Sodor the Modern Years: Runaway

[@pepperthekobold]

I thought the ending was marvellous; Gordon departing without a word. Seeing the family back together was thanks enough. I love how, over the course of STEY and STMY you've gradually turned Gordon from boastful, as he was early in the railway series, to humble as he gets older and wiser. A real heart-warming story.

[@kanesawday6440]

*Gordon still has a big heart but this time not for the express.*

[@Enterprisingengine93]

Very touching. This was executed very well and it show once again what really useful engines can do to make sure people end up in the right places! :)

[@louisholmes6961]

Enterprisingengine93 anyone want Pip and Emma added to to the actual Thomas and friends series?

[@louisholmes6961]

Enterprisingengine93 what is the best accident from your series?

[@TobyandMavisforever]

I can't believe I haven't commented on this episode yet! Now's the time to fix that. There are funny stories, there are action packed ones, and ones that run on emotion. This fits into the third one for sure. Someone running away from home is very scary indeed, heard quite a few stories on the news and such. I love how Gordon has matured a bit here, and I smiled everytime I saw him. And, I gotta say, Pip and Emma were written really well as well. I think I did well on their vocal performance too. I loved the ending too, with how Michelle was reunited with her parents just as Gordon left.

[@JurassicSteamRacer_13]

TobyandMavisforever to be honest, your voicing of Pip and Emma sounded good, Rachael.

[@TheBlueE2]

Another very heartwarming episode :) TobyandMavisForever particularly stood out this time given that there was a lot of screentime for Pip and Emma. Kinda thought a shot of Gordon grinning as he silently left would've been a better way to end the episode though, nonetheless this episode is faultless :)

[@TobyandMavisforever]

Thank you.

[@Planetkid32]

11:20, I love that there is a calm piano version of Gustav Holst’s Jupiter movement. That really makes it more emotional.

[@AtlanticBoii]

I know this comment is from a year ago but I think it is better known as 'I Vow to Thee, My Country' and by 'Jupiter movement' I think you mean 'Thaxted'

[@stephenfarthing3819]

Indeed! I know the words of that hymn - it's in Ancient and Modern Hymns! And AMR Hymnbook!

[@levidarling5107]

I love the theme used for pup and Emma, very groovy and quick paced. 😊

[@Nscaleguy1]

This episode made me appreciate how good of a voice actress tobyandmavisforever is.

[@TobyandMavisforever]

Thanks

[@TheHappyTruckShunter]

This was a touching episode, felt like if it was a real RWS story. In the RWS, it wasn't uncommon when the engines helped to resolve human issues. The feeling of this episode gave some variety! Great episode! STMY Season 2 is looking pretty good by now, looking forward to more episodes!

[@IslandofSodorStudios]

That's beautiful hearing that story.

[@MrJoeyWheeler]

A very "sober" episode, for lack of a better term. Incredibly touching, too. Well done!

[@NWR1991]

This was a beautiful story :)

[@louisholmes6961]

NWR1991 tell Wildnorwester why "Escape" is his favourite Thomas episode of all time!

[@arlesdaleengine8243]

A very fitting story line for Pip and Emma.

[@ShukakuTheCrazy1]

My eyes got a little watery. One of your best ones yet! Maybe even better than the original series

[@averyj5956]

I liked how you've made a special shed for Phillipa and Emma. This was a very special episode. I think it can relate to the viewers who've ran away from home. How they must've felt. But I guess that's my opinion, I guess.

[@benbaca5743]

That was a really emotional story and episode. I've noticed that Gordon is getting less and less arrogant and more of a kind and gentle soul over the years and your episodes. But, I'm gonna take a wild guess that he wants to grow up and act his age, if I'm correct?

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

Nicely done. I actually am crying because of the sheer beauty of the story. Well done WNW. 😃

[@transportdave5008]

Great and touching story, well done. One piece of advice that will add to the realism of your videos. With Pip and Emma's train, for a journey that long, there would probably be more like eight coaches in the train. That's the general norm for long distance HST's in Britain. Also, the two first class coaches in the train usually are together at the front or back.

[@WildNorWester]

+David Bradley Thanks :-). I'll adjust my saved 'Pip & Emma Express' consist for future episodes.

[@chris200179]

+WildNorWester Basic rule with HST's on GWR, are the first class always face London, standard coaches face the country end, hope this helps :)

[@transportdave5008]

***** Always happy to help :)

[@OlanKenny]

Basic rule with all trains which go to/from London.

