THE OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS IN THIS BLOG POST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF ZACK WANZER, NOT THE THOMAS FANDOM IN GENERAL
(special thanks to the Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images)
Enterprising Engines
Written by The Rev. W. Awdry
Illustrated by Gunvor and Peter Edwards
Published October 4, 1968
Right before I wrote up this review, I didn't know which I liked more - this or Tank Engine Thomas Again? Well, we're going to find out and see which I prefer!
Dear Richard,
Do you remember the photographs you took of what happened to your train on the way to Waterloo in April 1967?
Your Mother, very kindly, gave me a set, and they helped our artist to draw at least two of the pictures for "Super Rescue".
Anyway, "Super Rescue" is the story which your pictures told me. I hope you will enjoy it, and the other three stories as well.
The Author
Do you remember the photographs you took of what happened to your train on the way to Waterloo in April 1967?
Your Mother, very kindly, gave me a set, and they helped our artist to draw at least two of the pictures for "Super Rescue".
Anyway, "Super Rescue" is the story which your pictures told me. I hope you will enjoy it, and the other three stories as well.
The Author
Season 3, Episode 20
Gordon is in a surly mood, and it doesn't improve when he hears that all of his brothers have been withdrawn and scrapped... except one, who the Fat Controller invites to visit. Gordon is thrilled to see Flying Scotsman and everyone gets on with him, except for Henry, who feels he deserves another tender (Flying Scotsman has two because the other railway hardly has any coal and water) Duck offers to give Henry six tenders, but it turns out they're dirty and filled with sludge, much to Henry's disgust.
It's been said that Flying Scotsman's role was cut due to budgets. I say bull to that; if Britt had the money then why couldn't they bother making the model in the first place?! Then again, if they did, then the world's most famous steam engine preserved would've suffered the same fate as Stepney did. Also, how does Gordon not know his own brother? The original did right what the adaptation got wrong; it tackled what was happening on British Railways head on. It's like mentioning the death of a family member - there is no sugarcoating it, and if you do, you're insulting the memory of those who died. At least Henry's part of the story was done close to the original, but waiting til the episode's halfway done to improve? Sorry, no can do.
I'm not saying the adaptation is worse than The Trouble with Mud, but it's as bad as it is.
I'm not saying the adaptation is worse than The Trouble with Mud, but it's as bad as it is.
RWS Rating: 8.5 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 4 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 4 out of 10
Two diesels are brought in on trial - 7101, who is friendly, and 199, who is rude. When Henry's regulator jams and he runs home tender first, he encounters 199 with a train of tankers and moaning for a fitter. Henry shifts him out of the way, and 7101 also fails with the Limited when his ejector leaks. Henry helps both diesels with their trains (7101 helps as best as he can) and is praised for his heroic actions. Flying Scotsman takes over for 7101, and Donald takes over for 199, and Henry helps 7101 to the shed.
Now this is the best story which has never been adapted for TV; it harks back to Henry in the old days - once a feeble steamer, he's now helping to shift two diesels despite his jammed regulator. The contrast between 199 and 7101 is also admirable, especially on the first page where 7101 stands up for the steam engines, and later on, he does his best to keep his passengers moving despite his leaking ejector. If this were adapted as an episode or part of a special, I'd love to see that!
Now this is the best story which has never been adapted for TV; it harks back to Henry in the old days - once a feeble steamer, he's now helping to shift two diesels despite his jammed regulator. The contrast between 199 and 7101 is also admirable, especially on the first page where 7101 stands up for the steam engines, and later on, he does his best to keep his passengers moving despite his leaking ejector. If this were adapted as an episode or part of a special, I'd love to see that!
Rating: 10 out of 10
Season 3, Episode 21A
This was a request on DeviantArt by WildNorWester. If you have any requests for episodes you'd like me to tackle, do leave a comment below, or send me a private message. Also, read the list of reviews that I'll never do to understand there are episodes I won't do.
Douglas takes the Midnight Goods to the other railway, and before he can return home, he encounters a stranded tank engine named Oliver and agrees to help him escape to Sodor. They're stopped by a foreman, but he's coaxed to let them pass. Douglas and Oliver make it to Sodor safely, and with the help of a watchman, hide Oliver as well as an autocoach named Isabel and a brakevan called Toad.
Out of all of the season three adaptations, this is the absolute best, and it's easy to see why; the music for the scene when Oliver escapes with Douglas is composed brilliantly, and it stuck very closely to the original, despite some changes. I didn't mind the scenes with Edward; he tells Douglas that he and Trevor are no different, and it (indirectly) mentions the events of The Missing Coach. Plus, since Douglas had been in a similar position to Oliver, he didn't hesitate to help him to safety. I didn't mind the autocoaches not appearing either, and I'll get to why later.
Douglas takes the Midnight Goods to the other railway, and before he can return home, he encounters a stranded tank engine named Oliver and agrees to help him escape to Sodor. They're stopped by a foreman, but he's coaxed to let them pass. Douglas and Oliver make it to Sodor safely, and with the help of a watchman, hide Oliver as well as an autocoach named Isabel and a brakevan called Toad.
RWS/TV Series Rating: 10 out of 10
Season 3, Episode 21B
Douglas returns home just in time to see Flying Scotsman off. Afterward, the tells the other engines about Oliver, and when the Fat Controller shows up, he commends Douglas' actions and tells all the engines that Oliver will become part of Duck's branchline, and Toad will be Douglas' brakevan. As for 7101, he becomes a North Western engine and is renamed Bear because of his growls. Three more autocoaches - Dulcie, Alice and Mirabel - are rescued as well; Dulcie with Oliver and Isabel and Alice and Mirabel with Duck.
