RWS No. 17: Gallant Old Engine.

Time for another Railway Series review. This time, it's another on the Skarloey Railway.

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

17. Gallant Old Engine.

Written by: Rev. W. Awdry.
Illustrated by: John Theodore Kenney.
Published: 1962.

It's finally time to welcome Rheneas back to the fleet after his years being repaired. How does it work out?

Foreword:

Dear Friends,

On the second page of Four Little Engines Rheneas was taken away to be mended. He was away for a long time, but has now come home.

All the Little Engines are together at last. They are delighted. Rheneas is their hero. He had saved the Railway....

There is a real engine like Rheneas. His name is Dolgoch and his home is at Towyn in Wales.

Some years ago he saved the Talyllyn Railway. We are very proud of our gallant old engine.

The Author

90. Special Funnel.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 30 October 1995. AUS: 6 May 1996. US: 7 October 1996.

Peter Sam's funnel is still loose after his accident with the Slate Trucks, and he longs for his new one. When winter is approaching, a washout sweeps a bridge away. Rusty and the workmen manage to repair it by the next market day, during which time the weather becomes frosty. Peter Sam, who is taking the passenger train, has his funnel knocked off by an icicle in the tunnel. His crew replace it with a drainpipe, until his new funnel, a "Giesl ejector", arrives. Although the engines tease him about its design at first (Sir Handel and Duncan continually ask him why he sat on it), the engines soon become jealous of it, as it allows Peter Sam to work more easily than ever.

This adaptation isn't without its flaws. First, Michael said that the drainpipe was wired to Peter Sam's boiler when it was clearly roped to his smokebox. You'd think Britt would've known better considering she'd worked on the show for 10 years at the time. And Peter Sam's funnel wasn't even a real Giesl funnel, but just a squarish funnel. Luckily it was fixed in the CGi series.

The lack of railway terminology let the adaptation down, and Peter Sam still had a bit of his old funnel on him when he received his new funnel.

RWS rating: 9/10.

TV rating: 8/10.

91. Steam Roller.

Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 31 October 1995. AUS: 7 May 1996. US: 28 October 1996. 

Sir Handel is always slipping between the rails, so he is given new wheels with broad tyres. The engines nickname him "a steamroller", until Skarloey tells him about George, the anti-railway steamroller working near the line. The next day, Sir Handel is taking a special train when he sees George rolling home. Sir Handel tries to pass, but George refuses and eventually they crash. Rusty and Mr. Hugh arrive to clear the mess, and next day, after a fence is put up to separate the road and rail, George leaves. Sir Handel thinks he made George go away, and is more conceited than ever - at least until some boys start talking about the "race"!

This is something that needed to happen more often, a Rail versus Road rivalry, and not that Steam vs Diesel rivalry they've overused over the last 14 years. Funny thing about this episode's US dub was that George was voiced by George. It's too bad none of the Skarloey engines met George at the level crossing or seeing construction crew tear up the stone wall beside the railway, but it's all made up for with the ace crash. Too bad George never got a CGi render. 

RWS/TV rating: 9.5/10. 

92. Passengers and Polish.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 1 November 1995. AUS: 8 May 1996. US: 4 November 1996.

Nancy, the guard's daughter, is giving Skarloey a polish when Duncan asks if he can get polished too. Nancy does not have the time, however, and Duncan starts to sulk. Later that day, one of Skarloey's coaches derails and Duncan is sent to take the passengers home. He arrives in time for his own train, and is so annoyed that he doesn't even try to build up steam, and he eventually stops right on the viaduct. Skarloey comes to take him to the top station, but the passengers are furious at the delay and say it's a bad railway. Duncan, however, doesn't care.

Can't say anything except this adaptation is very solid, especially how Skarloey's last coaches were left behind due to one coming off the rails, and Duncan was as grumpy as ever, though one thing puzzles me. Why couldn't they get Sir Handel, Peter Sam or Rusty to help with the train instead of Duncan? Just to give Duncan a rest. Another puzzling thing is Duncan was at the castle causeway instead of a station in the adaptation. But overall, it's a solid adaptation.

RWS/TV rating: 9.5/10. 

93. Gallant Old Engine.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 2 November 1995. AUS: 9 May 1996. US: 4 November 1996.

Duncan is still complaining, so Skarloey tells him and Peter Sam the story of Rheneas...

The year before Peter Sam and Sir Handel came, the Skarloey Railway was facing hard times and was at a possibility of closing. Skarloey was tired, so Rheneas offered to do some of his work too. Then, one day, he was pulling a full train home when his valve gear jammed. The Thin Controller and Mr. Hugh managed to fix him so he could struggle to the next station. It was hard work, but he managed to get there. The passengers were so grateful that they promised to come back with all their friends. Duncan realises he has been silly and thanks and apologises to Skarloey.

The next day, Edward brings Rheneas back to the Skarloey Railway, and a huge celebration ensues. But Rheneas feels the happiest when he's with Skarloey.

Another of the best of Season 4. Even if there was no rain in the original story, the rain in the adaptation made it feel more like Percy's Promise, only with Rheneas instead of Percy, and Rheneas wasn't in a flood. Just goes to show how much of a hero Rheneas is. And at the end, all the standard gauge engines and the narrow gauge engines were at the end together, making it a very nice touch. Solid adaptation this. 

RWS/TV rating: 10/10.

Stray observations:

This was the last book illustrated by John Theodore Kenney. The reason he retired was because his vision was starting to deteriorate, and he didn't want it to affect his work, and sadly, he was taken away from us in 1972. 

The accident in Steam Roller was inspired by a real event that happened in 1927 where a steamroller crashed into another train, losing its front roller.

Final thoughts:

This book was solid overall. We got to see Peter Sam get a new funnel that makes work seem easy, George was introduced, and Duncan learned his lesson about passengers by learning how brave Rheneas was. So overall, John Theodore Kenney went out on a high note.

My rating: 9.5/10.

RWS scorecard:

6. Henry the Green Engine: 9.2/10.

8. Gordon the Big Engine: 9.2/10.

10. 4 Little Engines: 9.5/10.

11. Percy the Small Engine: 9.7/10.

12. The 8 Famous Engines: 9.5/10.

13. Duck and the Diesel Engine: 9.2/10.

14. The Little Old Engine: 9.6/10.

16. Branch Line Engines: 9.6/10.

17. Gallant Old Engine: 9.5/10.

18. Stepney the Bluebell Engine: 9/10.

21. Main Line Engines: 9.3/10.

22. Small Railway Engines: 9.8/10.

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.

27. Really Useful Engines: 9.2/10.

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 4 scorecard:

1. Granpuff: 8/10.

2. Sleeping Beauty: 6/10.

3. Bulldog: 8.5/10.

4. You Can't Win: 9/10.

5. 4 Little Engines: 9/10.

6. A Bad Day for Sir Handel: 8/10.

7. Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady: 10/10.

8. Trucks!: 8.5/10.

9. Home at Last: 9.5/10.

10. Rock n' Roll: 10/10.

11. Special Funnel: 8/10.

12. Steam Roller: 9.5/10.

13. Passengers and Polish: 9.5/10.

14. Gallant Old Engine: 10/10.

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.

22. Thomas and the Special Letter: 10/10.

23. Paint Pots and Queens: 9/10.

24. Fish: 10/10.

26. Mind That Bike: 5/10.

Season 4 rating so far: 9.1/10.