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19. Mountain Engines.
Written by: Rev. W. Awdry.
Illustrated by: Peter and Gunvor Edwards.
Published: 1964.
Illustrated by: Peter and Gunvor Edwards.
Published: 1964.
For the first book of the series not to be adapted for TV, let's see how it goes.
Foreword:
Dear Friends,
A Rack Railway climbs the mountain called Culdee Fell. Lord Harry Barrane is Chairman of the railway company. Lots of people travel on it in the summer.
Mr. Walter Richards, the Manager, does not have an easy time. There are seven engines, one of whom, No.5, is still away being mended. Another, No. 6, was named Lord Harry. This was a mistake. It made him conceited and... But you must read the stories for yourselves.
I hope you will enjoy this book about a different kind of railway.
The Author
Mountain Engine.
Sir Handel is grumpy and complains about the coaches for causing trouble for him, and Rheneas tells a him that he should be grateful that he does not work on a mountain railway. Sir Handel does not believe such a thing exists, and an argument ensues until Donald arrives with Culdee, a queer-looking mountain engine. When Culdee wakes up, he tells the little engines about his line, and an adventure he had on the first day when he learned how to use his automatic brakes during a thrilling journey down a mountain.
For the start of a one-time saga, this was very interesting. It further proves there's more to Sodor Railways than just the Standard Gauge engines. And what Culdee said about no couplings is true since Snowdon Railway, the real railway the Culdee Fell Railway is based on, don't have couplings.
A very well written story here.
My rating: 9/10.
Bad Lookout.
Duncan is in a bad mood because the Thin Controller says he kept a bad look out, so Skarloey and Rheneas change the conversation by asking Culdee about his coaches. The conversation soon drifts to Culdee's automatic brakes, and the story of Godred, an engine who held too much faith in his automatic brakes. Even though everyone tried everything, they found nothing wrong, but Godred continued in his way. Then one day, Godred fell off the rails and was sent to the back of the shed, where he was cannibalised for his parts. Sir Handel and Duncan are scared and remain silent, but Skarloey and Rheneas do not mention the tale was made up.
This story just goes to show what can happen if you remain arrogant as Duncan and Sir Handel learned here. What puzzles me here is why would the story be made up? I mean L.A.D.A.S., the real engine Godred was based on, suffered the same fate, but her parts were scrapped. It's like how real people die day in day out, no sugarcoating. Nicely written story.
My rating: 9.5/10.
Danger Points.
Donald brings Culdee home, where he discovers that three new engines have arrived - Alaric, Eric and Lord Harry, the last of whom is loud and risk-taking. The next day, Culdee makes fun of Lord Harry's "super-heat" and Lord Harry determines to pay him out. Unfortunately, he derails at the summit, preventing Wilfred from taking his "down" train. Lord Harry is rescued and sent to the back of the Shed in disgrace.
This is one story that goes to show that remaining arrogant can lead to you getting severely punished, though why would Lord Harry take Culdee's nickname for him so seriously? Then again, this is Rock n' Roll rewritten, but with Lord Harry.
My rating: 8.5/10.
"Devil's Back"
Lord Harry is punished by having his name taken away, now being referred by his #6, and, after hearing Culdee's story of Godred, asks the Manager to be let out. The Manager agrees, but forbids him from pushing passenger trains, so #6 is kept taking supplies and workmen to Summit Hotel. One day, he is preparing to continue up Devil's Back, a difficult part of the line, when a message arrives about a group of injured climbers, and #6 is sent to rescue them. Despite the strong wind, #6 perseveres and the leader of the climbers asks the Manager to rename #6 after a friend who helped him when he was injured. Nowadays, #6 is renamed Patrick and only takes risks when absolutely necessary.
Here we go, the story that gives Lord Harr--er, I mean Patrick, his respect, being a hero by helping a truck up the hill in dangerous storms. It also shows he's much more sensible now after learning about Godred.
My rating: 10/10.
Stray observations:
The reason this book never got adapted for TV and the reason this was the only book to feature the Mountain Engines was because of the high traffic and safety of a railway like this, and because of the engines' strange designs and it would've been very complicated to do so. Plus, they weren't that marketable and the story ideas were very limited.
Final thoughts:
This is one fine book overall. It shows that there's more to Sodor than just the narrow gauge and standard gauge, in this case, a rack railway. Too bad we never saw these engines on TV. Would've been some good story opportunities for them.
My rating: 9.3/10.
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.
7. Toby the Tram Engine: 9.2/10.
8. Gordon the Big Engine: 9.2/10.
9. Edward the Blue Engine: 9.3/10.
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.
15. The Twin Engines: 9.3/10.
15. The Twin Engines: 9.3/10.
16. Branch Line Engines: 9.6/10.
17. Gallant Old Engine: 9.5/10.
18. Stepney the Bluebell Engine: 9/10.
19. Mountain Engines: 9.3/10.
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: 9.3/10.
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