Edward

Edward is a blue mixed-traffic tender engine who formerly slept in Tidmouth Sheds. Edward runs his own branch line with BoCo in Wellsworth, where he later moved to. Edward is one of the oldest engines on Sodor and is occasionally made fun of for his age. Despite this setback, he is also very wise and optimistic and spreads his knowledge and encouraging attitude towards the other engines and is very clever. Edward was the first character created in the Railway Series.

Basis
The Rev. W. Awdry himself stated that Edward is based on a heavily modified Sharp, Stewart and Company "Larger Seagull" K2 class, supplied to the Furness Railway in 1896.

Sodor "historian" Martin Clutterbuck noted that Edward bears a close resemblance to an LNER D34 "Glen" (NBR Reid Class K) 4-4-0 and an LNER D20 (NER Class R) from the London and North Eastern Railway. He also bears a striking resemblance to an LNER D40 (GNSR Class F). The Reverend W. Awdry also used an LMS Class 2P to represent Edward on his model railway. Some fans have even compared Edward to the LSWR T9 Class, which has a similar general shape.

Visible Crovan's Gate modifications are: making the rear splashers flush with the cab, removal of the coupling rod splashers, new cab windows as opposed to cutaways in his cab side sheets and square cab lookouts as opposed to the original round ones. In both The Railway Series and television series, Edward has a Fowler tender.

Trivia

 * RWS Edward currently spwan at Tidmouth Shed behind Edward.