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)
Toby, Trucks and Trouble
Written by Christopher Awdry
Illustrated by Clive Spong
Published September 19, 1988
Here we are with the last book to feature stories adapted for television, and the first book not to feature "engine" or "engines" in the title.
Dear Friends,
Trucks are silly things. They rattle, bang and chatter to each other so much that they can never hear what their engine says. Even if they did, they probably wouldn't take any notice. They pushed Mavis into a lorry, and that made extra work for Toby and Percy while she was being mended.
But on the other hand, perhaps they're not all bad - after all, they did teach Bulstrode a lesson. See what you think.
The Author
Trucks are silly things. They rattle, bang and chatter to each other so much that they can never hear what their engine says. Even if they did, they probably wouldn't take any notice. They pushed Mavis into a lorry, and that made extra work for Toby and Percy while she was being mended.
But on the other hand, perhaps they're not all bad - after all, they did teach Bulstrode a lesson. See what you think.
The Author
Mavis runs late due to the trucks being in all the wrong places, and when bringing them down from the quarry, she and her driver encounter a lorry at the crossing. Unfortunately, the lorry's driver hadn't expected to see an engine turn up, and ends up in a ditch after colliding with Mavis. The lorry driver is okay, but Mavis' cowcatcher is bent and she has to go to the works for repairs, resulting in more work for Toby and Percy.
Definitely good to see Mavis back in the spotlight after a sixteen year absence in the books, apart from a fleeting mention in James and the Diesel Engines. It's another of those slice-of-life stories with a bit of action towards the end when Mavis collided with the lorry. However, it's said the lorry ended up in a ditch but it's actually on its side on the road, as the illustration above demonstrates. Either Clive wasn't paying attention or Christopher wanted it to be a little more dramatic, I have no idea. Still, it would've been great for TV, same thing with the last story.
Definitely good to see Mavis back in the spotlight after a sixteen year absence in the books, apart from a fleeting mention in James and the Diesel Engines. It's another of those slice-of-life stories with a bit of action towards the end when Mavis collided with the lorry. However, it's said the lorry ended up in a ditch but it's actually on its side on the road, as the illustration above demonstrates. Either Clive wasn't paying attention or Christopher wanted it to be a little more dramatic, I have no idea. Still, it would've been great for TV, same thing with the last story.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Season 4, Episode 25A
Toby thinks about the old days working at Yarmouth harbor; one day, he has been allowed to go to a local village's seaside festival and gets a new coat of paint. Along the way, he helps another engine with his goods train. However, the following morning, Toby is told that there's no room for him, but really, they're afraid he would show everyone else up! In the present day, Toby is brought to work by his crew, and states that the Fat Controller could've organized the event much better.
I don't get why this was merged with Bulstrode; they could've kept it as two individual stories and it would've been adapted much better. As for the story itself, it was nice to see Toby's past being expanded upon - we get to learn what it was like for him working at a harbor on the LNER! Now if only we could learn about how he got to work in East Anglia...
I don't get why this was merged with Bulstrode; they could've kept it as two individual stories and it would've been adapted much better. As for the story itself, it was nice to see Toby's past being expanded upon - we get to learn what it was like for him working at a harbor on the LNER! Now if only we could learn about how he got to work in East Anglia...
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Season 4, Episode 25B
Percy is sent to Knapford harbor to help load stone into a cantankerous old barge called Bulstrode. The trucks are cross with him and are grateful for Percy showing up. Unfortunately, a coupling snaps and four trucks run into Bulstrode, nearly drowning him, but luckily for him, the tide is out. The workmen rescue what stone they can, the broken trucks are taken for scrap, and Bulstrode is sent to the beach where children play in him.
Wait, the trucks are glad to have an engine being present? Tell me this is a joke...! No, it ain't no joke. Anyway, like I said, I'd prefer if Bulstrode had been adapted by itself - it took up around two minutes thirty seconds. They could've used the remaining two minutes to give Bulstrode more dialogue and have him make fun of Percy, like the Thomas Story Library adaptation did. Yes, it sounds like padding, but at least it wouldn't have given Toby a pointless role. Also, the crash was not how it was portrayed in the books, but it was amazingly filmed, I'll give them that. I don't think it was a terrible adaptation like Mind That Bike, but Special Attraction was just... meh.
