Season 4 is the fourth season of "The Stories of Sodor". It was planned to consist of 15 episodes, the same as every previous season. The first episode takes place in the spring of 1955, with its flashback taking place in 1931, three years before the start of Season 1, and the rest of the season is currently a continuation from Season 3's timeline, which ended in 1955.
Production[]
Production of Season 4 started roughly two months after Season 3 was concluded. Things were going relatively smoothly for the next few months, with the upgrade from Trainz: A New Era to Trainz 2019 happening in January of 2020. However, after the sixth planned episode, Return, was completed, Victor hated how the episode turned out and decided to restart.
Production of the first part of Season 4 lasted from March to September of 2020, with the first episode being leaked in early April of 2020. The second half of Season 4 began sometime in mid-2021. Filming started in August and concluded in December.
Plot[]
The season focuses on what happens on Sodor when British Railways' Modernisation Plan (which includes dieselisation) starts to come into effect.
Episodes[]
Part 1[]
Screenshot | Title | Written By | Story Idea | Release Date | Episode Number # |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diesel | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | April 2, 2020 (Leaked and Unlisted) October 9, 2020 |
#01 | |
When his inventor visits the island, Diesel reveals to the others some very surprising details about himself. | |||||
Modernisation | Victor Tanzig | Tenshine1 Productions | October 16, 2020 | #02 | |
British Railways attempts to modernise the network to make it more efficient, productive and competitive. This undertaking, however, is not without problems. | |||||
Mountain | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | October 23, 2020 | #03 | |
After years of inactivity, construction resumes on the Culdee Fell Railway. Work progresses fairly well and its engines become acquainted with the island and its history. However, their new home may not be as safe as first thought. | |||||
Robbery | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | October 30, 2020 | #04 | |
A new engine arrives on the Peel Godred Branch to help with the increasing workload. Meanwhile, a daring robbery is foiled, but there may be more to come. | |||||
Diagnosis | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | November 6, 2020 | #05 | |
Adam falls ill and the diagnosis given to explain will rock him to the core, leading to the most important decision of his life. | |||||
Prototypes | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | November 13, 2020 | #06 | |
BR's dieselisation program is starting to take effect as a number of prototypes are trialed on Sodor. | |||||
Secrets | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | November 20, 2020 | #07 | |
Around the same time Henry is reunited with an old friend, some secrets emerge about Sheffield's past. | |||||
Aviation | Victor Tanzig | Champ2Stay | November 27, 2020 | #08 | |
A new helicopter comes to Sodor, whose boastful nature rubs several engines the wrong way. Meanwhile, the post train is put in peril due to several setbacks. | |||||
Treasure | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | December 4, 2020 | #09 | |
Following the airing of a documentary about King Godred's Treasure, people flock to the island eager to find it. This leads to more than a few incidents. | |||||
Diplomacy | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | December 11, 2020 | #10 | |
A diplomatic incident unfolds on Sodor during a visit by the French ambassador. |
Part 2[]
Screenshot | Title | Written By | Story Idea | Release Date | Episode Number # |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Animosity | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | December 17, 2021 | #11 | |
Old rivalries flare up between Duck, Bruce and Percy as the trio are forced to work together during the construction of a new branch line. | |||||
Expansion | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | December 24, 2021 | #12 | |
The Skarloey Railway begins an ambitious expansion into the Nartwin Valley. Unfortunately, its progress is hindered by a number of issues and setbacks. | |||||
Creature | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | December 31, 2021 | #13 | |