It was a great way to tie up the loose ends in the book - we know that Flying Scotsman will be returning home, we know what's become of Bear, and we have relief that Oliver, Isabel and Toad are safe and sound on Sodor. Not much to say, really, other than it's a great way to end the book.
It was a great way to tie up the loose ends in the book - we know that Flying Scotsman will be returning home, we know what's become of Bear, and we have relief that Oliver, Isabel and Toad are safe and sound on Sodor. Not much to say, really, other than it's a great way to end the book.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Stray Observations
7101 and 199 are fictional numbers for both the Class 35 Hymeks and Class 46 Peaks, respectively. The last 35 built was 7100, and the last 46 was 193. Maybe 199 was part of a cancelled batch of six extra Peaks, and 7101 was built as an extra Hymek?
Super Rescue was based upon an event that happened at Waterloo in April 1967, hence the foreword was written for someone called Richard.
Flying Scotsman's owner was Alan E. Pegler, and he and E. Hoyle helped Awdry in preparation for this book. Pegler died on March 18, 2012. We should be grateful for him; if it wasn't for Pegler, we would've had no A3s left. Flying Scotsman is expected to be back in steam in 2015.
Why did I say I didn't mind that the autocoaches weren't made for TV? Let me put it this way; Annie and Clarabel help keep Thomas in check when he gets into trouble, and Henrietta is a lifelong companion to Toby, she hates being separated from him, and Toby thinks so too. As for the autocoaches, they don't have enough character to make me like them, and they did very little. I don't think they'll be making it on TV any time soon given that Duck now has the Slip Coaches to pull.
1968 was the year British Railways finally withdrew steam, and this book reflected on that.
7101 and 199 are fictional numbers for both the Class 35 Hymeks and Class 46 Peaks, respectively. The last 35 built was 7100, and the last 46 was 193. Maybe 199 was part of a cancelled batch of six extra Peaks, and 7101 was built as an extra Hymek?
Super Rescue was based upon an event that happened at Waterloo in April 1967, hence the foreword was written for someone called Richard.
Flying Scotsman's owner was Alan E. Pegler, and he and E. Hoyle helped Awdry in preparation for this book. Pegler died on March 18, 2012. We should be grateful for him; if it wasn't for Pegler, we would've had no A3s left. Flying Scotsman is expected to be back in steam in 2015.
Why did I say I didn't mind that the autocoaches weren't made for TV? Let me put it this way; Annie and Clarabel help keep Thomas in check when he gets into trouble, and Henrietta is a lifelong companion to Toby, she hates being separated from him, and Toby thinks so too. As for the autocoaches, they don't have enough character to make me like them, and they did very little. I don't think they'll be making it on TV any time soon given that Duck now has the Slip Coaches to pull.
Overall
Wow, four fantastic books in a row!Many fans consider this to be the greatest Railway Series book of all time, and it's easy to see why; with steam engines being withdrawn on British Railways, the Sodor steam engines felt threatened at first, but relieved when the Fat Controller says he will never abolish steam, making Sodor a safe haven for steam engines. But now, which do I prefer more? This or Tank Engine Thomas Again? For now, I'm going with Tank Engine Thomas Again, but only by a hair or so.
Overall Book Rating: 9.5 out of 10
The Railway Series Scorecard
1. The Three Railway Engines: 8.4
2. Thomas the Tank Engine: 9
3. James the Red Engine: 7.5
4. Tank Engine Thomas Again: 9.5
5. Troublesome Engines: 8.1
6. Henry the Green Engine: 8.4
7. Toby the Tram Engine: 9
8. Gordon the Big Engine: 8.6
9. Edward the Blue Engine: 9.3
10. Four Little Engines: 8.8
11. Percy the Small Engine: 8.9
12. The Eight Famous Engines: 8.8
13. Duck and the Diesel Engine: 8.5
14. The Little Old Engine: 8.9
15. The Twin Engines: 9.1
16. Branch Line Engines: 9.3
17. Gallant Old Engine: 9.3
18. Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine: 8.5
3. James the Red Engine: 7.5
4. Tank Engine Thomas Again: 9.5
5. Troublesome Engines: 8.1
6. Henry the Green Engine: 8.4
7. Toby the Tram Engine: 9
8. Gordon the Big Engine: 8.6
9. Edward the Blue Engine: 9.3
10. Four Little Engines: 8.8
11. Percy the Small Engine: 8.9
12. The Eight Famous Engines: 8.8
13. Duck and the Diesel Engine: 8.5
14. The Little Old Engine: 8.9
15. The Twin Engines: 9.1
16. Branch Line Engines: 9.3
17. Gallant Old Engine: 9.3
18. Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine: 8.5
19. Mountain Engines: 8.9
20. Very Old Engines: 9.1
21. Main Line Engines: 9
22. Small Railway Engines: 9.3
23. Enterprising Engines: 9.5
20. Very Old Engines: 9.1
21. Main Line Engines: 9
22. Small Railway Engines: 9.3
23. Enterprising Engines: 9.5
Thomas and Friends Season 3 Scorecard
1. A Scarf for Percy: 8.5
2. Percy's Promise: 6.5
3. Time for Trouble: 6
4. Gordon and the Famous Visitor: 8
2. Percy's Promise: 6.5
3. Time for Trouble: 6
4. Gordon and the Famous Visitor: 8
9. Henry's Forest: 9
10. The Trouble with Mud: 4
10. The Trouble with Mud: 4
16. Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party: 8.5
17. Buzz Buzz: 8
19. One Good Turn: 9
20. Tender Engines: 4
21. Escape: 10
26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas (Mountain) Adventure: 7.5 (UK) / 4 (US)
19. One Good Turn: 9
20. Tender Engines: 4
21. Escape: 10
26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas (Mountain) Adventure: 7.5 (UK) / 4 (US)
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