RWS Rating: 9 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 4 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 4 out of 10
Terence has done the shunting in Percy's absence and jokingly suggests that he and Toby scrap their rails, commenting that steam engines once ran on roads. One frosty morning, the earth has swelled over the crossing to the quarry, and when Toby crosses it, he comes off the rails onto the road. With some quick thinking from the fireman, Toby is able to return to the safety of his own rails, and his crew spread some of his ashes to prevent another derailment. The Fat Controller does find out, but he simply tells Toby to stick to the railway.
I dunno why, but I liked Toby's face in the illustration I chose; it almost looks like one of his faces from the TV series:
It was nice seeing Terence play a small role to himself, and if you're unsure to how he did the shunting, the annual story Hosepipes and Shunters explain everything. Like Mavis and the Lorry, it's another simple story with good humor and action, not much, but still enjoyable. I wonder how the Fat Controller found out - maybe the ruts on the road were a clue? Certainly would've been great for TV.
I dunno why, but I liked Toby's face in the illustration I chose; it almost looks like one of his faces from the TV series:
 |
| Is it me, or do the faces look strikingly similar? |
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Stray Observations
Although the book is set on the Ffarquhar branchline, Thomas doesn't appear at all, excluding a mention in Mavis and the Lorry. Perhaps it took place at the same time as Thomas and the Twins?
Like I said, this was the first RWS book not to contain "engine" or "engines" in the title. Although Christopher has regretted breaking the tradition, he stated that it did create many new book title opportunities. I wonder what they were...
Like I said, this was the first RWS book not to contain "engine" or "engines" in the title. Although Christopher has regretted breaking the tradition, he stated that it did create many new book title opportunities. I wonder what they were...
Overall
Definitely surprising to have a book set on Sodor's most iconic line, and yet it's starring engine made no physical appearance. But then, do you always need to feature Thomas just to make a good book? It was nice to give Mavis and Toby more time in the spotlight, as well as Percy and Terence. But next time, we're going to find out where Thomas is...
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
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
31. Gordon the High-Speed Engine: 9.3
32. Toby, Trucks and Trouble: 9.1
1/10
26. Mind That Bike
2/10
25. Rusty to the Rescue
2.5/10
24. Thomas and Stepney
4/10
23. Special Attraction
5/10
22. Sleeping Beauty
6.5/10
21. A Bad Day for Sir Handel
20. Bulls Eyes
7/10
19. Henry and the Elephant
18. Granpuff
17. Four Little Engines
7.5/10
16. Special Funnel
15. Bulldog
8/10
14. Paint Pots and Queens
13. Toad Stands By
12. Trucks!
11. You Can't Win
8.5/10
10. Thomas and the Special Letter
9. Home at Last
8. Train Stops Play
9/10
7. Steam Roller
6. Rock 'n' Roll
5. Passengers and Polish
4. Bowled Out
3. Gallant Old Engine
9.5/10
2. Fish
1. Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady
Final Season Rating: 6/10
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
31. Gordon the High-Speed Engine: 9.3
32. Toby, Trucks and Trouble: 9.1
Season 4 Overall
I don't see season four as the among the greatest seasons of the show. Sure, it had nice episodes, but the structure was extremely sloppy and the narrow gauge engines had too much focus (not that I dislike them). I would've preferred if Four Little Engines and The Little Old Engine had been adapted for season two, and then Gallant Old Engine, Very Old Engines, and Small Railway Engines for season three, and probably Duke the Lost Engine as a special or for season four. Instead, Duke was adapted first, and the first three Skarloey-themed books were adapted after, leaving a few gaps, adaptation wise. I don't hate this season, but out of the classic seasons, this is the least good.
Episodes From Least Favorite to Most Favorite1/10
26. Mind That Bike
2/10
25. Rusty to the Rescue
2.5/10
24. Thomas and Stepney
4/10
23. Special Attraction
5/10
22. Sleeping Beauty
6.5/10
21. A Bad Day for Sir Handel
20. Bulls Eyes
7/10
19. Henry and the Elephant
18. Granpuff
17. Four Little Engines
7.5/10
16. Special Funnel
15. Bulldog
8/10
14. Paint Pots and Queens
13. Toad Stands By
12. Trucks!
11. You Can't Win
8.5/10
10. Thomas and the Special Letter
9. Home at Last
8. Train Stops Play
9/10
7. Steam Roller
6. Rock 'n' Roll
5. Passengers and Polish
4. Bowled Out
3. Gallant Old Engine
9.5/10
2. Fish
1. Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady
Season four's official episode average is 7.1/10.
Final Season Rating: 6/10
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