Railfan Brony Advent Calendar Day #11: Diesels Galore

Time for one more batch of episodes before I get to the winter stuff; high time the diesels got some attention, don't ya think?

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

Season 5, Episode 12

Double Teething Troubles

Written by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment

It's a shame that this was BoCo's last appearance (if you exclude a stock footage cameo in Stepney Gets Lost) in the television series. It'll be nice to finally see him in CGI, as well as show some development to his character. Same here with Derek, despite him being unnamed in this episode.

Bill and Ben argue over who's pulling which line of trucks to the point they run into each other and derail. The Fat Controller scolds them and decides to bring in a diesel, but is worried that he may not be the best bargain. His concerns prove correct when Derek breaks down on Gordon's hill and BoCo comes to his rescue. When Percy hears about Derek's teething troubles, he tells the twins that Derek has a toothache. When Bill and Ben explain this to Duck that night, he corrects them that Derek had teething troubles - he's new and has problems with his cooling system.

Why did we need a railway consultant after Awdry's death? This episode shows why; BR Class 17s were not the most reliable locomotives and were prone to overheating like Derek. In fact, it's one of several season five episodes that would fit right at home in the Railway Series!

The next morning, a freshly repaired Derek meets up with Bill and Ben. He offers to push behind them, but on their run, he overheats once more and breaks down. Bill and Ben pull him along with their train, and after the Fat Controller sends him back to the works, the twins decide that Derek really is a friendly character after all.

Season 6, Episode 11

The World's Strongest Engine
Story by David Mitton

Written by Paul Larson

Henry gets into an accident and needs repairs, so the Fat Controller brings in Diesel... wait a minute, stop right there! Diesel is a shunting engine; he can't haul the trains a Black 5 could, nor is he very fast. Why is he working at a harbor? That's Salty's job! I don't know...

When Diesel brags about being useful, the trucks decide to test his strength by claiming Henry is stronger than him, so he takes on their challenge and shunts twenty trucks together in one long line. He tries pushing, which doesn't work, and then tries pulling, which also fails. The trucks mock him which gets him very angry (and by very angry, I mean really, really ticked off) with a pretty amusing facial expression, and he pulls so hard the chain breaks and he lands in a barge... cab first, somehow.

Also strangely, Henry is repaired in a quick amount of time, and after the brakes are released, he pulls the trucks with ease while Diesel is sent away. There are so many strange coincidences in the story, but still, at least the moral about there being good in some people (or in this case, the trucks) is very strong and relevant, especially considering Donald Trump's plan to ban Muslims from America - what sheer idiocy.

Season 7, Episode 13

Salty's Stormy Tale

Written by Polly Churchill

When Salty warns Thomas and Percy of a storm, they mimic his voice which upsets him. After he's told to pick up Fergus from the smelters yard (why he's there, I don't know, nor do I care), Emily asks him why he's upset and he explains about Thomas and Percy. She finds the two tank engines and scolds them for making fun of Salty, even though they never meant harm. Salty, meanwhile, picks up Fergus and as they travel along the coastal track, the storm brews. The lighthouse goes out, and a ship is in danger of sinking. Salty suggests using Fergus and his flywheel to power the lighthouse, and it works, saving the ship. Salty and Fergus are praised for their heroics and Thomas and Percy apologize for teasing Salty unintentionally.

I am obviously not a huge fan of Fergus; he's pretty much like Duck, personality wise, only far more blunt and "in your face". Whilst Duck has heritage to excuse his mentality, what excuse does Fergus have? Practically every engine wants to be useful! Well, most do, and I'll get to that shortly. Other than that, it's a nice episode and it showcase's Emily's personality nicely.

Season 9, Episode 18

Thomas' Day Off

Written by Sharon Miller

This is gonna be interesting!

The Fat Controller has brought in a new diesel named Dennis, and he gives Thomas the day off since he's been working hard - he decides to have a washdown and then head towards Bluff's Cove. On the way, he encounters Dennis having trouble with some trucks, and helps him bump the trucks into line. Afterwards, he has his washdown. I'm not get involved in an argument as to why he's having a washdown and not in his sheds, so I won't comment on that. I'm also skipping it just so we don't spend the whole day arguing.

Anyway, Dennis is lazy and doesn't want to shunt his trucks of tiles, and so he deceives Thomas once more into helping him get to the schoolhouse - he tells him the schoolhouse is further along, but Dennis still doesn't want to do his job. I think that's very unique for any character - Dennis, a diesel, doesn't want to replace steam engines, but he doesn't want to do his job. I'd say he's more of an anti-hero, and his personality is unique by making him deceptive.

Dennis tells Thomas that he's broken down, but Thomas decides to find someone to help him instead, much to Dennis' annoyance. He decides to leave his trucks behind and runs away, only to run into a ditch cab first. Thomas meets up with Percy, who says the tiles haven't arrived at the schoolhouse. Thomas then heads off to find Dennis, only to see him stuck in the ditch, and is cross that he'd been tricked. This time, Dennis really is in trouble, and so Thomas helps him out. The Fat Controller is cross with Dennis for his laziness, and the diesel promises to be more useful in the future.

