Favourite Stories from the Railway Series

This year, 2020, marks the 75^th anniversary of the Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry. To commemorate this occasion, I would like to present a list of my ten all time favourite stories from the series. The choices on list are in no particular order and are based on my personal preferences. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this track side adventure.

Thomas wonders where is special coach has gone.

“The Missing Coach” (Twin Engines, 1960)

After receiving numbers from the Fat Controller, Donald and Douglas (9 and 10 respectively) soon settle in as part of the North Western Railway. That until Douglas panics and misplaces a special coach for Thomas’ branch line. To avoid blame, Donald and Douglas trade tenders so Douglas can get away. While the angry passengers believe that the missing coach was not caused by Douglas as he had a faulty tender coupling, the Fat Controller was able to see through the twin’s plan.

I found this story quite interesting. The interactions between the characters is well developed; Donald and Douglas showing that they are not as easily pushed around by Gordon and Henry like tank engines. The strong story telling is coupled with the wonderful illustrations of John T. Kenney, whose work in the Railway Series show the Rev. W Awdry’s world as more than just characters in a children’s story, but a real and active railway.

“Tit for Tat” (Small Engines, 1967)

Bert has an unfortunate run in with the Thin and Fat Clergymen.

“Tit for Tat” is the story of the Rev. Awdry becoming a character in his own series. In this story, the Arlesdale Railway has two special visitors, two clergymen – one fat and the other thin – who are interested in seeing the railway and collect information for a book. Bert has the worst luck with these new visitors, who unintentionally splash water all over him when they drive by in their car. Bert tries to get back at the visitors by making water from some trees fall on them, only to end up soaking the Fat Clergyman and Bert’s driver and fireman.

This story has always stood out to me when I was young. It is the first appearance of the Thin and Fat Clergyman, who were really the Rev. W. Awdry and his friend the Rev. Teddy Boston, who would return in Duke the Lost Engine. The story is a great debut for Bert’s character as the gullible one compared to Rex’s know-all persona and Mike’s hot headedness.

“Cab Over Wheels” (Wilbert the Forest Engine, 1994)

When Wilbert the Forest Engine stays in the sheds with Thomas and Toby, the discussion of danger signs is brought up. Wilbert tells the two other engines about an engine he knew that worked at a steelworks who had no name, only a number – Sixteen. Each day, Sixteen would move trucks full of waste from the works to be dumped in a place called the tip. At the tip was a danger sign that tempted Sixteen to want to see what was beyond it. On day, Sixteen convinced the trucks to pull him beyond the sign. The next day as Sixteen pushed the waste trucks toward the tip; the trucks surge forward and pull Sixteen beyond the danger sign. While Sixteen’s driver goes with the foreman to report the incident and the fireman starts to return the engine back the safer rails, the ground crumbles beneath Sixteen causing him to roll down the slope and end up on his side in the yard.

“Train Stops Play” (Stepney the Bluebell Engine, 1963)

Stepney is rather suprised by the find in one of his trucks.

It was very hard to pick one story from Stepney the Bluebell Engine as each one is quite good for their own reasons. “Train Stops Play” is a tale or errors and cricket. When Stepney – a visiting engine from the Bluebell Railway in Sussex – laments about how much he misses pulling trucks, Percy offers to let Stepney take some of his to the harbour. On the return journey, Stepney stops at a signal by a cricket field where a game is in play. One of the batsmen hits the ball too hard, causing it to land in one of Stepney’s trucks. The players, realizing that it is their only ball for the game, run to their old car, Caroline, and chase after Stepney all the way up Thomas’ Branch line until they reach the train at the top station. In the end the cricketers get their ball back and Caroline gets a ride back to the field on a flat truck.

“Sir Handel Comes Home” (Great Little Engines, 1985)

Sir Handel’s eye covered after his accident.

Another Christopher Awdry story and story within a story. To coincide with the Talyllyn Railway in Wales decorating their engine Sir Haydn as the Railway Series’ Sir Handel, Christopher Awdry wrote Great Little Engines to explain Sir Handel’s visit. This story is based on an incident that occurred to the Sir Haydn during its time as Sir Handel. After returning from Wales, Sir Handel shares with the other engines his experiences on the Talyllyn Railway including when the Royal Family came to visit and the getting to pull a wedding train. One incident that Sir Handle tells the engines about is when he was taking a train to Nant Gwernol. A long the line, a tree branch hit him in the face. His crew bandage Sir Handel’s eye and put a patch over it for protection, despite Sir Handel being fine.

“Escape” (Enterprising Engines, 1968)

Douglas and his crew prepare to rescue Oliver, Isabel and Toad.

