Someone on the Wonders of Sodor Discord recently shared some images of Crocks Scrap Yard, and I have to admit, this caught my attention. Since Crocks Scrap Yard is associated with the Brendam Branch, could this potentially be a hint that Dovetail is working on that area? And if the Brendam Branch is being developed, I think that makes Edward more than likely the next engine announcement to be added alongside his branch line. Obviously, this doesn’t confirm anything, but I thought it was worth bringing up. Maybe we’re looking at our first little clue toward Edward and the Brendam Branch? What do you guys think?
I wonder if the base game was planned to have Brendam and a few more engines with this being the only thing prepared. It feels like an unfinished layout with a placeholder field. TV series track layout with the addition of buffers while using the RWS name. Now I wonder if Reg will be added.
I think that the scrapyard's existence only suggests that a future character may serve this industry later down the line. There's actually quite a few unused places on the existing map: Tidmouth station Henry's forest (I guess we can expect Henry to service this one when he's released) Crocks scrap yard Whispering woods halt Timber mill The entire ballahoo branch and its station also some industries like cattle and milk i think on the line? and more I probably forget plus a bunch of goods sidings basically at every bigger station. There's also two free berths at Tidmouth sheds, I guess those will go to henry and toby? They have plenty of wiggle room to add characters before they have to expand the map, but keep in mind it's never been confirmed they actually will extend the map. If you look at TSW, to my knowledge map extensions have never been a thing so I'd be curious to see how they manage it with WOS.
I think at this point they would be crazy to not extend the map, especially with partially finished locations and other characters and locations being name dropped, including Duck, Oliver and the Little Western. If they do a map extension, I have absolutely no doubt that Edward and the Brendam branch will be first. People have publicly comments at how the game feels very incomplete with only the main line and Thomas’s branch line to explore, and I think gradually adding more locations and characters will really help the game a lot.
More engines, the more it will feel alive and the more players will want in on the game. Henry in winter doesn't sound like much, but it's an extra engine to pass by between Tidmouth and Vicarstown. New rolling stock too which will fill out the rails. It's unlikely, but what I'd be surprised with the line expansions is if they updated the map for free while keeping everything else DLC. The lines would still feel empty without engines on them, so you'd still feel the need to buy engines, their rolling stock, their services and scenarios.
I personally don’t think they will add the branch lines for free, I probably should’ve made that a little more clear. But in a DLC with the branch line and one to two engines to go with it as its own bundle, is something I could easily see dovetail doing at some point with Wonders of Sodor. It will probably be done gradually as discussed earlier: winter 2026: Henry DLC Q1 2027: Toby DLC Q2 2027 (most likely May): Edward and Salty with Brendam Branch DLC Q3 2027 (July or August): Duck and Oliver with the Little Western DLC
That's the most likely scenario. Edward and Salty make sense as starters, you have one engine heading up and down the line and then another at Brendam Docks shunting. Maybe Bill & Ben will come as a double pack to fill in the vacant Clay Pits, but the Little Western before that would then leave us with both lines open for more additional engines to be added from the Scottish twins to our dear BoCo. Mavis could be added after Toby next and if engines are keeping their RWS timetables, then Daisy too to make the Ffarquhar branch feel complete.
