RWS #8: Gordon the Big Engine

We'll review this book of Gordon;

he's big, he's fast, he's proud.

His paint is blue, so strong and true,

and his whistle's really lou-

Oh, sorry! I got carried away there. Let's just get on to reviewing Gordon's book, shall we?

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)

The Railway Series Book #8

Gordon the Big Engine

Written by The Rev. W. Awdry

Illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby

Published 1953

Once again, Gordon lets his pride get the better of him, but he has a lot to do to regain the Fat Controller's trust...

Dear Ian,
You asked for a book about Gordon. Here it is. Gordon has been naughty, and Sir Topham Hatt was stern with him.

Gordon has now learned his lesson and is a Really Useful Engine again.
The Author

Off the Rails

Season 1, Episode 24

A bad-tempered Gordon is unwilling to pull a goods train, and so he deliberately jams the turntable, only to end up in a ditch. Edward is made to take the train instead, and later in the evening, James and Henry help Gordon out of the ditch.

The first part of Gordon's saga, and it shows how much the engines act like children at times; they don't like doing the jobs they don't want to do, but they have to regardless. Here, Gordon didn't want to pull trucks, and for trying to get out of doing it, he's been punished by being made to pull trucks as the next story will show.

RWS/TV Series Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Leaves/The Trouble with Mud

Season 3, Episode 10

Gordon is banned from pulling coaches and is made to shunt trucks until he can be trusted again. Later, he warns James that his hill being slippery due to leaves, but James ignores him but soon pays the price and needs Gordon's help.

Honestly, why hold it back for two seasons instead of adapting it (as well as Henry and the Elephant) for season one? The mud appeared on Gordon without reason, and because he's dirty, he's not allowed to pull the express. Remember this, as I'll be discussing this in a future review. The second half is fine, but it's not enough to redeem this adaptation. Now, it's not THE worst adaptation (I'm looking at you, Rusty to the Rescue) but it is the most pointless.

On whole, Gordon was still pompous, but he settled down a little bit and does his work without complaining, which shows good character development from him.

RWS Rating: 8 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 4 out of 10

Down the Mine

Season 1, Episode 25

Thomas laughs at Gordon's ditch incident, much to Annie and Clarabel's shock. When Thomas travels to the lead lines, he ignores a warning sign and goes past it, only to end up in a mine, and he needs Gordon's help. Afterward, they form an Alliance.

Definitely another favorite of mine from season one; the moral on obeying orders is very good, and I like how Annie and Clarabel stand up for Gordon. It's also nice to how both Thomas and Gordon respected one another in the end; they've both done stupid things and formed their Alliance.

RWS/TV Series Rating: 9 out of 10

Paint Pots and Queens

Season 4, Episode 23

Queen Elizabeth is coming to Sodor for a visit, and Henry is hoping to pull her train, but his gloating is short lived when a paint bucket falls on his boiler. The Fat Controller then meets with Thomas and Gordon who both apologize for doing stupid things, and Gordon is allowed to pull the Royal Train with Thomas arranging the coaches.

While some people say Mrs. Kyndley's Christmas should've finished up season one, I think this episode should've finished season one and Gordon's saga perfectly. Speaking of whom, I like Gordon's role here; he knows he won't pull the Royal Train as he's in disgrace, and has become less pompous and more humble. He even asks the Fat Controller that Thomas get his branchline back, and in return, Thomas asks if Gordon can pull coaches again. Positive karma, after all; do something nice for someone, they'll do something nice in return.

Both versions are of the same quality, but the RWS version is better by one point as it finished up Gordon's saga now rather than later.

RWS Rating: 9 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 8 out of 10

Stray Observations

In Down the Mine, there was a typo which has since been fixed:

Thomas squealed crossly at the sound of his brakes were applied.

The correct way it should be written is "Thomas squealed crossly as the sound of his brakes were applied."

The same story is based off an incident on the Furness Railway in 1892; the collapsing mine hole was so deep that the engine vanished, and all that remained was its tender. Goodness knows if the engine will ever be dug up again...

Henry: James, why do you have two extra leading wheels?

James: Oh, who gives a damn, Henry? If you chuffed forwards, you'd hit the shed support!

Overall

What's the problem with character development in many peoples' works? Awdry seemed to have made it effortless and gave his characters development throughout the books he'd written. It's a similar case to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, although Pinkie Pie's characterization could be put into question...

Gordon's book is simply fantastic, and it was nice that it had been written during the Queen's coronation. At the time of writing this review, Elizabeth II is the longest-living monarch in Great Britain's history (longer than her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria), but the second-longest reign of nearly 63 years (hopefully come September 10 for Lizzie, and she'll claim the record!)

Overall Book Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Right now, all of season one has been reviewed except for Thomas' Christmas Party, but that will have to wait for at least ten months.

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

Thomas and Friends Season 1 Scorecard

1. Thomas and Gordon: 9.5

2. Edward and Gordon: 8.5

3. The Sad Story of Henry: 8

4. Edward, Gordon and Henry: 9

5. Thomas' Train: 8.5

6. Thomas and the Trucks: 9

7. Thomas and the Breakdown Train: 9
8. James and the Coaches: 8.5
9. Troublesome Trucks: 9
10. James and the Express: 8.5
11. Thomas and the Guard: 9
12. Thomas Goes Fishing: 9.5
13. Thomas, Terence and the Snow: 9.5
14. Thomas and Bertie: 10
15. Tenders and Turntables: 7.5
16. Trouble in the Shed: 8
17. Percy Runs Away: 8
18. Coal: 9
19. The Flying Kipper: 10
20. Whistles and Sneezes: 9.5
21. Toby and the Stout Gentleman: 9
22. Thomas in Trouble: 8.5
23. Dirty Objects: 9.5
24. Off the Rails: 8.5
25. Down the Mine: 9

Thomas and Friends Season 3 Scorecard

1. A Scarf for Percy: 8.5

9. Henry's Forest: 9
10. The Trouble with Mud: 4

26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas (Mountain) Adventure: 7.5 (UK) / 4 (US)

Thomas and Friends Season 4 Scorecard
19. Henry and the Elephant: 7
23. Paint Pots and Queens: 8