RWS #26: Tramway Engines

Wilbert Awdry's final chapter in the Railway Series is now under my microscope! Did he end with a bang? Let's find out!

THE OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS IN THIS BLOG POST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF ZACK WANZER, NOT THE THOMAS FANDOM IN GENERAL

THIS POST MAY ALSO MENTION CONTENT NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN

(special thanks to the Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images)

The Railway Series Book #26

Tramway Engines

Written by The Rev. W. Awdry

Illustrated by Gunvor and Peter Edwards

Published October 15, 1972

In 1971, we received no Railway Series book, but instead, The Railway Series: Surprise Packet featuring stories, games and puzzles for kids to enjoy, and it gave answers to the questions we asked about illustration errors in The Three Railway Engines and Tank Engine Thomas Again. But come the following year, Wilbert revisited Thomas' branchline for the last time; Thomas and Percy are at odds with one another, and Toby has trouble with a feisty young diesel called Mavis...

Dear Friends,
Thomas has been pestering me to write about his Branch Line. "After all", he said, "we are the importantest part of the whole railway."

"What can I write about?" I asked.

"Oh, lots of things - Percy's Woolly Bear, Toby's Tightrope and..."

"...your Ghost," I added.

"Don't put that silly story in," said Thomas crossly.

I will, all the same. Thomas has been much too cocky lately. It will serve him right!
The Author

Ghost Train
Season 2, Episode 24

Thomas laughs at Percy's ghost story, and the little green engine is disappointed to learn that it was a story on television. Later that night, Percy has a run in with a cartload of lime at Crowe's Farm Crossing and after a comment from the signalman about looking like a ghost, Percy decides to get even with Thomas for laughing at him. With Toby's help, convinces the little blue engine that he has crashed which scares Thomas out of his frames!

Alright, let's knock something out of the way; there is no deleted scene about the ghost train in the episode about a Thomas repaint named Timothy. It does not exist, and it's just fanfiction made to scare people; I don't buy it in the slightest. It's overrated, and any Creepypasta based around a television show or movie is rubbish on the spot (I'm looking at you, Squidward's Suicide!)

Onto the episode itself, it's another firm favorite of mine from season two. And by the way, the "ghost" is Percy's model, not Thomas' (get that through your skulls, people!) It's always entertaining to see Thomas get his comeuppance for being cheeky, and this one is of no exception. The music is also great, almost like something out of a Hitchcock horror film. The episode is perfectly suitable for Halloween and I enjoy watching it a lot.

RWS/TV Series Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Woolly Bear
Season 2, Episode 25

Thomas is still cross with Percy's trick in the previous story, and calls him a "green caterpillar with red stripes" owing to Percy being late in picking up haybales. Percy resolves with be early as he can, but it falls flat when a crate of treacle lands on him, and it gets worse when the wind blows hay all over Percy and sticks on him, much to Thomas' amusement.

Not much I can say here, really - how the hay stuck on Percy was amazing, as was the crate of treacle landing on him. Just shows how capable they were back then, doesn't it?

RWS/TV Series Rating: 9 out of 10

Mavis
Season 3, Episode 14

Mavis is a stuck-up diesel shunter at Anopha Quarry who loves rearranging the trucks in the sidings, much to Toby's annoyance. When Mavis meets with Daisy, the railcar tells her that diesels are better than steam engines, making Mavis prouder than ever, but pride comes before a fall when the trucks hold her back and Toby is sent to help.

The adaptation is good... except for a problem that the picture above shows; Diesel is in Daisy's place. Why is that? This is disrespectful for the diesel railcar, especially considering how underused she was! (Bulls-Eyes being held back doesn't help either, but that's not the point.) Plus, Diesel is a shunting engine; he should know about trucks! A great shame, but the moral is fantastic about respecting your elders, and I really like Mavis as a character.

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

Toby's Tightrope
Season 3, Episode 15

Mavis is forbidden to the leave the quarry due to her mishap, but after the winter has passed and the work increases, Mavis convinces the manager to let her go as far as the crossing. She also decides to go further down the line and asks the trucks to push her at the crossing. It goes badly wrong when Toby pulls the trucks instead and is suspended over the raging torrent on nothing but a pair of rails. Mavis rescues him, feeling guilty for her mistake, but is forgiven and allowed to travel beyond the quarry.

I really loved Mavis' character here; she was tired of being cooped up at the quarry and wanted to go outside her comfort zone with the trucks' help (as we all know, you can never trust trucks) but her plan goes askew when Toby is in danger and she owned up to her mistake, which shows her growth as a character. This also carried over in season six, which I like. I didn't find the point of Percy's role at the start; he had no reason to be here. I also like the way the bridge collapsing was filmed, and Toby's fears actually make sense; he was afraid of going under, but felt relief when Mavis saved him.

I'm glad Mavis didn't have many roles in the Barlow era; they could've screwed her up, and they didn't. Hopefully, they give Mavis more screentime - maybe something involving her pulling passengers? (I have a similar idea with Belle, but that's another story.) Despite the issue with Percy's role, this is a good adaptation.

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

Stray Observations

How fitting - Wilbert's last book written was also the last book illustrated by Peter and Gunvor Edwards.

Remember Wilbert's comment that forced C. Reginald Dalby to resign after Percy the Small Engine? That's where Woolly Bear came in.

Overall

So, did Wilbert Awdry end his era with a bang? Unsurprisingly, yes! As Thomas' branchline is very iconic, it's appropriate that Awdry chose to base his final book around it. I really love every book centered on the branchline written by Wilbert and Tramway Engines is of no exception.

Overall Book Rating: 9.1 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

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
24. Oliver the Western Engine: 8.9
25. Duke the Lost Engine: 9.4
26. Tramway Engines: 9.1

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
12. Pop Goes the Diesel: 9
13. Dirty Work: 8
14. A Close Shave: 8.5
16. Break Van: 8
17. The Deputation: 10
18. Thomas Comes to Breakfast: 9.5
19. Daisy: 9
20. Percy's Predicament: 8.5
21. The Diseasel: 9.5
22. Wrong Road: 9
23. Edward's Exploit: 10
24. Ghost Train: 9.5
25. Woolly Bear: 9

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
5. Donald's Duck: 6.5

9. Henry's Forest: 9
10. The Trouble with Mud: 4
14. Mavis: 8.5
15. Toby's Tightrope: 8

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
22. Oliver Owns Up: 7.5
23. Bulgy: 9
26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas (Mountain) Adventure: 7.5 (UK) / 4 (US)