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)
Thomas and the Great Railway Show
Written by Christopher Awdry
Illustrated by Clive Spong
Published August 12, 1991
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends has been hugely successful on British television, and most recently, it had come to America abroad Shining Time Station. Now, the blue tank engine himself is making a guest visit to York at the National Railway Museum!
Dear Friends,
Henry, Gordon and James have been grumpy lately. They were jealous because Thomas had been asked to visit the National Railway Museum in York. The Fat Controller was afraid that they would go on strike, but they didn't.
"If Thomas wants to be a museum-piece," they said to each other, "what's that to do with us?"
Meanwhile Thomas was enjoying himself. I hope you will enjoy reading about how he did so.
The Author
Henry, Gordon and James have been grumpy lately. They were jealous because Thomas had been asked to visit the National Railway Museum in York. The Fat Controller was afraid that they would go on strike, but they didn't.
"If Thomas wants to be a museum-piece," they said to each other, "what's that to do with us?"
Meanwhile Thomas was enjoying himself. I hope you will enjoy reading about how he did so.
The Author
Gordon, Henry and James are jealous when Thomas is chosen to represent the North Western Railway in York, but the blue tank engine is joyful about going there. On his way to York, a lock on a crossing gate breaks due to the wind and rain and when Thomas comes into view, he crashes into the gate, damaging his front.
Ouch... how often is it that Thomas' front gets damaged in some way, shape or form? Definitely a good set up to the main events of the book, and I like how it references the television series (at the time, it was during the show's third season). Although, considering The Fat Controller's Engines, how did Thomas manage to get to York by himself? Percy and Toby were on flatbeds as they probably couldn't travel that far by themselves, fair enough, and yet Thomas traveled to York by himself? Although if he got there with the help of another engine, then the next story could've been different...
Ouch... how often is it that Thomas' front gets damaged in some way, shape or form? Definitely a good set up to the main events of the book, and I like how it references the television series (at the time, it was during the show's third season). Although, considering The Fat Controller's Engines, how did Thomas manage to get to York by himself? Percy and Toby were on flatbeds as they probably couldn't travel that far by themselves, fair enough, and yet Thomas traveled to York by himself? Although if he got there with the help of another engine, then the next story could've been different...
Rating: 8 out of 10
After his accident, Thomas has to continue the rest of his journey on a lorry. Although he dislikes the idea, he does get to see the countryside from the roads' point of view. However, when the driver stops to find a telephone (he doesn't know how to get to the NRM), a traffic warden gives him a parking ticket, which Thomas' driver and fireman find amusing - Thomas booked for parking!
Quite a short, simple story, which an incident that could've happened to any driver, even the most experienced. Not much really happens here, but it is a nice continuation from the previous story.
Quite a short, simple story, which an incident that could've happened to any driver, even the most experienced. Not much really happens here, but it is a nice continuation from the previous story.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Thomas' front is repaired, and at the workshop, he meets a kindly prairie tender engine named Green Arrow, and later on, other engines like Boxhill and a replica Iron Duke. Thomas does some demonstration runs for the crowds, and the first day goes smoothly, but near closing time the next day, a large bag is thrown onto the line and Thomas runs into it, unable to stop quickly. Unfortunately, this scares a young boy and his angry mother complains to the manager. To make things worse for Thomas, his brakes had suffered damage, but he's sure that the crowd knows that engines don't stop instantly.
This is a complaint that some people have had in the Nitrogen era - engines don't stop within a few feet like cars do. For example, in Day of the Diesels, Thomas could've run over that worker as the human crossed the tracks without looking both directions! Christopher had intended for the story to be more serious and base it on railway safety, but it was "watered down" by the publishers. He notes that it also reflected badly on crowd control at the NRM. If only we knew how it would've gone. But seriously; there is no sugarcoating what happens on real railways - people get killed in accidents every year since locomotive technology became more advanced!
As for the story, I feel bad for Thomas - he suffered incident through no fault of his own, and unintentionally scaring the child and getting yelled at by the mother felt like it added insult to injury to him. Good thing the next story shows some redemption for him...
This is a complaint that some people have had in the Nitrogen era - engines don't stop within a few feet like cars do. For example, in Day of the Diesels, Thomas could've run over that worker as the human crossed the tracks without looking both directions! Christopher had intended for the story to be more serious and base it on railway safety, but it was "watered down" by the publishers. He notes that it also reflected badly on crowd control at the NRM. If only we knew how it would've gone. But seriously; there is no sugarcoating what happens on real railways - people get killed in accidents every year since locomotive technology became more advanced!
As for the story, I feel bad for Thomas - he suffered incident through no fault of his own, and unintentionally scaring the child and getting yelled at by the mother felt like it added insult to injury to him. Good thing the next story shows some redemption for him...
Rating: 9 out of 10
Green Arrow is chosen to take railtour trains to the seaside much to Thomas' relief. However, Thomas goes join him when extra coaches are added to Green Arrow's trains. On the return run, Thomas warns Green Arrow to stop - the ground by a nearby river has been eroded. While buses take the passengers home, Thomas, Green Arrow and the coaches make it across the rails safely. When the Fat Controller comes to visit a few days later, he and the museum director present Thomas with a special plaque making him an honorary NRM member for preventing an accident.
It was definitely a good ending for the book; Thomas comes out on top after he gets into unfortunate mishaps (even if they weren't intentional) and is rewarded for his quick thinking. Not much to say here, really.
It was definitely a good ending for the book; Thomas comes out on top after he gets into unfortunate mishaps (even if they weren't intentional) and is rewarded for his quick thinking. Not much to say here, really.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Stray Observations
Wilbert Awdry had intended that engines should not have faces unless they were on Sodor; but in this book, the engines at the NRM had faces! This also happened in Toby, Trucks and Trouble, but I didn't mention that there as it was only in a flashback story.
Look at how many real engines made appearances - 4771 Green Arrow, 4468 Mallard, 6229 Duchess of Hamilton, Iron Duke, Stephenson's Rocket, you name it! Plus, as of 2015, Flying Scotsman and City of Truro are officially NRM engines. Did this book foreshadow that?
Look at how many real engines made appearances - 4771 Green Arrow, 4468 Mallard, 6229 Duchess of Hamilton, Iron Duke, Stephenson's Rocket, you name it! Plus, as of 2015, Flying Scotsman and City of Truro are officially NRM engines. Did this book foreshadow that?
Overall
It was definitely a nice way to implement fictional characters into the real world, just like in The Fat Controller's Engines. It was surprising that the majority of the book was away from Sodor, but next time, we're going back there to see what's been happening while Thomas was away!
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
31. Gordon the High-Speed Engine: 9.3
32. Toby, Trucks and Trouble: 9.1
33. Thomas and the Twins: 9.3
34. Jock the New Engine: 7.9
35. Thomas and the Great Railway Show: 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
31. Gordon the High-Speed Engine: 9.3
32. Toby, Trucks and Trouble: 9.1
33. Thomas and the Twins: 9.3
34. Jock the New Engine: 7.9
35. Thomas and the Great Railway Show: 8.5
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