6. Henry the Green Engine.
Written by: Reverend Awdry.
Illustrated by: Clarence Reginald Dalby.
Published: 1951.
Now, there is a reason this book was published, and I will get to it at the end of this review. Now, how does this book fair? Let's read!
Foreword:
Dear Friends,
Here is more news from the Region. All the engines now have numbers as well as names; you will see them in the pictures. They are as follows: Thomas 1, Edward 2, Henry 3, Gordon 4, James 5, Percy 6.
Here is more news from the Region. All the engines now have numbers as well as names; you will see them in the pictures. They are as follows: Thomas 1, Edward 2, Henry 3, Gordon 4, James 5, Percy 6.
I expect you were sorry for Henry, who was often ill and unable to work. He gave Sir Topham Hatt a lot of worry. Now Henry has a new shape and is ready for anything. These stories tell you all about it.
The Author
The Author
18. Coal/Henry's Special Coal.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, Robert Cardona and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 4 December 1984. AUS: 29 April 1987. US: 2 April 1989.
Henry is feeling ill and the Fat Controller fears that he will have to be replaced if they cannot find a cure. Henry's fireman tells the Fat Controller that Henry's firebox is too small and can't make enough steam. The Fat Controller arranges for some Welsh coal to be brought for Henry, and, as soon as he begins using it, Henry feels better.
This adaptation was brilliant, yet the restored version of this adaptation is weird in one way. As Henry the Green Engine was backing into the siding, the part with Edward puffing ahead was replaced with Henry moving forward! But still, a faithful and well done adaptation. And you can't help but feel sorry for the big green engine here.
RWS/TV rating: 9.5/10.
19. The Flying Kipper.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 11 December 1984. AUS: 30 April 1987. US: 2 April 1989.
Fishing boats often dock at Tidmouth and send their fish to be sold on a train dubbed "The Flying Kipper". It's Henry's turn to take it. Henry makes good time, but an incorrect signal sets him on collision course with a goods train. After the accident, Henry is sent to the works at Crewe and comes back better than ever before and no longer needing Welsh coal.
This story and adaptation are definitely a grand one. We get to see the scenery of what Sodor is like at night, and might I say, that music when Henry is pulling the Flying Kipper sure is beautifully composed. Props to Junior and Mike for making that music! And we get to see Henry's new shape.
RWS/TV rating: 10/10.
20. Gordon's Whistle/Whistles and Sneezes (Part 1)
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 11 December 1984. AUS: 1 May 1987. US: 25 November 1991.
Gordon is jealous that Henry got rebuilt and complains that Henry whistles too much. The next day, Gordon jams his whistle and keeps emitting a loud whine. Gordon leaves his train and two fitters knock his whistle valve into place, but Henry doesn't forget the incident and teases Gordon.
This story sure shows the comeuppance Gordon got for being rude to Henry the Green Engine for having a new shape. However, this story just feels too short.
My rating: 8.5/10.
53. Percy and the Trousers/A Scarf for Percy.
Adapted by: David Mitton and Britt Allcroft.
Aired: US: 24 December 1991. UK: 25 February 1992. AUS: 15 February 1993.
One cold morning, Percy complains that he wants a scarf. When he goes to shunt some coaches, he approaches the platform so quietly that he runs over a trolley, scattering luggage everywhere. The Fat Controller, furious, seizes his top-hat off Percy's lamp-iron and sends Percy away with a pair of his trousers coiled around his funnel!
All I'm going to say here is that I really much prefer the TV adaptation for this story. The original felt out of place, and it took the shine off the book being dedicated to Henry. If Reverend Awdry wanted this story to be about Percy, why he couldn't wait 5 years time, we'll never know. So yeah, the adaptation added more story.
RWS rating: 5.5/10.
TV rating: 9.5/10.
Henry's Sneeze (Part 2)
Henry is enjoying himself in the countryside when some silly boys drop stones on him from a bridge. His crew concoct a plan to get revenge, and on the return run they block his smokebox so that Henry sprays smoke and ashes at the boys. Although Henry has never sneezed again, there have been no more boys with stones.
I'm actually glad this and Gordon's Whistle were merged together when adapted for TV. Both stories felt too short. Props to Britt, David and Robert for adapting these stories this way! And might I say, that part where Henry sneezed was filmed brilliantly, almost like magic! Sure shows how capable they were back in the mid 1980s.
RWS rating: 9/10.
TV rating: 9.5/10.
Observations:
This story claimed that all the engines carry numbers, Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James and Percy are numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. Yet, prior to this book, Thomas the Tank Engine had been wearing the number 1 since the beginning!
Reverend Awdry originally intended to have Henry written out of the books, all because Clarence kept illustrating him looking like Gordon, but soon changed his mind and wanted him rebuilt into an LMS 5MT. Too bad Henry was never rebuilt into an actual LMS 5MT in the TV series. I wonder if Reverend Awdry would ever have considered having Henry written out if the big green engine was a GNR Class C1/C2 without being a hybrid?
Until 1972, the story, Henry's Sneeze, had the word "As black as (N word)." Reverend Awdry apologised for using this word and had the text changed to "As black as soot."
Final thoughts:
This book dedicated to Henry really was something. I'm glad Reverend Awdry reconsidered before publishing this book. We got 5 stories in this book, yet only one of them was out of place. (Percy and the Trousers) Still, a very good book.
My rating: 9.2/10.
RWS scorecard:
6. Henry the Green Engine: 9.2/10.
8. Gordon the Big Engine: 9.2/10.
13. Duck and the Diesel Engine: 9.2/10.
18. Stepney the Bluebell Engine: 9/10.
21. Main Line Engines: 9.3/10.
23. Enterprising Engines: 9.9/10.
24. Oliver the Western Engine: 9.3/10.
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: 9.2/10.
Season 1 scorecard:
18. Coal: 9.5/10.
19. The Flying Kipper: 10/10.
20. Whistles and Sneezes: 9.5/10.
24. Off the Rails: 9.5/10.
25. Down the Mine: 9.5/10.
Season 1 rating so far: 9.6/10.
Season 3 scorecard:
1. A Scarf for Percy: 9.5/10.
4. Gordon and the Famous Visitor: 9.5/10.
5. Donald's Duck: 9.5/10.
6. Thomas Gets Bumped: 10/10.
7. Thomas, Percy and the Dragon: 9.5/10.
8. Diesel Does it Again: 7/10.
9. Henry's Forest: 9.5/10.
10. The Trouble with Mud: 6/10.
11. No Joke for James: 7.5/10.
12. Thomas, Percy and the Post Train: 10/10.
13. Trust Thomas: 10/10.
14. Mavis: 9/10.
15. Toby's Tightrope: 9/10.
16. Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party: 8.5/10.
17. Buzz, Buzz: 9/10.
20. Tender Engines: 6/10.
21. Escape: 10/10.
22. Oliver Owns Up: 8/10.
23. Bulgy: 9.5/10.
24. Heroes: 10/10.
26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure: 8.5/10*
Season 3 rating so far: 9.3/10.
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