A classic and favourite among older fans of Thomas and Friends, “Escape” is one of the darker stories in the Railway Series. When Douglas arrives at the Other Railway (British Rail) to with the midnight goods, he happens upon Oliver the Great Western Engine, his coach Isabel, and a guard’s van named Toad. Douglas and his crew quickly add Oliver and company to his train and take them to the Northwestern Railway, which is where Oliver is trying to reach. Along the way, Oliver shares his harrowing journey across Britain, even hiding in an abandoned quarry to avoid being caught.

“Flying Kipper” (Henry the Green Engine, 1956)

Henry speeds off with the *Flying Kipper*.

“Flying Kipper” is another classic among fans and is arguably one of the great watershed moments in the series. After having success using Welsh coal, Henry is given the job of pulling the fish train known as the Flying Kipper. Henry’s run goes well until he reaches a set of signals that are incorrectly set to clear due to snow forcing it down and ice jamming the switches to a siding where a goods train is waiting for the Flying Kipper to pass. All these factors result in Henry crashing and derailing. When Breakdown Crew come to clear the damage, the Fat Controller arrives to inform Henry that he will be sent to Crewe for his repairs and will have a new shape and a larger firebox, giving Henry the iconic appearance that fans know and love.

“Super Rescue” (Enterprising Engines, 1968)

Oh, look! Another Henry story! It’s almost as if he’s one of my favourite characters or something. I mean, it’s also another story from Enterprising Engines, but we’ll just gloss over that…

To help with the extra work, the Fat Controller is forces to bring in two diesels – Dl99 and D7101 – from the Other Railway. D7101 is fairly respectful to the other engines, but D199 is not and proceeds to call the engines out of date and unreliable. One day, Henry is returning home when he sees D199 has broken down and morning for his fitter while an angry signalman scolds D199, calling him Spamcan because of how useless he’s being. Henry agrees to pull D199 and his train to the next station and does well, until they come across D7101 who has failed as well. Henry manages to move both diesels to the station successfully, earning himself the title of enterprising for his efforts.

“Cross-Patch” (Very Old Engines, 1965)

Mr. Mack has not time for your sass, Skarloey.

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Skarloey Railway in the Railway Series and Skarloey is arguably my favourite character. The book Very Old Engines is built around the centenary of the oldest engines of the Skarloey Railway, Skarloey and Rheneas. “Crosspatch” is the first story of the book and is narrated by Skarloey while being polished by Nancy as he tells her about his first days on the Skarloey Railway in 1865. Skarloey had a very trying time when he first arrives to the Island of Sodor. From an uncomfortable boat ride to being awkwardly lifted from the boat on to a truck for transport, Skarloey finds his new home on the Skarloey Railway to be rather terrible. The following day, the manager Mr. Mack and some workmen arrive to get Skarloey ready for work. Upon learning that he will not be able to pull coaches and must pull trucks, Skarloey becomes sulky and refuses to steam properly. Mr. Mack, frustrated by Skarloey’s lack of cooperation, decides that the little engine will be left to sit in the siding under a tarpaulin until he is willing to behave.

“The Deputation” (Twin Engines, 1960)

Seeing as I started this list with a story from Twin Engines, let’s finish this off with another. To try and impress the Fat Controller, Donald and Douglas volunteer to clear snow from lines during the winter season. One day, the twins happen upon a large drift that proves difficult to clear, only to discover that it is Henry and his train. Once back at the sheds, Henry and the other engines agree that it isn’t fair that only one of the twins should stay and not both. Percy, upon the recommendation of Edward, suggests bringing a deputation to the Fat Controller explaining their concern. What follows is one of my favourite lines of dialogue in the Railway Series where the engines keep muddling up the word deputation with other similar sounding ones. Upon agreement, Percy is sent to speak with the Fat Controller and act as the engines deputation. Later, the Fat Controller thanks the engines for mentioning their concern but that it is his railway and he must make the decision. In the end, Donald and Douglas both get to stay while also getting new coats of paint and name plates (in the books they are painted blue).

Sources

Awdry, Christopher. Sodor: Reading Between the Lines. Spalding: Sodor Enterprises. 2005.

—. Great Little Engines. London: Egmont UK Ltd. 2007.

—. Wilbert the Forest Engine. London: William Heinmann Ltd. 1995.

Awdry, Rev. W. Enterprising Engines. London: Egmont UK Ltd. 2002.

—. Henry the Green Engine. Leicester: Edmund Ward. 1951.

—. Small Engines. London: Egmont UK Ltd. 2002.

—. Stepney the Bluebell Engine. London: Kate and Ward Limited. 1971.

—. Twin Engines. Leicester: Edmund Ward (Publishers) Ltd. 1960.

—. Very Old Engines. London: Egmont UK Ltd. 2002.

