Liam is a small fireless compressed air engine from Canada, who was pitched to work in the mines in the Sodor Story Collection. He was dropped early in development.^[1]

Technical Details

Basis

Liam was to be based on a narrow gauge fireless 0-4-0 two-expansion compressed air locomotive, which is currently preserved at the Britannia Mine Museum in Canada.^[1] This locomotive was built by H.K. Porter, Inc. in 1912 for the Canmore Coal Mine in Alberta, where it would be used to haul coal in mines where explosive gases meant electric power could not be used.^[2]

Livery

No livery was ever conceptualised for Liam, as he never made it past the name, basis or job stage.^[3]

Trivia

• Had his book been published, Liam would have been the first fireless engine introduced in the franchise.
• According to Ian McCue, the reason Liam was dropped was due to the Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) team disbanding, with Wooden Railway being replaced by Wood not long after in 2017.^[1]
  • Had Liam's book been published, it is likely a CGI animated short would have been produced, similarly to ones relating to Logan, Sam and Dustin.
• It is unknown whether Liam would have remained as a narrow gauge engine like his basis or have been converted to standard gauge.
• So far, Liam is the only known international locomotive character to be dropped.

Merchandise

• Wooden Railway (cancelled)

References