[@TheBritFromOz008]

Very late comment: The “first class at London end” on long-distance trains dates back to the early days of rail travel in the UK. It was basically so the first-class passengers (aka the rich people whose opinions mattered - in those days your social class dictated a lot) would be first to the taxi ranks upon reaching the London station, and wouldn’t have as far to walk to board the train. The social class distinction of first/ standard has disappeared over the past century, but the “first class at London end” rule generally stayed. On a GWR service I caught in 2019 from Reading to Truro, the difference between 1st and Standard was only £10. It wasn’t always kept to; sometimes shunting arrangements would mean it couldn’t be (much to the chagrin of Victorian businessmen no doubt) and what about the other end of the journey?

[@MikeD57s]

Nicely done Dan! This is such an engaging story, and very well written! Great job!

[@doedante99]

All of your narrow gauge engines are beautiful! Can't wait to get them in Trainz.

[@loonylocos528]

that sir handel model is awsome

[@KWCline91]

Now that's a story I like to see Gordon in.

[@chris200179]

Really enjoying the twists in this WnW, the stories get better week by week. Thank you :)

[@Benholford258741]

lovely heart warming story 😊

[@KorraDaTrainBuff]

This was a nice story. To bad events like these don't always have happy endings in real life.

[@jamesball8701]

I suppose the moral would if you don't succed try try again

[@takealongconductor]

Another great episode! Can't wait until the next episode the videos you make are just fantastic

[@LUCADOLLAR]

This was a very touching story, well done as usual. :)

[@stephenfarthing3819]

What a story!! And Gordon did a good thing.

[@EpicThe112]

nice job and regarding the Class 220, 222 & 221 and and the electric version which is Class 390 the face will have to go between the two headlamps. these can be applied to Class 313, 325, 375, 377, 700, 387, 92, 373 , 374 , 87, 88 uk Electic Trains or American Electric and Diesel locomotives like AEM-7 P32AC-DM , Pl-42 HSP-46 ACS-64, DE-30, DM-30 & F40PH

[@joelharris1335]

At King's Cross, I spotted an East Midlands Trains class 158. Normally, EMT/EMR (East Midlands Railway) class 158s use the East Coast Mainline when on the services from either Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich or Nottingham to Skegness. Class 222s 'Meridians' did run on the ECML for Hull Trains - under the nickname 'Pioneers'. The model used is an EMT unit in Midland Mainline livery.

[@flyingscotsmanstudios4472]

Well done this story is very set out like a drama and a bit of a detective film well done and to me Gordon, pip , Alice and Emma are bit like Sherlock homes and I am glad that All three engines found that missing girl. Will tornado and flying Scotsman come into sodor the moden years season 2

[@WildNorWester]

+Joseph Graham I'm not planning to bring them in, no.

[@BrianPannier]

Fantastic wnw I honestly think you should be nominated for an award

[@AlexFyrehartDGAFCave]

I actually feel like this kind of story is a missed opportunity from the early years of the TV show. Great stuff. The only thing close to an issue I have with this is just the juxtaposition of the emotional ending to the jaunty theme music over the credits. Carrying over the music from the final scene or even just letting the credits roll as Gordon continues to leave the station (with the music from the episode itself still playing) might've been a good idea as a way to go out. But that's just one man's opinion. Take it as you will. It's a good episode either way.

[@SuperGunzilla]

That was suck a sweet episode. I can't wait for the next one

[@levidarling5107]

I know you meant such.

[@bladeobrian2144]

@ 9:19, IDK why but I find it funny how that girl is just casually talking to a train, like really in the books and on the show the only people who talk to trains are the fat controller and maybe the drivers

[@aidanmaurice6464]

i love how all the engines have like amazing memory hahaha

[@aponderousmindthinketh6482]

These stories you guys come are very good and touching. I've watched at lot of television in my time, mostly family, comedy, and crime dramas. The series I follow are so well written, they can at lest touch the basis of 7th Heaven, Dr Quinn, Deadwood, Law and Order and a. couple of others. Keep up the good work!

[@iamspartacus8499]

great video. Gordon was amazing in this vid. you really do make some very good videos that feel like they were written for the railway series. cheers and keep up the good work.

[@matthewgustafson5225]

This was a little bit emotional but still a great episode. :)

[@英豪林-t9m]

good job pip and gordon is vary kind of him

[@NWR58]

Great story but why did she ran away

[@ZackAttackProductions]

Awesome video! This was an absolutely beautiful story. I can't wait for your next video :)

[@DocterGeko]

Just like all real heroes, not for the praise but for the pride, (thought of that last bit myself)

[@DarthWill3]

To be honest, this episode has left me a bit confused. I mean, what's the reason for Michelle's running away? Was it to meet with a certain boy on the mainland or something.