Picture Credits

http://arthurenginereviews.blogspot.com/2018/01/. Accessed May 11, 2020.

https://www.jonkers.co.uk/rare-book/6694/a-complete-set-of-the-thomas-the-tank-engine-books/rev-w-awdry. Accessed April 29, 2020.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Enterprising_Engines/Gallery. Accessed May 11, 2020.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Great_Little_Engines/Gallery. Accessed May 11, 2020.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Henry_the_Green_Engine/Gallery. Accessed May 11, 2020.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Small_Railway_Engines/Gallery. Accessed May 11, 2020.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Stepney_the_%22Bluebell%22_Engine/Gallery. Accessed May 11, 2020.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/The_Twin_Engines/Gallery. Accessed May 11, 2020.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Very_Old_Engines/Gallery. Accessed May 11, 2020.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Wilbert_the_Forest_Engine/Gallery. Accessed May 11, 2020.

Something Old, Something New: A look at the updated Edition of Brian Sibley’s The Thomas the Tank Engine Man

*The Thomas the Tank Engine Man*
By Brian Sibley
(2015 Edition)

Of all the things that were a part of my childhood, Thomas the Tank Engine stands out as having a major part. I’m sure there are many who would say the same. I was in grade four when I learned about the Rev. W. Awdry, the Anglican priest who crafted these stories about the little blue tank engine all those years ago. In 1995, Brian Sibley compiled and wrote The Thomas the Tank Engine Man, a book that informed those who had grown up with the Railway Series about the Rev. W. Awdry and how he created the books that brought us Thomas the Tank Engine. Twenty years later in 2015, just in time for the 70^th anniversary of the Railway Series, Lion Hudson Ltd. came published an updated edition of The Thomas the Tank Engine Man. My question is, does the updated book hold up with the original publication? Well, just keep reading this blog and find out!

*The Thomas the Tank Engine Man*
By Brian Sibley
(1995 Edition)

Brian Sibley’s The Thomas the Tank Engine Man tells us about the life of the Rev. Wilbert Vere Awdry. From exploring the family history of the Awdrys to the origins of some of the greatest moments in the Railway Series and the beginning of the television series Thomas the Tank Engine. Sibley follows a simple timeline of the Rev. Awdry’s life while providing moments that highlight the kind hearted, ecclesiastical vicar while also providing quotes from the reverend himself who was interviewed for the book over twenty years ago. All this is tied together by a thesis presented as a question by Brian Sibley’s colleague, John Forrest: “Do you know anything about the Thomas the Tank Engine man” (Sibley, 11, 2015; Sibley, 5, 1995)? This simple question fits well with the book and still holds up today. Everyone is so familiar with the character Thomas the tank engine, his coaches Annie and Clarabelle, Percy, Gordon, Henry, Toby, Edward and others but few know about the kindly clergyman who told these stories to his son seventy-one years ago.

The overall writing of this book was well done. It’s difficult to compare the updated edition from the original publication when both editions have the exact text. The only differing part is the 2015 edition features an epilogue that updates the reader on what has occurred since the original publication in 1995. This add on, though necessary, feels a bit rushed. This section is covering almost twenty years of information, this including the passing of the Rev. W. Awdry and the continuation of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. It felt much more like a laundry list of events, a very different way from the flowing narrative that is seen in the preceding part of the book. It would have made better sense to up date the previous chapter to 1997 and the have the epilogue cover the years after, that way the finale isn’t squished with concluding the life of the Rev. Awdry, the final books of the Railway Series and the continued momentum of the television series. Despite this short coming, the epilogue is definitely informative and still well written.

My major issue with The Thomas the tank Engine Man was the aesthetics of the book. This can be quite apparent from the covers of the book (as seen above). On the whole, both editions follow the same set up: a collage of different aspects of the Reverend Awdry and Thomas the Tank Engine, both doing this in differing ways. While the adage don’t judge a book by its cover is true in many instances, the book cover still has to convey some level of connection to the content inside. The cover of the 1995 edition concentrates on the “man”, providing images of Awdry, various images from his life, the original drawings from when the stories were originally written for his son Christopher, and the original model of Thomas the tank Engine (spoilers: he looks nothing like the one you grew up with!). The 2015 edition concentrates on the “Thomas the tank Engine” part, showing mainly images from books in the Railway Series and Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

Personally, I prefer the 1995 cover more. The book is looking at the figure behind the tank engine. By 1995, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends was already over shadowing the Railway Series, not enough that the books were no longer out of print (the books ending in 1996 with two follow ups in 2007 and 2011) but it was definitely taking over as what children pictured the Reverend’s famous engines.

In conclusion, Brian Sibley’s book The Thomas the Tank Engine Man is a great read for anyone who grew up with Thomas the Tank Engine. It is well written and provides insight into the creation of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. Though the epilogue is a little flawed and the cover art is not to my personal taste, The Thomas the Tank Engine Man is a book worth picking up.

