Elwood City Central

Arthur => Episodes => Topic started by: JAO93 on October 29, 2013, 01:26:26 pm

Title: Trains shown in "When Carl Met George"
Post by: JAO93 on October 29, 2013, 01:26:26 pm
I am watching this episode, having avoided it until now under the usual pretense of the show being more preachy nowadays (I did not like "The Great MacGrady", and am not crazy about the other heavy-issue episodes). I'm quite piqued by the steam locomotive shown in the teaser to this episode and that is corresponds to an actual railway company and loco type. Being a railway enthusiast myself, I've tracked down a few of these.

The Great Western Railway of Swindon (England) was actually real, and the drawn locomotive does resembles one of their's - the King Class heavy express locomotive (notice the two leading wheels with grease-box covers). Here's a photo of one to compare with.
http://warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrt306.htm

The real Kings were introduced in the 1920s, a bit beyond the 1905 date suggested in the episode. However similar locomotives were introduced around that time, giving it some relevance. The only real snags are the number '13' and the dark tinge of blue (they were all painted metallic Green with a black front). I've always adored these Great Western locomotives from early on, but I never expected Arthur to show one in any form - even if it's a drawing. Considerate progress from "Chippy the Choo Choo", no doubt...

As for some of the others...

I can't find any particular correspondence for the "Golden Bullet x97" though it resembles Germany's TR09.
http://www.nose.ch/clients/thyssenkrupp/projects/transrapid-tr09-umsetzung-exterior/thyssenkrupp-transrapid-tr09-umsetzung-exterior-11.jpg

The GB-17 does resemble a French high-speed TGV.
http://hobbyit.eu/fra/fra_tgv001_prototype_1_170_strasbourg_2004_L.jpg

One more loco shown beneath it vaguely resembles the old Milwaukee Road's F7 4-6-4.
http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/MIL462X.JPG

While I still think Arthur's become too preachy at times and not humorous enough, I was still amazed they bothered using real locomotives as the basis for what was shown instead of entirely making up their own types.
Title: Re: Trains shown in "When Carl Met George"
Post by: Colbysaxon on May 11, 2015, 12:21:58 am
I like the content of this section.