RWS No. 4: Tank Engine Thomas Again

Finally, I'm going to be reviewing Thomas' 2nd book.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images

4. Tank Engine Thomas Again.
Written by: Rev. W. Awdry.
Published: 1949.

Let's see how Thomas' 2nd book turns out, shall we?

Foreword:

Dear Friends,

Here is news from Thomas' Branch Line. It is clearly no ordinary line, and life on it is far from dull.

Thomas asks me to say that if you are ever in the Region, you must be sure to visit him and travel on his line. "They will have never seen anything like it," he says proudly.

I know I haven't!

The Author

11. Thomas and the Guard/Thomas and the Conductor.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 13 November 1984. AUS: 20 April 1987. US: 5 March 1989.

Henry is late at the junction and Thomas is being impatient. As the guard goes to his van he trips on an umbrella and by the time he has gotten up, Thomas is long gone. Annie and Clarabel try to convince Thomas to stop, but he pays no attention until they reach a signal. The guard does not come to tell them what the matter is, but they soon find out why - he is not on the train. Luckily, he runs up a few minutes later and climbs aboard.

This episode is a very well adapted adaptation. Though there are 2 downsides, in the adaptation, the guard didn't trip over the lady's umbrella while in the original story, Henry has a problem which I'll get to before I finish reviewing the entire book. Oh well, both the original story and the adaptation get the same rating. 

RWS/TV rating: 9.5/10.

12. Thomas Goes Fishing.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 13 November 1984. AUS: 21 April 1987. US: 5 March 1989.

Thomas often sees people fishing in the river and wants to go fishing too. He gets his chance when he discovers the water tower at Elsbridge is out of order and Thomas' crew fill him up with river-water. However, Thomas experiences pains and an inspector soon discovers some fish in Thomas' tank. They fish them out and have a supper of fish and chips and the Fat Controller tells Thomas to never fish again - Thomas heartily agrees.

This is what I call one of my old favourites. This is one of those episodes that stuck out to me as a kid. Fish getting caught in Thomas' water tanks shows that fish don't suit steam engines. Thomas getting water from the river shows that some steam engines can get water from a river if the water tower's out of order. But make sure there's no fish.

RWS/TV rating: 10/10.

13. Thomas, Terence and the Snow/Terence the Tractor.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 20 November 1984. AUS: 22 April 1987. US: 12 March 1989.

Thomas meets Terence the tractor and makes fun of his caterpillar tracks. When winter comes, Thomas treats his snowplough awfully and it has to be repaired. They cannot fix it in time for his first train and Thomas, over-confident, recklessly charges at a snowdrift outside the tunnel and sticks there. He cannot get out, so a bus takes his passengers home and Terence pulls him and Annie and Clarabel out. Thomas apologises and returns home.

What better way to introduce a non-rail vehicle character to the franchise than this story! The way Thomas teased Terence about his caterpillars sure gave Thomas a taste of his own medicine for being all cocky. Just goes to show that Wilbert's characters were like children. Props to Terence Breaks the Ice for making a flashback to this episode. 

RWS/TV rating: 10/10.

14. Thomas and Bertie/Thomas and Bertie's Great Race.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 20 November 1984. AUS: 23 April 1987. US: 12 March 1989.

Bertie, the bus from the previous story, teases Thomas about being slow, so they decide to have a race. Thomas gains the lead at a level crossing, but Bertie then gets in front after Thomas has to stop to collect passengers and only stops to rub it in. Thomas gains the lead again after Bertie stops for a traffic light and although Bertie creeps in front, Thomas, with a burst of speed, rushes into Hackenbeck in style. Bertie congratulates him when he comes in and the two become friends.

This is definitely the best of the first season and the best story of the book and it's easy to see why. Thomas and Bertie's race was very entertaining, and the music really goes along nicely. Thomas and Bertie do want to have more races, which we'll get to when I review it. 

RWS/TV rating: 10/10.

Stray observations:

In the 3rd illustration of Thomas and the Guard, Henry looks like Gordon. We'll get to what happened to Henry in the next book. 

"Why do you look like Gordon?"

Thomas and Bertie was first invented as a board game by Wilbert Awdry for his children on a wet day while they were in Wales. 

Hmm....did Thomas and Bertie predict the future? Because Bertie growing wings to be an aeroplane? Could that have coincidentally predicted the American children's book franchise The Magic School Bus? Especially since that bus can grow wings and since that book series came out 37 years after this book was published. 

Final thoughts:

This is without a doubt one of the best books of the Railway Series, and it's easy to see why. Thomas gives us a tour of his branch line, having misadventures along the way, and introduced Terence and Bertie. A very nice book overall. 

My rating: 9.9/10.

RWS scorecard:

1. The 3 Railway Engines: 9/10.

2. Thomas the Tank Engine: 9.5/10.

3. James the Red Engine: 8/10.

4. Tank Engine Thomas Again: 9.9/10.

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 1 scorecard:

1. Thomas and Gordon: 10/10.

2. Edward and Gordon: 9.5/10.

3. The Sad Story of Henry: 9/10.

4. Edward, Gordon and Henry: 9/10.

5. Thomas' Train: 9/10.

6. Thomas and the Trucks: 9.5/10.

7. Thomas and the Breakdown Train: 9.5/10.

8. James and the Coaches: 8.5/10.

9. Troublesome Trucks: 9/10.

10. James and the Express: 10/10.

11. Thomas and the Guard: 9.5/10.

12. Thomas Goes Fishing: 10/10.

13. Thomas, Terence and the Snow: 10/10.

14. Thomas and Bertie: 10/10.

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.
26. Thomas' Christmas Party: 9.5/10.

Season 1 rating so far: 9.6/10.