Bibliography

“The Thomas the Tank Engine Man.” Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia. Accessed June 21, 2016. http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/The_Thomas_the_Tank_Engine_Man.

Diyfather. “The Father of Thomas the Tank Engine.” YouTube. 2010. Accessed June 21, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT31slIrwxQ.

Sibley, Brian. The Thomas the Tank Engine Man. London: William Heinmann Ltd. 1995.

—. The Thomas the Tank Engine Man. Oxford: Lion Hudson Ltd. 2015.

The Sad Story of Henry: Mental Health and “Thomas The Tank Engine”

The hit children’s program Thomas and Friends has developed a close association with the Autism community in a positive manner. This has gotten me to wonder about mental health within the over all series. I’m not saying it was the Rev. W. Awdry’s intention or that this is a fact, unlike some people from the Guardian, I’m just proposing that this maybe something to consider when watching some of these episodes. First and foremost, this is a children’s show and, unless making it obvious, it doesn’t need to be subtle or have some underlining meaning. After re-watching the stories “Coal” and “Flying Kipper”, part of me began to wonder if Henry may be relatable to those dealing with anxiety and depression. I personally deal with such issues and have found myself relating to the green tender engine.

For those who don’t know, since this story arc occurred years ago, Henry appeared more like Gordon for the first few books in the Railway Series – even being painted blue for three books! By the time of the third book in the Railway Series, Tank Engine Thomas Again, Henry’s troubles become apparent and the green (well, blue at this point in the books) engine mentions his situation to Thomas, who passes it off as the former just being lazy (Awdry, Tank Engine Thomas Again, 8).

By the time of book six, Henry the Green Engine, Henry’s prolonged condition is described as sometimes having the strength to work but at other times he felt too weak to do so (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 4). It’s clear that the other engines have no patience for Henry’s problem, James even accusing Henry at the beginning of “Coal” of not working hard enough (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 4). At the same time, the Fat Controller, who has done all he can for Henry, is losing patience: “You are too expensive, Henry. You have had lots of new parts and new paint, but they’ve done you no good. If we can’t make you better, we must get another engine…” (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 4). It is quickly discovered that the reason for Henry’s troubles is the quality of coal being used. Henry’s fireman argues that because he doesn’t have a big firebox like the other engines, Henry isn’t able to function as well using the same coal and suggests Henry be prescribed Welsh Coal as a solution (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 8)

Still from the TV adaption of “Flying Kipper”

The success of the Welsh coal makes Henry feel great. He is able to work so well that the Fat Controller gives him the job of pulling The Flying Kipper. Unfortunately, on his first night of pulling the train, Henry collides into another train due to ice and snow jamming the points and signal (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 22). Upon arriving to survey the accident, the Fat Controller informs Henry that he will sent to Crewe, “a fine place for sick engines. They’ll give you a new shape and a larger firebox. Then you’ll feel a different engine, and you won’t need special coal any more” (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 28). Henry returns from Crewe a new engine with a new shape and went on to have many more escapades such as sneezing at some naughty boys and later moving two failed diesels all on his own.

So you may be asking: “how does the story of a green engine getting a new shape become relatable for someone with mental illness?” Well, people who do deal with anxiety or depression may feel like something is wrong but they aren’t sure what it is. Those around that person may either try to pass it off as nothing like Thomas and James, while those who are trying to help the person, like the Fat Controller, may be frustrated because they’ve done all they can to help but nothing is working. Henry can be seen as someone suffering from mental illness in that same regard. At the same time, the Welsh coal can serve as some sort of anti-depressant that allows him to function properly. Despite being properly medicated, people with mental health problems still struggle and can have points where things go the extreme; Henry’s accident with the Flying Kipper can serve to represent that sort of situation. Finally, going to Crewe is like going to therapy and getting the proper help needed to adjust and be able to cope with the illness in the best way. Henry comes back from Crewe a different engine, feeling much better than before. However, unlike Henry, there are still people who do get help and are medicated but still have to battle with mental illness every day. So please be patient.

Sources

“Awdryana.” Awdryana. Accessed June 14, 2016. http://awdryana.tumblr.com/page/3. 

“Coal.” Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia. Accessed June 14, 2016. http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Coal.

“The Flying Kipper.” Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia. Accessed June 14, 2016. http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/The_Flying_Kipper.

“Henry.” The Railway Series Wiki. Accessed June 14, 2016. http://the-railway-series.wikia.com/wiki/Henry.

Awdry, Rev. W. Henry the Green Engine. Leicester: Edmund Ward. 1951.

—. Tank Engine Thomas Again. Leicester: Edmund Ward. 1951.

NewController01. “TRSR2 HENRY THE GREEN ENGINE BOOK 6 PART 1 ‘Coal'” YouTube. 2009. Accessed June 14, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMrClf2JKCg. 