If there where any episodes of the Barlow era I could see as a metaphor, this would be the first episode to come into my mind - think of the writing in that time and how we feel the episodes (especially those from S13-16) were lazily written. I find it rather funny that the writers satirized, of all people, themselves in this episode!

Season 10, Episode 21

Emily and the Special Coaches

Written by James Mason

Gordon has set a new record for pulling the express - is this a callback to It's Good to be Gordon? - and Emily is to bring him some special coaches. Yes, I know, they're repainted express coaches and they're only seen in this episode; couldn't they have used LNER coaches? However, the livery application looks lovely; it matches Gordon's paint. Diesel tries to Emily that Gordon isn't the only special engine, but Emily simply brushes him off. Huh, that's quite strange since they've never interacted up to that point... perhaps Duck told her about Diesel?

Later, Emily realizes that Gordon's coaches are missing, and Thomas explains that Diesel took them instead, much to her annoyance. She catches up with Diesel and demands that he return them to her, but he refuses. Emily keeps chasing after Diesel, who manages to evade her at every turn - nice to know that he's close to his original personality, but he can't go at high speeds! Emily meets up with the Fat Controller and tells him about Diesel.

Speaking of whom, Diesel has hidden the coaches, but he feels ill. When he's confronted by Emily and the Fat Controller, he reveals where he'd hidden then and tells Emily that his engine's old and is smoking a lot - since he went at high speeds, it's hardly a wonder his engine's conked out. :P Diesel explains that he'd set a record of his own - shunting the most trucks in one day. Emily brings Gordon's special coaches to him and to make it up to Diesel, she brings him a new motor, much to his amazement.

Compared to what Day of the Diesels brought forth, I can tolerate this. Sure, Emily was rude towards Diesel - but then, isn't he a rude character? - but she did feel sorry for insulting him and wanted him to feel special for setting a record of his own like Gordon did. And, once again, the three-strikes formula was forgone in this episode.

Episode Ratings:

Double Teething Troubles: 8.5 out of 10

The World's Strongest Engine: 6 out of 10

Salty's Stormy Tale: 7 out of 10

Thomas' Day Off: 7.5 out of 10

Emily and the Special Coaches: 8.5 out of 10

Thomas and Friends Season 5 Scorecard

3. A Better View for Gordon: 9.5
5. James and the Trouble with Trees: 8.5
6. Gordon and the Gremlin: 7
10. Toby and the Flood: 3
11. Haunted Henry: 9
12. Double Teething Troubles: 8.5

13. Stepney Gets Lost: 5.5

14. Toby's Discovery: 5

15. Something in the Air: 9
16. Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach: 10

18. Oliver's Find: 7

25. Rusty and the Boulder: 5
26. Snow: 1

Thomas and Friends Season 6 Scorecard

7. Jack Jumps In: 10
8. A Friend in Need: 10
10. Twin Trouble: 7.5
11. The World's Strongest Engine: 6

12. Scaredy Engines: 3
15. James and the Red Balloon: 10

17. Gordon Takes a Tumble: 8.5
18. Percy's Chocolate Crunch: 9
22. Thomas the Jet Engine: 8.5
23. Edward the Very Useful Engine: 7.5

24. Dunkin Duncan: 8

25. Rusty Saves the Day: 2.5

26. Faulty Whistles: 8.5

Thomas and Friends Season 7 Scorecard

1. Emily's New Coaches: 10
2. Percy Gets It Right: 8
4. The Old Bridge: 5.5
5. Edward's Brass Band: 6
6. What's the Matter with Henry?: 8
7. James and the Queen of Sodor: 7
8. The Refreshment Lady's Tea Shop: 8.5
11. Bad Day at Castle Loch: 7

12. Rheneas and the Roller Coaster: 0
13. Salty's Stormy Tale: 7
17. Peace and Quiet: 9.5

23. Gordon and Spencer: 10
26. Three Cheers for Thomas: 9

Thomas and Friends Season 9 Scorecard

1. Percy and the Oil Painting: 7
2. Thomas and the Rainbow: 1.5
5. Mighty Mac: 1.5

7. Respect for Gordon: 8

10. Rheneas and the Dinosaur: 1
12. Toby Feels Left Out: 1.5
13. Thomas Tries His Best: 9

16. Henry and the Flagpole: 2.5
17. Emily Knows Best: 7.5
18. Thomas' Day Off: 7.5

22. Skarloey the Brave: 1
23. Saving Edward: 2

24. Thomas and the Golden Eagle: 1

Thomas and Friends Season 10 Scorecard

2. A Smooth Ride: 3
7. Thomas' Tricky Tree: 2.5
8. Toby's Afternoon Off: 7.5

9. It's Good to be Gordon: 9

13. Edward Strikes Out: 1
14. Topped Off Thomas: 0.5
15. Which Way Now?: 6
16. Thomas and the Shooting Star: 6.5
17. Big Strong Henry: 7
18. Sticky Toffee Thomas: 4

20. Thomas' Frosty Friend: 0
21. Emily and the Special Coaches: 8.5
27. James the Second Best: 5
28. Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out: 3.5