Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image.
28. James and the Diesel Engines.
Written by: Christopher Awdry.
Illustrated by: Clive Spong.
Published: 17 September 1984.
Written by: Christopher Awdry.
Illustrated by: Clive Spong.
Published: 17 September 1984.
Here we are, the book that was published the same year Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends premiered. And it's James' 2nd book. How does it fair?
Foreword:
Dear Friends,
To hear James talk sometimes you might have thought that he ran the Fat Controller's Railway on his own. He certainly needed no help from diesels - or so he imagined. The other engines were more sensible, and realised that diesels could take some of the weight off their own couplings. But now the Fat Controller tells me that James has had a change of heart. These stories tell you how it happened.
The Author.
Old Stuck-Up.
BoCo is showing a visiting diesel around the line. When the diesel finds he is to share the shed with steam engines, he is disgusted and insults them, leading James to nickname him "Old Stuck-Up". The diesel sleeps outside the shed, and, when he wakes up the next day, remembers he has to refuel and be cleaned. In the part of the shed where BoCo and Bear sleep is a cleaning stop. The diesel decides to use it, but goes forward too quickly, slips on the oily rails and crashes into the back of the shed. After a stern talking to by the Fat Controller, the diesel then goes home in disgrace.
This wasn't really a good way to start a book. Old Stuck-Up, or so Boco calls him, has to be the least original character in the franchise. Say what you will about Nia and Rebecca, but at least they're original. Old Stuck-Up is just The Bowled Out Diesel with 199's livery. I feel his crash was done better in The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor since James had his accident without brake fluid and Old Stuck-Up had nothing wrong with him except for needing a clean and refuelling. Not a good way to start a book.
My rating: 4.5/10.
Crossed Lines.
The engines are fed up with James' complaining about diesels having two cabs and boasting about his importance. He becomes worse than ever when he has to take a goods train one misty day. James has to whistle to alert the signalman to switch the points, but another engine whistles first and the confused signalman switches the points as a well wagon is going over them, causing it to go sideways into a signal.
Man, James didn't have to complain about diesels having 2 cabs. Not all diesels have 2 cabs. I mean what about Mavis? What about Diesel? They have 1 cab each. What about Rusty? But at least James got his comeuppance on a foggy day. Too bad it ended up delaying the engines.
Man, James didn't have to complain about diesels having 2 cabs. Not all diesels have 2 cabs. I mean what about Mavis? What about Diesel? They have 1 cab each. What about Rusty? But at least James got his comeuppance on a foggy day. Too bad it ended up delaying the engines.
My rating: 7/10.
Fire Engine.
During a discussion about paint one night, Henry remarks he is thankful he doesn't look like a fire-engine, like James, but James makes a crafty rejoinder and the joke turns to Henry. Henry, furious, broods over paying James out and bangs around so much the coupling on his tender breaks, with the movement knocking part of Henry's fire onto the line. Edward comes to take Henry's train and tells the others. James notes that Henry has never made comments about fire engines since.
Poor Henry. Can't catch a break, can he? This is how Henry should be nowadays. Henry Gets the Express did it in a similar way, only there, Henry had no accidents. Here, he lost a bit of his fire. And this is one story that proves how close Edward and Henry are as friends. This would've been an interesting episode for TV. Henry not being red? Wait until 9 books later...
Poor Henry. Can't catch a break, can he? This is how Henry should be nowadays. Henry Gets the Express did it in a similar way, only there, Henry had no accidents. Here, he lost a bit of his fire. And this is one story that proves how close Edward and Henry are as friends. This would've been an interesting episode for TV. Henry not being red? Wait until 9 books later...
My rating: 9.5/10.
Deep Freeze.
One wintery day, James takes on too much water at Crovan's Gate and his injector fails. A diesel comes to the rescue, and although James feels humiliated at first, he quickly befriends the diesel and has since never made fun of diesels.
Now this is what The Big Freeze should've been! Since James was frozen, he was helped by The Works Diesel, while in the episode I mentioned, Thomas was frozen and left there with no help. (though it could've been an opportunity to bring Boco back) This story further shows James developing as a character.
My rating: 9.5/10.
Stray observations:
Old Stuck-Up's number is 40125. The real engine with that number was scrapped in 1983.
It was nice of Gordon to mention his brothers and Duck to mention King James 1.
Final thoughts:
This book was rather weak. An unoriginal diesel and James being unaccepting of diesels. Though it improved with James learning his lesson. Too bad this was Bear's final book.
My rating: 7.8/10.
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.
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.
20. Very Old Engines: 9.1/10.
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.
28. James and the Diesel Engines: 7.8/10.
30. More About Thomas the Tank Engine: 8.8/10.
40. New Little Engine: 5.7/10.
RWS rating so far: 9.2/10.
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