[@WildNorWester]

I didn't think that was relevant to the plot, so I left it as a noodle incident. tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoodleIncident

[@DarthWill3]

***** Okay, that's pretty much a good explanation.

[@mellowboym]

Excellent job as always!

[@bradevenslochard8288]

I like your intro.

[@connorflaherty175]

Reminds me of the STEY episode "Search Engines" but with some major changes to the plot.

[@Percyfan1998]

Very nice work, I like how some details were left out, to leave a bit of suspense during the story. By the way, what was that music playing during Pip and Emma's running scenes, like at 5:07?

[@WildNorWester]

+Percyfan1998 It's one of Michael M's pieces: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYHSnGOjZ8eehNk

[@mercedesaboagyeadjei9160]

that was a awsome ep keep up the good work :)

[@Thomas1Edward2Henry3]

May I ask why it wasn't stated why Michelle ran away?

[@WildNorWester]

+Thomas1Edward2Henry3 That's not explained, mainly as it's not require for the story to be told. This type of thing is called a Noodle Incident (tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoodleIncident)

[@DanielTheShunter]

+WildNorWester Maybe they had personel issues that's common isn't it

[@WildNorWester]

Daniel Buth Maybe. To be honest, I had a feeling that if I did go into that, it could get political. It was something that was better off unexplained.

[@DanielTheShunter]

+WildNorWester of course;-) BTW I really like the Theme you give for Pip and Emma so catchy.

[@DieselofAlrest]

+redstone ready He will probably release the model after the next episode is released.

[@allanegleston13]

finished watching it . wildnorwester . this is a very lovely series and i enjoy your channel content very much. that is why i subbed a while back:) gordon seems to have adapted to his new life .

[@Vomahanew]

I was wondering, what are Pip and Emma's numbers? Are they D9 and D10?

[@lbscsproductions]

Best vid ever

[@TheDefiantPirate]

Great episode man :D

[@Ben31337l]

There seems to be a bit of an inconsistency with this and Swan Song, at 7:07, where it says "Pip was stuck staring at the station concourse" while Emma had a view out of the platform. The reason this is an inconsistency with Swan Song is because at 0:37, while Gordon's backing down onto the express train (this was before Pip and Emma took over the express from Gordon) because Gordon asks "Is it Pip or is it Emma", suggesting that the 2 locomotives switch round every so often, Pip also states that "Emma is at the back today" which confirms that they do switch ends. The class 43 DMUs can actually switch round and switched out if needed if the unit needs a major overhaul. In the event that if they had a breakdown, they are equipped with a coupling beam which allows the units to be hauled by a diesel loco which is fitted with air brakes, the auxiliary air supply and the electric train heating.

[@WildNorWester]

+Ben 1337 Ben, I get that. But this is consistent - Pip is facing towards London in both episodes, whereas Emma is facing towards Knapford - i.e. they're the same way around. They may be able to be switched out, yes, but that doesn't mean they actually have been.

[@Ben31337l]

***** Point taken, but Gordon expresses some sort of confusion, if they were the same orientation right the way through then Gordon will be able to guess which unit is in front. That alone suggests that they have been switched round at least one time before, admittedly, during the off-screen period.

[@WildNorWester]

Ben 1337 You've got a point there, but the last time Gordon saw them was in 'Birdstrike', in the mid-1990s - almost two decades ago. Between 'Swan Song' and 'Runaway' is only about three months.

[@Ben31337l]

***** Wait.... Gordon saw them 2 decades ago? That kinda explains it. But that raises another question, what have they been doing during that time? Were they in storage in some depot or something?

[@WildNorWester]

Ben 1337 I imagine they'd have been taking passengers on the Other Railway.

[@flyingscotsmanstudios4472]

Cheer for telling me about that

[@muhammadfadhiil5992]

What a sweet story

[@mikester8171]

Missing girls and stuff? This is some dark things to put in a fan series of kids show.

[@TheSouthernTerrierA1X0-6-0]

+Mikester_Paltoes no shed 17 is a dark thing

[@mikester8171]

+Young Bewes True

[@FfarquharEngine]

Oh my god. Shut up about shed 17....

[@mikester8171]

+Ffarquhar Engine Well you're the guy who keeps bagging it!

[@FfarquharEngine]

Mikester_Paltoes I told you, it was PARODYING. Second, that was two weeks ago.

