Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images
29. Great Little Engines.
Written by: Christopher Awdry.
Illustrated by: Clive Spong.
Published: 28 October 1985.
Illustrated by: Clive Spong.
Published: 28 October 1985.
Life is never dull on the Skarloey Railway, and not much has changed since Duke returned and went to the works. What happens here?
Foreword:
Foreword:
Sir Handel has been helping on the Talyllyn Railway, at Towyn, in Wales.
"You could write a book about it," he said when I went to see him.
Sir Handel was conceited before he went: whatever would happen, I thought, if he had a book all to himself? But some of his adventures were too good to waste, so I mixed them with stories about the other engines. That ought to keep everyone happy.
The Author
Patience is a Virtue.
Sir Handel is delighted to have been chosen to visit the Talyllyn Railway, but cannot leave until Duke's restoration has been completed. When summer comes, Sir Handel's trains become longer. One day at the waterfall there are not enough coaches and some passengers have to crowd in Beatrice. Sir Handel becomes impatient waiting for the guard to check all the tickets, and when he can finally go Sir Handel leaves without the guard. Luckily, a passenger presses Beatrice's emergency buzzer and Sir Handel realises his mistake. Sir Handel collects the guard and races home, and arrives at Crovan's Gate on time, where the guard reminds him "patience is a virtue".
This story just copies Thomas and the Guard, but in a good way. Of course Gordon calls Sir Handel "indispensable" which Sir Handel misheard as "Insensible", funny how Sir Handel could mishear that. The title of this story spoils the moral. Patience is a Virtue. Silly Sir Handel!
My rating: 9.5/10.
Peter Sam and the Prickly Problem.
With Duke fully restored, Sir Handel leaves for the Talyllyn Railway. Meanwhile, men have been trimming bushes so the passengers can see the scenery, but Rusty does not have enough time to pick up the branches and so they remain where they are. One day, Peter Sam sees some branches on the line, and, not wanting to miss James' train, recklessly ploughs through. Unfortunately, they become jammed in his valve gear and although the worst is cut out Peter Sam's front feels very sore for several days afterwards.
Poor Peter Sam! Can't catch a break, can he? First the engines laugh about his special funnel, and now, they laugh at him for having a prickly problem! If Rusty didn't have enough time to pick up the branches, maybe the men could've picked them up. Though this just goes to show how careful you have to be around nature.
Poor Peter Sam! Can't catch a break, can he? First the engines laugh about his special funnel, and now, they laugh at him for having a prickly problem! If Rusty didn't have enough time to pick up the branches, maybe the men could've picked them up. Though this just goes to show how careful you have to be around nature.
My rating: 8/10.
Pop Special.
Some boy scouts are camping near the Skarloey Railway and the scoutmaster arranges for them to do work on the line. One sweltering day, Duncan is stopped by the scoutmaster, who is afraid the Scouts will become cross if they do not get their soda. The Refreshment Lady has run out of soda, but another tea-shop has enough to spare, and Duncan delivers the soda to the grateful scouts.
Here we go! Some character development for Duncan. He didn't complain one bit about having to deliver soda to the scouts. Nice of him to do that, and heroic too. Good to hear about a Refreshment Lady.
Here we go! Some character development for Duncan. He didn't complain one bit about having to deliver soda to the scouts. Nice of him to do that, and heroic too. Good to hear about a Refreshment Lady.
My rating: 9.5/10.
Sir Handel Comes Home.
Sir Handel returns from the Talyllyn and tells the engines about his adventures. Some members of the royal family came to visit during his stay, and although Sir Handel did not get to pull their train he did get to pull a party of wedding guests. When Peter Sam talks about his incident with the branches Sir Handel remembers a similar incident: he was puffing to Nant Gwernol when a fallen tree hit him in the face. Although his eye was not badly hurt, his crew made a huge fuss about it and even went so far as to bandage his eye and give him an eyepatch. Sir Handel loved his trip, but is glad to be home.
Don't know why, but Sir Handel with an eyepatch was funny. And it's too bad we didn't see in full detail what he did while he was at the Talyllyn Railway. Makes perfect sense the foreword for this book to show every story in this book be mixed.
My rating: 9.5/10.
Stray observations:
Duke was at the sheds in Patience is a Virtue. Why? He was supposed to be at the works!
The very same year this book was published, Sir Hadyn, Sir Handel's basis, was painted red to look like Sir Handel so that the last story could be based on the real event.
The very same year this book was published, Sir Hadyn, Sir Handel's basis, was painted red to look like Sir Handel so that the last story could be based on the real event.
Why was Sir Handel in the sheds in the last illustrations in Peter Sam and the Prickly Problem? He was supposed to be at Wales.
Final thoughts:
This is a very good way to continue the books that Christopher wrote. Too bad he didn't write much for these little engines, especially considering how well he wrote this book.
My rating: 8.9/10.
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.
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.
29. Great Little Engines: 8.9/10.
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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