16. Branch Line Engines.
Written by: Reverend Awdry.
Illustrated by: John Theodore Kenney.
Published: 1961.
Now, we're going to take a look at the book where Thomas gets into trouble and has to be mended. How does this work out? Let's find out.
Foreword:
Dear Friends,
We never have a dull moment on our Branch Line. Thomas was silly and got into trouble, so a Diesel Rail-car called Daisy came. She caused trouble, but has now promised to be good, so the Fat Controller has kindly given her another chance.
We never have a dull moment on our Branch Line. Thomas was silly and got into trouble, so a Diesel Rail-car called Daisy came. She caused trouble, but has now promised to be good, so the Fat Controller has kindly given her another chance.
Meanwhile Toby chased a bull, Percy got into a predicament and...
But you must read the stories for yourselves.
The Author
The Author
44. Thomas Comes to Breakfast.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 19 November 1986. AUS: 11 May 1988. US: 26 March 1989.
When Thomas' driver jokes that Thomas does not need him any more, Thomas misunderstands him and boasts to Percy and Toby that he does not need a driver. The next morning, after a careless cleaner fiddles with Thomas' controls, Thomas successfully moves by himself, but can't stop and runs into the stationmaster's house as he and his family sits down for breakfast. The stationmaster shuts off steam and his wife blames Thomas for ruining their breakfasts, making Thomas feels upset. Donald and Douglas pull him out and Thomas is sent to the Works.
I really love this episode! The accident was brilliantly filmed! The interior shot of the ruined house was most certainly spot on. But only one thing puzzles me about this episode and the story it's based on. Why did Fat Controller get cross with Thomas the Tank Engine? The accident wasn't even his fault! But then again, it's a minor nit-pick. Also, there's the nit-pick about Donald and Douglas not being painted blue in the original story, but that's another matter.
RWS/TV rating: 10/10.
45. Daisy.
Adapted by: David Mitton, Britt Allcroft and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 26 November 1986. AUS: 12 May 1988.
Thomas' replacement, a snobby Diesel rail-car named Daisy, arrives, and Percy and Toby show her around. She refuses to sleep in the engine shed, but finds the carriage shed good, except for some "rubbish" (Henrietta and Annie and Clarabel). Percy and Toby are tired after staying up late to cheer the furious coaches up, while Daisy is bright and cheerful. She is preparing for her first train when she realises a milk van is about to be coupled to her and refuses to pull it, saying it is "bad for her swerves". Daisy is lying, but this is not known to the crew and so the van is taken away. Daisy, satisfied, realises this allows her to do whatever she wants.
This adaptation is also spot on! The first episode to feature everyone's favourite diesel railcar, Daisy. And I'm going to be honest, I prefer her TV series face over her Railway Series face. Looks more 80s. And interesting enough, this episode features more female characters than male characters. All-in-all, a great episode.
RWS/TV rating: 9.5/10.
99. Bulls Eyes.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 13 November 1995. AUS: 20 May 1996. US: 7 October 1996.
Daisy makes fun of Toby's cowcatchers and sideplates, saying he is scared of getting hurt. Toby tells her they are for stopping him from hurting animals if they stray on the line, but Daisy says that animals will move anyway if you "toot and look them in the eye". Later, Daisy is asked to shoo a bull called Champion to his owner, but he is too busy eating grass to notice. An exasperated Daisy goes back to Dryaw, and Toby "shoos" Champion for her. That evening, Daisy sees some boys enjoying some sweets called "bull's-eyes" and gets huffy.
This episode should have been kept for Season 2 and it's easy to see why. Because this episode was held back for Season 4, it reverted Daisy back to her original persona! Why did they hold this back? It's just going to confuse little kids! And this is coming from a self-important businesswoman who said The Missing Coach would confuse little kids. Anyway, this episode still does contribute Toby's whistle. And this episode is the first to show Toby the Tram Engine's whistle, not Toby's New Whistle! Hmm, should have reviewed that before reviewing this, but I digress. Even if this episode's in the wrong place, it still stuck with the story.
RWS rating: 9.5/10.
TV rating: 8.5/10.
46. Percy's Predicament.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 26 November 1986. AUS: 13 May 1988.
Daisy has neglected to take the milk again and Percy is in a bad mood. Toby decides to take the van for him so as to let Percy take his trucks from the quarry. Percy speaks rudely to the trucks, and they plan revenge. As they slow down at a sign to "pin down" brakes, the trucks barge forward and push Percy down the line and into a train of stone trucks. That evening, the Fat Controller scolds Percy, and Daisy too for being lazy, but gives her a second chance for her work after Percy's accident. Thomas comes home the next day, Percy is sent to be mended, and Toby teaches Daisy the finer points of branch line life.
Okay, 2 things:
1. Where did Daisy the Diesel Railcar's fear of bulls come from?
2. Percy the Small Engine had been to the quarry in the TV series before, in Percy and Harold.
Strange that this episode is, just like Bulls Eyes, going to confuse little kids. Anyway, it was nice of Thomas to come home in the end. It does have a lesson about awkward predicaments.
RWS rating: 9.5/10.
TV rating: 8.5/10.
Observations:
Oh, Daisy! It's too bad she only had 3 speaking roles in the TV series, well, at least until Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure. I just hope she gets even more roles now that she's been confirmed to appear in Season 20.
There is a good reason as to why Donald and Douglas weren't painted blue. The railway was very busy, so they couldn't get the new coat, or because there wasn't enough blue paint until later.
Reverend Awdry wrote Thomas Comes to Breakfast so he could have Thomas the Tank Engine's running board straightened so that future illustrators can illustrate him with a permanently straight running board. I wonder how this story would have gone if Thomas was an LNER J50?
Final thoughts:
This sure was a fantastic book. It's an excellent read, and the first to feature Daisy. Reverend Awdry did wonders writing this.
My rating: 9.6/10.
RWS scorecard:
6. Henry the Green Engine:
8. Gordon the Big Engine: 9.2/10.
13. Duck and the Diesel Engine: 9.2/10.
16. Branch Line Engines: 9.6/10.
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: 9.3/10.
Season 2 scorecard:
1. Thomas, Percy and the Coal: 6.5/10.
10. The Runaway: 9/10.
12. Pop Goes the Diesel: 9/10.
13. Dirty Work: 8.5/10.
14. A Close Shave: 9.5/10.
15. Better Late Than Never: 9/10.
18. Thomas Comes to Breakfast: 10/10.
19. Daisy: 9.5/10.
20. Percy's Predicament: 8.5/10.
21. The Diseasel: 10/10.
22. Wrong Road: 9/10.
23. Edward's Exploit: 10/10.
24. Ghost Train: 10/10.
25. Woolly Bear: 9.5/10.
Season 2 Rating so far: 9.1/10.
Season 4 scorecard:
1. Granpuff: 8/10.
2. Sleeping Beauty: 6/10.
3. Bulldog: 8.5/10.
4. You Can't Win: 9/10.
15. Rusty to the Rescue: 5/10.
16. Thomas and Stepney: 5.5/10.
17. Bowled Out: 9.5/10.
18. Train Stops Play: 9/10.
20. Toad Stands By: 8.5/10.
21. Bulls Eyes: 8.5/10.
23. Paint Pots and Queens: 9/10.
Season 4 rating so far: 8.3/10.
Well, you're now in luck: Daisy has a lot of new roles in Season 20: "Ryan and Daisy", "The Way She Does It", "The Railcar and the Coaches", and "The Missing Breakdown Train"!
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, will you be doing reviews on the twentieth season episodes soon? No hurry, of course mate.