RWS No. 26: Tramway Engines

Looks like I'm up for another Railway Series review. This time I'm reviewing the last book to be written by Wilbert Awdry.

26. Tramway Engines.

Published: 15 October 1972.

Written by: Reverend Wilbert Awdry.

Illustrated by: Peter and Gunvor Edwards.

Here we are. The last book of the Railway Series to be written by the man who had created Thomas the Tank Engine. Did he finish on a high note? Let's go right in.

Foreword:

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

 

50. Ghost Train.

Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.

Aired: UK: 10 December 1986. AUS: 19 May 1988. US: 4 June 1989.

Percy claims his driver saw a "ghost train" the previous night, but Thomas does not believe him and Percy's driver confirms that the engine was on television. On his way home from working at the harbour all day, Percy crashes into a cart of lime that had stuck at Crowe's Farm Crossing. When the signalman remarks Percy looks like a ghost, Percy makes a plan, and convinces Thomas he has crashed and returned as a ghost, scaring Thomas out of the shed.

Alright, before I compare this adaptation to the story, let me knock an elephant out of the room. There is no deleted scene from this episode of the ghost train of a silver LB&SCR E2 Tank Engine with the number 0 named Timothy. That is nothing but creepypasta made to scare people! I don't buy it one bit. Any creepypasta based on a TV show is garbage on the spot! Also, the ghost at the beginning of this episode is Percy's!

And as for this adaptation, it stuck pretty well to the story and it would be superb for Halloween considering its theme.

RWS/TV rating: 10/10.

51. Woolly Bear.

Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.

Aired: UK: 17 December 1986. AUS: 20 May 1988. US: 4 June 1989.

Thomas is still annoyed at Percy, and when Percy is delayed picking up haybales Thomas claims Percy is a "green caterpillar with red stripes". Percy, furious, resolves to be quick, but is delayed when a crate of treacle falls on him. The worst is wiped off, but as Percy returns home a gale whips up and Percy is covered in hay.

Nothing to say about this adaptation except for how the hay and treacle stuck to Percy the Small Engine. It really shows how capable they were back in the mid 1980s.

RWS/TV rating: 9.5/10.

66. Mavis.

Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.

Aired: US: 25 December 1991. UK: 5 May 1992. AUS: 4 March 1993.

Mavis is a stuck-up Diesel working at Anopha Quarry who loves rearranging the trucks in the sidings. This creates confusion and Toby is cross. When Mavis sees Daisy, she tells her that Diesels are better than steam engines, making Mavis prouder than ever, until the trucks hold Mavis back and Toby has to help.

The adaptation did stick with the story except for one thing. As you can see in the image I chose for this review, Diesel is in Daisy's spot. Why did they use Diesel? He's a British Railway Class 08 Diesel Shunter. He should know everything about trucks. Why did they replace Daisy? That is very disrespectful to the diesel railcar considering how little she was used! Holding back Bulls Eyes didn't help, really. Just hope that Daisy gets more roles now that she's in CGi.

Back to this adaptation, it shows what a great feisty character Mavis is and besides the problem I pointed out, it stuck with the original.

RWS rating: 9.5/10.

TV rating: 9/10.

67. Toby's Tightrope.

Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and  David Mitton.

Aired: US: 25 December 1991. UK: 5 May 1992. AUS: 5 March 1993.

Mavis is restricted to the quarry after her incident. After a frost comes and goes, work increases and Mavis manages to convince the manager to let her go as far as the crossing. She formulates a plan to go further down the line and asks the trucks to push her at the crossing, but when Toby comes they decide to do it to him and he ends up suspended over a raging torrent on a pair of dangling rails. Mavis rescues him and, even though it was her fault, is forgiven and allowed to go down the line.

There is one problem with this episode. That is Percy's appearance. Because in the story, it was the manager who scolded Mavis and restricted her to the quarry. Percy's appearance felt shoehorned in this adaptation.

But more or less, this adaptation stuck with the original except for that part.

RWS rating: 9.5/10.

TV rating: 9/10.

Final thoughts:

Did Reverend Awdry end his era of The Railway Series on a high note? Without a doubt, yes! He did it by focusing on Thomas' branch line. Also, he was in his early 60s when he published this book, so he chose to end on the right note with this book.

My rating: 9.8/10.

RWS scorecard:

25. Duke the Lost Engine: 9.8/10.

26. Tramway Engines: 9.8/10.

30. More About Thomas the Tank Engine: 8.8/10.

40. New Little Engine: 5.7/10.

RWS rating so far: 8.6/10.

Season 2 scorecard:

1. Thomas, Percy and the Coal: 6.5/10.

10. The Runaway: 9/10.

15. Better Late Than Never: 9/10.

24. Ghost Train: 10/10.

25. Woolly Bear: 9.5/10.

Season 2 Rating so far: 8.8/10.

Season 3 scorecard:

6. Thomas Gets Bumped: 10/10.

8. Diesel Does it Again: 7/10.

9. Henry's Forest: 9.5/10.

14. Mavis: 9/10.

15. Toby's Tightrope: 9/10.

16. Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party: 8.5/10.

26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure: 8.5/10*

Season 3 rating so far: 8.8/10.