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)
More About Thomas the Tank Engine
Written by Christopher Awdry
Illustrated by Clive Spong
Published September 22, 1986
This book had been written up specifically for the television series during its second season, making it unique, and it also featured popular characters Bertie and Harold. However, since then, Christopher Awdry has expressed dissatisfaction with the book as it had been hurriedly written to meet a deadline with Britt Allcroft Productions. Was he right to say so?
Dear Friends,
Sometimes Thomas and Percy both think they are the most important engines on the branch line. We know better, of course, and so does the Fat Controller, which is why he did not intervene when Thomas and Percy had a quarrel. Like most quarrels, it wasn't serious to start with. It began when Percy... But why not turn the page and read about it for yourself?
The Author
Sometimes Thomas and Percy both think they are the most important engines on the branch line. We know better, of course, and so does the Fat Controller, which is why he did not intervene when Thomas and Percy had a quarrel. Like most quarrels, it wasn't serious to start with. It began when Percy... But why not turn the page and read about it for yourself?
The Author
Season 2, Episode 1
Thomas boasts to Percy and Toby that blue is a proper color for a Really Useful Engine, but next day, Percy accidentally causes Thomas to get covered in coal dust when shunting - a door bursts open spilling coal all over Thomas. Thomas blames Percy for getting him dirty on purpose, especially when he missed his first train, and Percy is cross with Thomas for thinking so. Some days later, Percy goes for a drink but he crashes into a coal bunker, much to Thomas' amusement.
The general adaptation has a couple of problems - one, the way Thomas got dirty was different; the coal chute poured all over the tracks, and coal dust flew onto Thomas. Secondly - and this is the big one - the resolution was too sudden! Why on earth was the book written for TV, and yet Drip Tank (more on that later) was left out? I mean, The Sad Story of Henry ended with the green engine in the tunnel, and the next episode gave him a happy ending. Putting that into consideration, that's quite hypocritical from a woman who said The Missing Coach (which this episode replaced) would confuse kids. That is not a good way to start a season; it might not have been so bad if they had actually adapted The Missing Coach and held this off for season three.
RWS Rating: 8.5 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 5 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 5 out of 10
Season 2, Episode 10
Thomas returns from the Works after an illness, but his handbrake is left stiff, and at times, he overruns station platforms. Eventually, his crew get used to it, but one day, a relief fireman carelessly forgets to put Thomas' brakes on and the blue tank engine starts off. An inspector is unable to stop him at Dryaw station, but Harold the helicopter helps taking the inspector to Toryreck. Annie and Clarabel hold Thomas back, giving the inspector enough time to climb into Thomas' cab and apply the brakes.
Something odd I noticed in the original story is that Duck had never met Toby before. Considering The Eight Famous Engines, I find that unlikely. In the adaptation, it's more believable since he had only previously appeared in Duck Takes Charge. Other than the exclusion of Thomas and Percy's argument, the adaptation is more or less faithful to the original.
RWS Rating: 8 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 8.5 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Season 2, Episode 15
On the mainline, the arches of the viaduct are being strengthened, resulting in mainline trains running late, much to Thomas' annoyance. When Bertie teases Thomas about beating him in a race, the blue tank engine is infuriated. After being held up by a very late James, Thomas tries to make up for lost time, but when he sees Bertie broken down, he agrees to help out, and he and Bertie agree that being late isn't always a bad thing.
Very much true to the original; the opening music is great, one of the best themes of the classic series. If I was Thomas, I'd be frustrated about keeping time as well when others run late, even though there's reason behind it. Once again, there's the underused rail vs. road rivalry which I'd love to see more often (how often have I said that in my reviews?) Even though Bertie teased Thomas for running late, he still shows respect when the blue tank engine agrees to help get his passengers home. Oddly, James is seen pulling goods and not passengers because... goods.
RWS/TV Series Rating: 9 out of 10
Percy decides to make amends with Thomas, but after getting scratched by a branch and Thomas is rude to him for it, Percy decides otherwise. Later, he asks Toby what a drip is, since he heard a boy call his friend one on the platform, but Thomas says that Percy is a drip himself. Ironically, Thomas' siderod snaps on a passenger run, puncturing his watertank. Percy is then sent to help an ashamed Thomas, who apologizes for his rudeness to Percy.
If you don't know what a "drip" is, then it means that the boy calling his friend boring, inane, or tiresome - in other words, stupid. Since then, Christopher has regretted using the term, as it has largely fallen out of use. Anyway, this story should've been adapted as it resolved Thomas and Percy's argument from the first story, but instead, it was left out, the conflict was resolved too quickly, and so much potential was lost.
If you don't know what a "drip" is, then it means that the boy calling his friend boring, inane, or tiresome - in other words, stupid. Since then, Christopher has regretted using the term, as it has largely fallen out of use. Anyway, this story should've been adapted as it resolved Thomas and Percy's argument from the first story, but instead, it was left out, the conflict was resolved too quickly, and so much potential was lost.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Stray Observations
Christopher has said he disliked the book's title - it wasn't very imaginative. What if it was called something like Best Engine Friends?
The first illustration of Better Late Than Never vaguely bears similarities to the seventh illustration of Domeless Engines, as seen below:
The first illustration of Better Late Than Never vaguely bears similarities to the seventh illustration of Domeless Engines, as seen below:
Left: John T. Kenney's original Domeless Engines illustration. Right: Clive Spong's updated Better Late Than Never illustration.
Overall
Even though the book gets a good rating, I'm inclined to admit that the book didn't contribute anything major to the Railway Series - it felt like it was just there. There's two alternatives they could've taken; publish Barry the Rescue Engine (I'll get to that later) in it's place, or hold the stories back for another season. It's still a nice read though.
Overall Book Rating: 8.5 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
24. Oliver the Western Engine: 8.9
25. Duke the Lost Engine: 9.4
26. Tramway Engines: 9.1
27. Really Useful Engines: 8.3
28. James and the Diesel Engines: 7.5
29. Great Little Engines: 9
30. More About Thomas the Tank Engine: 8.5
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
27. Really Useful Engines: 8.3
28. James and the Diesel Engines: 7.5
29. Great Little Engines: 9
30. More About Thomas the Tank Engine: 8.5
Thomas and Friends Season 2 Scorecard
1. Thomas, Percy and the Coal: 5
1. Thomas, Percy and the Coal: 5
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
10. The Runaway: 9
11. Percy Takes the Plunge: 6.5
12. Pop Goes the Diesel: 9
13. Dirty Work: 8
14. A Close Shave: 8.5
15. Better Late Than Never: 9
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
7. Percy and the Signal: 9
8. Duck Takes Charge: 8
9. Percy and Harold: 8.5
10. The Runaway: 9
11. Percy Takes the Plunge: 6.5
12. Pop Goes the Diesel: 9
13. Dirty Work: 8
14. A Close Shave: 8.5
15. Better Late Than Never: 9
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
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