[@JacobJinty]

oh my god WHO THE HELL CARES WHO"S FIRST

[@mikester8171]

I was but then WildNorWester (technically) got me to take it down

[@FfarquharEngine]

+Mikester_Paltoes First comments are dumb

[@mikester8171]

+Ffarquhar Engine Meh, I don't see any harm. That reminds me how is your series going?

[@FfarquharEngine]

Mikester_Paltoes Alright. Still need to finish writing the next episode.

[@mikester8171]

+Ffarquhar Engine Ok... Uh... Well... Wait did you see my vid with you as Old Stuck Up?

[@thenebulaxyz8849]

I still wonder what caused Michelle to run away....

[@VPT2]

sweet story.

[@TheNewStoryteller]

very good lad I might think up a story of my own thanks for the inspiration.

[@TheBritFromOz008]

The London station looks like Kings Cross, though I would have thought if a train did run directly from Sodor to London, it would go into St Pancras (as Gordon does in Gordon Goes Foreign) or Euston (which as you probably know as the LMS' London terminus, who also served Barrow). Which London terminus is the one Pip & Emma arrive at/ depart from? I'm guessing Kings Cross judging from its appearance, but then some Midland Mainline Class 222s appear, which would suggest St. Pancras. Future Brit: I’ve just noticed that the signal box does indeed say “King’s Cross”, so KX it is.

[@stephenfarthing3819]

I think that the hymn is " I vow to thee, my country!" I know this - because I am a Church Chorister!

[@elsagillespie5210]

here in sydney, we use pip & emma as our fastest/interstate train.

[@oldoak4484]

Just on my way home I thought about the next episode nice I have something to do

[@mikester8171]

There's a mistake here, in the regular scenes with James talking with the other engines he's in one certain shape but then in the stock footage at 9:03 James is in a different shape

[@ikarosshield1920]

I liked it

[@epic_dudew1977]

5:25 I'd like to point out that the Flying Scotsman was away undergoing that 10 year overhaul on the East Lancashire Railway that began in 2006. So Flying Scotsman wasn't at the gala that Gordon mentioned. I'm not trying to be negative, just stating a fact.

[@thegermanofsodor]

6:31 may i ask who made that Theme.Also another Great Episode and it was sorta Sad Too

[@steamtrainlover107]

it was a great story =-)

[@badmanicpower]

Not being a stickler, but they built the branch line to Harwick in The newest Thomas and Friends movie. So Henry's comment was not true. But I get you not wanting to change it because you would have to make Daisy leave Thomas's branch line cause now she works on the new branch line.

[@WildNorWester]

+Logan Owens Actually, it's because I follow the continuity of the Railway Series, which has NOTHING to do with the TV series. Anything from the TV series after about season 4, when they stopped following the RWS books, does not apply to my series. As such, Henry's comment was true.

[@badmanicpower]

+WildNorWester oh that makes sense. I myself am not very satisfied with the "modernization" of the tv series. And I also love these stories. Thanks for responding to my comment. I appreciate it.

[@DieselofAlrest]

That was a pretty nice episode, but I think you forgot to put the first half of the credits music at the end of the episode before the credits start.

[@jonistan9268]

Ok nice, Alice's driver got married on my birthday, good to know

[@rhythmcompany]

At 7:47, Emma gasps, and the door on the train beside her opens.

[@TobyandMavisforever]

To be honest, I don't think that was scripted when I was dubbing the lines, but nice catch.

[@SodorTrain1225]

You wouldn't mind if I use Alice? I'll credit you, of course.

[@Ducks-are-cool1]

are u doing a halloween one :D

[@heathwhitley4935]

11:09 Gordon look at Thomas as they work.

[@jriddle41]

Such a sweet ending to a great episode. But what I didn't understand was what Michelle did that made her want to runaway in the first place?

[@WildNorWester]

+James Riddle That's not explained - it's a Noodle Incident (tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoodleIncident)

[@jriddle41]

Oh okay.

[@johnblum8963]

Can you have Gordon Pull 8 of those brown commuter coaches.

[@QueenOfSodor]

Another great episode! If I may ask, why did the girl run away in the first place?

[@WildNorWester]

+Jamie Zimmerman (TrainiacJ) That would be a noodle incident (tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoodleIncident). It's not explained, and it probably won't be.

[@QueenOfSodor]

+WildNorWester Ah, I see. :P

[@FfarquharEngine]

At the start who would that be cameoing behind Gordon? For wiki purposes that's all ;)

[@WildNorWester]

+Ffarquhar Engine Right in the very first shot? I think that's Oliver.

