RWS No. 11: Percy the Small Engine

Happy New Year, everyone! Today, I am up for doing some reviews. What better way to start this year than filling my Review Jungle with a Thomas and Friends review? This time, I'm reviewing the last book illustrated by Clarence Reginald Dalby.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images.

11. Percy the Small Engine.

Written by: Reverend Awdry.

Illustrated by: Clarence Reginald Dalby.

Published: 1956.

This was the last book illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby and I will explain why near the end of this review. Now, let's go right in!

Foreword:

Dear Christopher, and Giles, and Peter, and Clive,
Thank you for writing to ask for a book about Percy. He is still cheeky, and we were afraid (Sir Topham Hatt and I) that if he had a book to himself, it might make him cheekier than ever, and that would never do!

But Percy has been such a Really Useful Engine that we both think he deserves a book. Here it is.
The Author

33. Percy and the Signal.

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

Aired: UK: 15 October 1986. AUS: 26 April 1988. US: 19 December 1991.

After playing jokes on Gordon and James, Percy decides to stay out of their way for a while, but when he is asked to take a train to Knapford he gets careless and goes over to tell them. Seizing their chance, they warn him about "backing signals", and as he stops for the signal outside Knapford, he is convinced that he is waiting for a "backing signal". He ends up making a fool of himself, and Gordon sees the whole episode.

Before anyone comments about this review, the beginning of this episode was not filler. If it was, then the original would've been shorter and it would've shown Gordon and James getting revenge on Percy for no reason. Also, this episode and story do have a good moral. If someone tricks you, it's only fair you trick them.

RWS/TV rating: 9.5/10.

34. Duck Takes Charge.

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

Aired: UK: 15 October 1986. AUS: 27 April 1988. US: 30 April 1989.



The Fat Controller is getting a new engine to help Percy, but Gordon and James tell Percy that if he worked harder they would not need one. Percy, cross, works all day and is exhausted, but is happy when the new engine, Montague, known as Duck for his "waddle", arrives. They have a happy day together, but then the big engines (including Henry) order them about. Percy and Duck, in retaliation, block the entrance to the sheds. The Fat Controller comes and tells all five engines off. Percy is sent to work at Knapford, and Duck manages the workload alone.

SILENCE! Sorry! Couldn't help myself! This episode also introduces everyone's favourite Great Western Engine, Duck. But overall, this episode has a confusing moment. In the book. Duck and Percy were on the points, yet in the adaptation, Percy's on the turntable. And I'll give props to Ringo Starr's quacking sound and the snorting when the 3 big engines are trying to get in the shed. And by the way, I'm downgrading the adaptation because of the turntable.

RWS rating: 9.5/10.

TV rating: 9/10.

35. Percy and Harold/Percy Proves a Point.

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

Aired: UK: 22 October 1986. AUS: 28 April 1988. US: 30 April 1989.

One day at the airfield, Percy meets a noisy helicopter, Harold, who says railways are slow and out-of-date. Percy, furious, is later taking some trucks to Knapford Harbour when he sees Harold in the air and decides to race him. At the harbour, Percy thinks he has lost, but his fireman sees Harold looking for a place to land. In congratulation, his crew and the workmen sing a song about the race.

This is another brilliant episode of Season 2! It was brilliantly filmed, and the way Harold's model flew was very well done! And I will give this episode more props for encouraging a CGi flashback in Letters to Santa. A nice way to introduce our favourite white chopper.

RWS/TV rating: 10/10.



54. Percy's Promise.

Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.

Aired: US: 29 November 1991. UK: 3 March 1992. AUS: 16 February 1993.

Thomas is busy and asks Percy to take the Sunday School children home. Percy agrees, but it starts to rain heavily as it is time to leave. Percy stops in front of a flooded paddock, but cannot go back, as a bridge has collapsed. As he crosses the paddock, water sloshes into his fire and he stops. Percy struggles on, fuelled by floorboards from the guard's van. After Harold drops some supplies for them, unfortunately landing on Percy's boiler, they make it to safety, and the Fat Controller congratulates the two.

Okay, while this episode is faithful to its source material, it does have a minor problem. It wasn't kept for Season 2! Why did they hold this back? It messes up continuity and confuses little kids, especially coming from a big-headed woman who said The Missing Coach would confuse little kids. Overall, this was a well done adaptation, but it was adapted in the wrong place.

RWS rating: 10/10.

TV rating: 9.5/10.

Observation:

This was the last book to be illustrated by Clarence Reginald Dalby. Why? Because sometime after this book was published, Reverend Awdry wrote a letter to Clarence, telling him if he wanted to continue illustrating these books, "You shall not draw Percy like "A green caterpillar with red stripes!". This insult wasn't forgotten as we see 15 books later. You'd think Reverend Awdry would have told Clarence how he could've improved, right? Wrong!

Final thoughts:

This was a very well written book. We got to see Percy have a book to himself, Duck and Harold were introduced. It's one of those Railway Series books that are worth reading.

My rating: 9.7/10.

RWS scorecard:

6. Henry the Green Engine:

8. Gordon the Big Engine: 9.2/10.
11. Percy the Small Engine: 9.7/10.

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: 9.4/10.



Season 2 scorecard:

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

7. Percy and the Signal: 9.5/10.

8. Duck Takes Charge: 9/10.

9. Percy and Harold: 10/10.

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: 9.2/10.

Season 3 scorecard:

1. A Scarf for Percy: 9.5/10.

2. Percy's Promise: 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: 9.4/10.