more mainline freight and other tasks. Some of the stopping services should call at Ballahoo.
Deffo utilise Tidmouth and Ballahoo stations!!! hopefully new shunting challenges at Wellsworth, Henry’s Forest, Crosby etc
What about Toby running on Thomas his branchline? Duck on his own branchline? Edward on his branchline? Shunting with Bill and Ben? New stories to play...
Henry would be another engine who could run the mainline, particularly with the Flying Kipper. Edward would have his duties at the Brendam Branch. Duck would have his duties on the Little Western with help from Oliver. Toby could assist with work and shunting on Thomas’ branch line/the quarry including taking workmen to and from the quarry in Henrietta.
Honestly I'd rather see the current routes fleshed out before they add new routes, as much as I'd like to see Edward, plus the Western engines. I was thinking about the Flying Kipper too, and we couldn't do it without Tidmouth Harbour, as Knapford Harbour doesn't connect directly to the mainline the way you see in the Flying Kipper story. Of course they wouldn't be able to match the original, as WoS doesn't do crashes (yet?).
Yeah, I figured that for when Henry arrives, he's just going to be doing the same job as James. He's going to be doing freight work, particularly the Flying Kipper, and also passenger services. For Edward, he is going to be working on his branch line, taking passengers and freight up and down the line. And when he's not doing those things, he's at Wellsworth Station, shunting around the yards and waiting for any engine who needs help to be a banker up the hill. Duck and Oliver would obviously be working on their branch line, which seems pretty cut and dry. Toby would definitely replace Percy and Diesel on the quarry line. One thing I hope Dovetail remembers is that the route to the quarry is a tramway, so Toby is naturally the most suitable engine to run it. I also hope they rework that section of the line, along with Ffarquhar itself. Right now, the station feels far too empty, and it'd be great to see it expanded with more detail, scenery, and activity, so it feels like the accurate, lively Ffarquhar we know from the series.
Fleshing out and improving the current lines would be better, the routes will still feel empty in certain areas if the next engine batch is more Brendam or Little Western based. So far Mavis is the easiest I can suggest as her entire role on Sodor (as far as I know) has always been on Thomas's branch. Services have felt more in line with RWS so far, but I don't know if it will be the same for Toby and Daisy. As for engines coming with new lines, we could have Arthur on duty along Norramby to Ballahoo.
not even his branch line she’s only allowed on the quarry initially and then asks permission to go slightly beyond so it makes shunting easier