After Stuart's accident involving some trucks, the SKR is attacked by a mysterious creature of immense strength, speed and ferocity. | |||||
Lamp | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | January 7, 2022 | #14 | |
During the SKR's ongoing expansion, the surprising origins of the Lucky Lamp are revealed. | |||||
Revelations | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | January 14, 2022 | #15 | |
In the wake of Sir Topham's reaction to seeing the Lucky Lamp, some disturbing revelations come to light concerning his past and that of the island. Meanwhile, Duncan must face his own demons. | |||||
Relationships | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | January 21, 2022 | #16 | |
While waiting for a rail tour to pass, Reginald is shocked to find the engine pulling it is his estranged brother, leading to an unpleasant reunion. | |||||
Beeching | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | January 28, 2022 | #17 | |
The new chairman of British Railways, Doctor Richard Beeching, visits Sodor to carry out a number of cuts to "improve its efficiency and profitability". | |||||
Storm | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | February 4, 2022 | #18 | |
While a vicious storm wracks the island, Jonny Cuba returns. Arthur discovers this and is blackmailed into helping the gangster. | |||||
Dieselisation | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | February 11, 2022 | #19 | |
With the increased dieselisation of British Railways, several units arrive on Sodor to incredibly mixed results. | |||||
Return | Victor Tanzig | Victor Tanzig | February 18, 2022 | #20 | |
Several wayward members of Sodor's railway return home. Most are welcomed warmly, but some are not. |
Characters[]
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Toby
- Duck
- Donald and Douglas
- Oliver
- Eric
- Diesel
- Colin (flashback appearance)
- Lily (flashback appearance)
- Adam (death)
- Reginald
- Peter
- Geoffrey
- Peckett
- Samantha
- Kate
- Mickey
- Joey
- Clive
- Whiff
- Molly
- Rosie
- Benson
- Paul
- Hurricane
- Arthur
- Samson
- Bill and Ben
- Emily
- BoCo
- Daisy
- Wendell
- Skarloey
- Rheneas
- Ivo Hugh
- Duncan
- Duke
- Atlas
- Falcon
- Stuart
- Andreas (death)
- Stanley
- Annie and Clarabel
- Terence
- The Fat Controller
- Sir Handel Brown
- Billy Shoepack
- Mr. Zorro
- Neil (does not speak)
- Matthew (does not speak)
- Lenny (does not speak)
- Glenn (does not speak)
- Toad (does not speak)
- William (not named; does not speak)
- Mr. Peter Sam (does not speak)
- Mr. Star (hallucination; does not speak)
- Winston (cameo)
- Alfred (flashback; cameo)
- Eliza (cameo)
- Neville (cameo)
- Alice (cameo)
- Spencer (cameo)
- Justin cameo)
- Barry (cameo)
- Charles (cameo)
- The Red Tender Engine (cameo)
- Bertie (cameo)
- Trevor (cameo)
- George (cameo)
- Caroline (cameo)
- Drollan (cameo)
- Ten Cents (mentioned)
- Farmer McColl (mentioned)
- Montgomery (mentioned)
- Amanda (indirectly mentioned)
Characters Introduced[]
- Mr. Walter Paxman
- Maggie
- The Racist Truck
- Sheffield
- Murdoch
- Lord Walter Barrane
- Ernest
- Wilfred
- Harry
- Alaric
- Catherine
- Jonny Cuba
- Joshua
- Harold
- Theodore
- Old Bailey
- Morty
- S.C. Ruffey
- Rusty
- Dr. Simmons
- Randolph (death)
- Richard Beeching
- Salty
- Francis
- Derek
- Brian
- Dennis (flashback appearance; does not speak)
- Splatter and Dodge (flashback appearances; do not speak)
- Bear (cameo)
- Rebecca (cameo)
- Richard (cameo)
- Unnamed Police Engines (cameos)
- The Banana Splits (hallucination; cameo)
Trivia[]
- This is the longest running season of the series so far with 20 episodes. It beats out Season 1, Season 2, Season 3 (15 episodes each), Stories of War (5 episodes), SCPs of Sodor (6 episodes), and Season 5 (10 episodes)
- This is the first (and so far only) season to have two parts.
- In the preview for the episodes between the years 1955 and 1959, it is shown that the first 10 episodes will be released from October the 10th and the rest will be released later. In addition, the last 10 episodes take place from 1960-1964.
- This season marks the final appearances of Adam and Andreas. (Although, the former appears in a flashback in "Return".)
- Starting with Revelations, Duncan is seen with his yellow livery.
- Storm is based off of a TUGS episode.