RWS #12: The Eight Famous Engines

The Railway Series' twelfth entry marked the first and last of several things; the start of John T. Kenney as illustrator, the last of Awdry's simple stories, the first to bring in engines outside of Sodor, and the (intended) last book of the series.

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 #12

The Eight Famous Engines

Written by The Rev. W. Awdry

Illustrated by John T. Kenney

Published 1957

Each of the original seven engines has had their own book (Duck is excluded, as he didn't get his own until next year), along with four extra books - one about the engines who started it all, one about Thomas' branchline, one about what happened while Thomas ran his line, and one about the Skarloey engines - but now, let's get to the book that completed the first dozen!

Dear Friends,
Sir Topham Hatt's engines are now quite famous. They have been on the radio and had many other adventures. But he had another plan, too, for his engines, and this book will tell you what it was.
The Author

Percy Takes the Plunge

Season 2, Episode 11

Percy teases Henry about his tunnel incident (Henry had sent Percy's friends away, since the shed was for NWR engines), saying that water's nothing to an engine with determination. When Thomas tells him about a danger sign, Percy ignores his friend's warning and asks the trucks to push him beyond the danger sign, which turns out to be a big mistake and Percy has a dunking in the sea, and Henry gets the last laugh.

Like I said with Percy's Promise, why are these episodes aired in the reverse order? It's just going to confuse the audience, and that was coming from a woman who said The Missing Coach would confuse kids! (Seriously, the continuity errors she caused do a fine job of that.) There's the positives like the moral on obeying orders, and it's an example to how Awdry's engines are like children in their own ways. The adaptation is fine, but it's in the wrong place. Rule of thumb - if an adaptation is in the wrong place, it's a two-point deduction; sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the severity.

RWS Rating: 8.5 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Gordon Goes Foreign

Cancelled Season 3 Episode

An argument ensures between Gordon, Duck, and a visiting engine to what the station at London is called. Gordon attempts to go there to prove it, but can't because he isn't allowed past Barrow. One day, he gets his chance when the engine due to take the express derails, and Gordon enjoys himself... until he discovers that the station he went to is St. Pancras.

This was meant to be adapted in season three, and the Foreign Engine was going to utilize Henry's model with added smoke deflectors, but the remake was cancelled due to high budgets. Really? Britt was a millionaire by this point; it could've easily been adapted and the following story would've made sense!

It's a shame it was never adapted; this is perhaps one of the best RWS stories which has never been adapted, along with Super Rescue. The conflict is believable, and the resolution was a bit amusing, if I'm honest. And no, I do not believe Duck was shoehorned; since he worked for the GWR at Paddington, his role in the argument makes sense here.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Double Header/Time for Trouble

Season 3, Episode 3

Gordon is tired after his trip in the previous story, so the Fat Controller gives James the chance to pull the express, and he brags about it to Toby. Toby, meanwhile, is on his way to the works for repairs, and when he stops for water, the new signalman refuses to listen, resulting in Toby running out of water. James is annoyed that he has to push Toby all the way to the works, and feels worse when some boys tease him!

Remember what I said about Gordon Goes Foreign not being adapted? Double Header was a continuation of the previous story, and yet in the adaptation, Gordon is tired for no reason. Seriously, if you're going to adapt the book, at least do it without continuity issues! The one positive I can draw is Toby expressing concern for Henrietta, just like a husband would with his wife; it shows they're very close.

On whole, a pretty poor adaptation, and the story that led to this should've been adapted to make this one feel better.

RWS Rating: 8.5 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 6 out of 10

The Fat Controller's Engines/Thomas and the Special Letter

Season 4, Episode 22

The Fat Controller tells his engines that they're going to England to prove that they are real, and in their place, seven other engines will take their places. Thomas works with Jinty, and he brags about his race, leading to an accident that dents his front, but he's repaired just in time for the trip.

The last three stories had continuity of their own; all would've taken place after Duck's arrival (as well as Percy's Promise), and the previous two had nothing to do with Percy Takes the Plunge, just like this story.

Onto the story/episode itself; it aired as the 100th episode of the series overall, and if I'm honest, it's a decent choice for a celebratory episode, but not without it's flaws. For one, the "engines from the other railway" - Donald, Douglas, Oliver, Mavis, BoCo, Bill and Ben - are all owned by the Fat Controller, whilst Mavis (FQC), Bill and Ben (SCC) are owned privately. Plus, Thomas smashed into buffers, not a brick wall, although the accident was nicely filmed and the music playing was fantastic.

Even with those flaws, I think the adaptation is good, even though it isn't based on the original.

RWS Rating: 9 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Stray Observations

Remember what I said about this being planned as the last book? Awdry was going to call it The Fat Controller's Engines, which would eventually be the title of book #39. One can imagine what might've happened if the series ended right there...

This is John T. Kenney's first book as illustrator, and he did a brilliant job from the get go; he knew how to draw real steam engines, although his illustrations did have the occasional flaw.

The Fat Controller's Engines (the story) said that Percy and Toby were placed on flatbeds behind Edward, and yet they're placed on the rails. Why is that?

Overall

It was another solid book; it surely gave Awdry the chance to "prove" that the engines he created were real, and it did the job. But now, we're moving away from the lighter stories and moving on to his darker era...

Overall Book Rating: 8.8 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

Thomas and Friends Season 2 Scorecard

2. Cows: 8

3. Bertie's Chase: 9

4. Saved from Scrap: 9.5

5. Old Iron: 10
7. Percy and the Signal: 9
8. Duck Takes Charge: 8
9. Percy and Harold: 8.5
11. Percy Takes the Plunge: 6.5

Thomas and Friends Season 3 Scorecard

1. A Scarf for Percy: 8.5
2. Percy's Promise: 6.5
3. Time for Trouble: 6

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

5. Four Little Engines: 7
6. A Bad Day for Sir Handel: 6.5
7. Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady: 9.5
19. Henry and the Elephant: 7
22. Thomas and the Special Letter: 8.5
23. Paint Pots and Queens: 8