[@FfarquharEngine]

***** Ah, thank you. I had a hunch it would be but I wasn't quite sure :P

[@skarloeyfan01adventures]

That was a great episode and I wonder what made her run away and is that London’s Kings Cross Station?

[@jimmyarmstrong86]

There a goof : King's Cross should be electrified. And why do you don't use a more recent model of class 47 in Scotrail livery ?

[@OlanKenny]

1) It's not King's Cross 2) Why would he? St Pancras has East Midlands and the Eurostar running from it.

[@Pack-Leader-Sally]

So the parents never said they're sorry for making her run away by being mad at her. I hope that changes.

[@WildNorWester]

When was it said that she ran away because they were mad at her? It's never said why she ran away. She only thought they would be angry.

[@ironmatic1]

I absolutely love your intro tune! Where is it from?

[@WildNorWester]

It was composed for me by Michael M (kzbin.info). He does a lot of these tunes, all of which are exquisite.

[@ironmatic1]

q

[@gameoholic1994]

2:36 - Are nameplates above the the shed berths changeable?

[@colbyjames7205]

also at 8:35 that is an unidentified class 158 seen in the background well that has no name doesn't it WildNorWester but also why never did it have a face just wondering?

[@Damocles178]

+Colby James The reason he didn't give any of the random engines faces was because it would be a lot of trouble to make a model with a face just for the sake of a brief moment of screen time. So he just used whatever he found on the DLS. A lot of his time is already taken up by making models for major characters. :)

[@OlanKenny]

Maybe it's running in reverse like the Railmotor twins?

[@Damocles178]

Olan Kenny Well that's a good way of looking at it. While it has no face on either end; with that in mind one could imagine it does. :)

[@bikelife_myr7917]

Who else thought this was about a runaway train??

[@matthewgustafson5225]

Nice episode, did you make they shed for Pip and Emma?

[@amberkelliher6555]

I know someone named Angela Johnson, and my birthday is May 15th.

[@TommyMcginnis-tb5mr]

Wasn't flying scotsman getting overhauled again in 2010

[@skyfall-uh7ut]

Very interesting video. I'm quite intrigue about this rail gala Gordon attend with flying Scotsman and tornado. I would like to get some more information about this. could you please tell me some more about this or is it a top secret plot line for a episode or mini series

[@WildNorWester]

+skyfall 9070 (jamie) To be honest, it was just a throwaway line.

[@skyfall-uh7ut]

Bummer it's still a interesting concept and if was at Kings cross that would be better.

[@Planefan1000]

Two years? A teenager runs off to the Mainland and isn't heard of for *two years?*

[@TailsFan369no2]

#riplindseybaum

[@TheArtmaster67]

good story, are you doing any plane for halloween?

[@WildNorWester]

+TheArtmaster67 I don't do Halloween. It's not really a holiday down here in Australia.

[@TKSP4449]

There's one thing I gotta know though: why exactly did Michelle Johnson run away from home in the first place and what had she been doing in London for the past two years? Did she get a job or something while she was there?

[@WildNorWester]

+Garrett LeSueur (TrainkidSP4449) An original draft of the script actually had Michelle working as a barista at the railway station, and she was found by Pip & Emma when she brought coffee out to their driver. But I thought this might be a bit contrived, and that having someone pass the flyer around may be a bit more realistic. As for what she did, I'm keeping that as a Noodle Incident: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoodleIncident

[@TKSP4449]

+WildNorWester A barista? Is that something like a waitress? It's the first time I've heard of that.

[@WildNorWester]

+Garrett LeSueur (TrainkidSP4449) A barista is a person who makes the coffee in a cafe.

[@TKSP4449]

+WildNorWester Oh, I see now. Thanks.

[@stephenfarthing3819]

Was there ever a follow up story to this one? I think that there's scope for it!

[@WilliamOliver11]

All in all, good episode. But I want to point out one thing you screwed up on. You should've left the credits music as what was playing in the last scene. Letting the music continue into the credits allows the audience to hold on to and register the emotions displayed. Your sudden cut in music, from the sad tune to the happy-go-lucky theme music, wrenches viewers out of the emotional state you have brought them into. If you wrote, acted, and edited the story well enough, which you did. Just a note for future reference.

[@WildNorWester]

+William Oliver11 Thanks for pointing that out. I'll bear that in mind for future episodes.

[@thomastrainzfan4444]

I don’t know if anyone noticed, but it seems michelle may have done something wrong. After all, she says; ‘running away, on top of what happened..’. I wonder…