RWS No. 5: Troublesome Engines

Now's the time to review another Railway Series book. One that introduces Thomas' best friend.

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

5. Troublesome Engines.

Written by: Rev. W. Awdry.
Published: September 1950.

Ever since Thomas the Tank Engine went to run his branch line, what have the big engines been doing ever since? 

Foreword:

Dear Friends,

News from the Main Line has not been good. The Fat Controller has been having trouble. A short while ago, he gave Henry a coat of green paint, but as soon as he got his old colour back again, Henry became conceited. Gordon and James, too, have been getting above themselves.

I am glad to say, however, that the Fat Controller has, quite kindly but very firmly, put them in their place. And now the trains are running as usual.

I hope you will like meeting Percy. We shall be hearing more of him later.

The Author

97. Henry and the Elephant.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 9 November 1995. AUS: 16 May 1996. US: 11 November 1996.

With Thomas gone to run his Branch Line, the bigger engines are left to fetch their own coaches, much to their disapproval. Henry is given his green coat of paint back, but even that does not stop his and Gordon's sulking. A circus comes to town, and shunting the special trucks helps cheer up Gordon and Henry, at least until James was told to take the circus away. One day, Henry is called out to clear a blockage in the tunnel between Tidmouth and Knapford, but when he goes in, an elephant pushes him back out of the tunnel! It turns out that the elephant belongs to the circus. The workmen give the elephant some cake, sandwiches, and water, but Henry surprises it by letting off steam and it sprays water all over him.

This story should've been kept for Season 1 for obvious reasons. Why hold it back? And Percy's there despite not being introduced until 2 stories later. Why? It ruins continuity and confuses little kids, especially coming from a woman who said The Missing Coach would confuse little kids. But the flaws with the adaptation are made up for with the way the elephant moved, almost like real, and he roared like Chewbacca from Star Wars. 

RWS rating: 9.5/10.

TV rating: 8.5/10.

15. Tenders and Turntables.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 27 November 1984. AUS: 24 April 1987. US: 19 March 1989.

Gordon is in a bad mood and when he goes to be turned around for his next train he unbalances the turntable and has to take the train backwards. Thomas and James tease him, but later James is spun around by the wind on the turntable. The big engines have had enough, and make a plan.

Because Henry and the Elephant was held off for Season 4, it really lets this adaptation down. While they were capable of making James spin like a top so fast without speeding up the footage, not talking about the reason Henry was striking let this adaptation down a little. Not like the adaptation was bad or anything. 

RWS rating: 8.5/10.

TV rating: 8/10.

16. Trouble in the Shed.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 27 November 1984. AUS: 27 April 1987. US: 19 March 1989.

The big engines refuse to get their coaches and so Edward is brought in to shunt for them. However, poor Edward is met with hostility and so the Fat Controller buys a saddletank engine, which he christens Percy. The big engines still refuse to shunt and fetch their coaches, so the Fat Controller shuts them up in the sheds and brings Thomas to work with Edward on the main line while Percy runs Thomas' Branch Line.

We're here at last. The first story to feature Percy. I must say, he was introduced very well. Very clever of the crew to use the other characters' models covered up. Budget reasons I guess. Just goes to show how capable they were in the 80s. And why was Henry in his new shape in one shot of this?

RWS rating: 9.5/10.
TV rating: 9/10.

17. Percy Runs Away.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and Robert Cardona.
Aired: UK: 4 December 1984. AUS: 28 April 1987. US: 26 March 1989.

After several days in the sheds for being naughty, the big engines finally see sense and agree to get their coaches ready, so the Fat Controller lets Thomas, Edward and Percy play on the branch line. Thomas takes Annie and Clarabel for a run and Edward takes some trucks to the quarry, leaving Percy alone. He strays onto the points, and Gordon scares him when he rushes into the junction. Percy runs away, and eventually, exhausted, runs in a sandbank. Gordon later commends him for preventing an accident and Percy becomes the new station pilot at Tidmouth.

This episode without a doubt an episode that won the respect of fans of Percy the Small Engine, being brave enough to stop a nasty accident where Gordon almost collided with him. Funny how Percy reversed backward up Gordon's Hill. Gordon was also clever to stop. 

RWS/TV rating: 9/10.

Stray observations:

In the 2nd illustration of this book, Henry was painted blue. This broke the camel's neck for Reverend Awdry, and he planned on removing Henry from the series, but decided otherwise in the next book. 

Look at the illustration for Trouble in the Shed. What are the other engines supposed to be based on? And they say Lady doesn't have a genuine basis. 

Look at this illustration from Percy Runs Away. Reverend Awdry, his wife and his children were here. 

Final thoughts:

This book is overall a good read. Further proves that the original Awdry engines act like children, in this case, Gordon, James and Henry. Overall, this is a very good book, introducing Percy to the series. 

My rating: 9.1/10.

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.

5. Troublesome Engines: 9.1/10.

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.

15. Tenders and Turntables: 8/10.

16. Trouble in the Shed: 9/10.

17. Percy Runs Away: 9/10.

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: 9.4/10.

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.

19. Henry and the Elephant: 8.5/10.

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.