Crovan's Gate

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Crovan's Gate is a fictional location in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry and in the related Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.

Crovan's "Gate" is a narrow gap in the hills used to hold off invaders in the Island of Sodor's history. This has been expanded to allow road and rail to pass through. The name Crovan's Gate now also applies to a town which has grown up to serve the railway works and former quarries and mines in the area.

It is served by two railways. It is the terminus of the Skarloey Railway and a station on the main line of the North Western Railway. It is also the location of the North Western Railway's extensive works. Just east of Crovan's Gate the NWR's Ballahoo and Norramby branch leaves the main line; this line was at one time part of the Sodor & Mainland Railway. The NWR's express train from Tidmouth to Barrow calls at Crovan's Gate.

The NWR works are possibly the best-equipped steam locomotive works in the British Isles, and are capable of undertaking any repair, overhaul or restoration job for any locomotive on the Island. They have also played a major role in the construction of new engines for the Arlesdale and Skarloey Railways. The Fat Controller has also recently been looking into the possibility of manufacturing components for engines on heritage railways.


Preceding station Fictional railways Following station
Vicarstown   North Western Railway
Sodor Main Line
  Kellsthorpe Road
Ballahoo   North Western Railway
Ballahoo & Norramby line
  Terminus
Cros-ny-Cuirn   Skarloey Railway   Terminus

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