RWS No. 32: Toby, Trucks and Trouble + Season 4 overall

Here comes the first Railway Series book without "Engine" or "Engines" in the title.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images

32. Toby, Trucks and Trouble.
Written by: Christopher Awdry.
Illustrated by: Clive Spong.
Published: 19 September 1988.

It's time to return to Thomas' branch line, but how does it play off?

Foreword:

Dear Friends,
Trucks are silly things. They rattle, bang and chatter to each other so much that they can never hear what their engine says. Even if they did, they probably wouldn't take any notice. They pushed Mavis into a lorry, and that made extra work for Toby and Percy while she was being mended.

But on the other hand, perhaps they're not all bad - after all, they did teach Bulstrode a lesson. See what you think.

The Author

Mavis and the Lorry.

Mavis is bringing trucks down from Anopha Quarry when she sees a lorry at the crossing, where vehicles often come across with dangerous speed and turns. The driver, who is new to Sodor and does not expect to see an engine, has his lorry turned over into a ditch when it collides with Mavis. Although the driver is unharmed but surprised, Mavis' cowcatcher is bent, and while she is being mended Toby is sent to work at the quarry, leaving Percy with extra work.

Well, here's a story that focuses on Mavis, and it turned out pretty good. Just goes to show how dangerous it can be to drive a vehicle so fast. This episode would've been brilliant for TV as it can show dangerous speeding can lead to consequences. But the problem here is why was the lorry on its side instead of on the ditch?

My rating: 9.5/10.

103. Toby's Seaside Holiday/Special Attraction. (Part 1)

Toby remiscises about his days working at a harbour in Yarmouth. One day, his crew told him they were allowed to go to a local village's seaside festival. After receiving brand-new paintwork, he set off to the village. After a night on a siding, Toby was told they did not have room for him, but the real reason was that they were afraid he would show everyone else up. However, Toby's daydream is interrupted when his crew returns. Toby leaves, noting the Fat Controller would have organised the whole event better.

Don't know why this was combined with Bulstrode when it was adapted for TV. It would've been wiser to adapt the 2 stories as individuals since this story tells about how Toby used to work in Yarmouth. Now if only we could find out how he moved to East Anglia. 

My rating: 9/10.

103. Bulstrode/Special Attraction. (Part 2)
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 17 November 1995. US: 20 November 1995. AUS: 24 May 1996.

Percy is told to go to Knapford Harbour to help with an emergency. There, the trucks ask him to unload their stone into Bulstrode, a cantankerous old barge to get away from his constant complaining. Unfortunately as Percy starts to push, a coupling breaks and some trucks run into Bulstrode, who nearly drowns, but luckily for him the tide is out. The trucks are sad of losing their friends, but happy because they won't have to deal with Bulstrode anymore. The workmen rescue some stone, Percy takes the broken trucks to the scrapyard, and Bulstrode is towed to a beach so children can play in him.

It would've been wiser if Bulstrode was adapted on its own. 'eck, have Bulstrode the Barge say rude words to Percy the Small Engine to make it feel more complete, like the Story Library book that's based on this story. Saying this is a bad adaptation would be stretching it, but overall, Special Attraction was alright, at least it shows that bullies get what's coming to them. 

RWS rating: 9/10.

TV rating: 6.5/10.

Toby Takes the Road.

Terence takes care of the shunting for Percy while he is at the harbour, and brags about how he can "go anywhere and do anything". Then one day, Toby is going to the quarry one frosty morning. At the crossing, the earth has swelled over the rails, derailing Toby and creating two long ruts in the road nearby. With some quick thinking on the fireman's part Toby gets back on the rails, and his crew spread some of his ashes to prevent that incident from happening again. The Fat Controller soon finds out, but all he says is that Toby should stick to the railway. Toby happily agrees.

Who would've known that Terence would finally get another Railway Series appearance in almost 40 years? I tell you, it was interesting to see Toby go on the road for a change, especially since some trams have travelled on roads. This story would've been a great choice for TV.

My rating: 9/10.

Stray observations:

Christopher regretted not using "Engines" in the title since it broke the tradition of the book series, but it did lead to extra book ideas.

Final thoughts:

Another of Christopher's best books. More story ideas, the introduction of Bulstrode, and the return of Terence, and we learn more about Toby the Tram Engine's backstory. Hmm...where was Thomas in this book? We'll find out in the next book. 

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.

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.

31. Gordon the High-Speed Engine: 9.1/10.

32. Toby, Trucks and Trouble: 9.1/10.

40. New Little Engine: 5.7/10.

RWS rating so far: 9.1/10.

Season 4 final thoughts:

I don't see Season 4 as the best season of the show. Sure, it had many solid adaptations and beautiful scenery, but the main problem with it is the narrow gauge engines had more than half of the season. Not that they're bad characters or anything. You know, if I was the creator of the TV series, I would've adapted all of books 1-8 for Season 1, books 9-16 for Season 2, books 17, 19-24 for Season 3, book 18 as a special, book 25 as a special and books 26-32 for Season 4 and books 32-40 for Season 5. But instead, the structure was kind of weak, the standard gauge episodes were a bit of filler and the Duke stories were adapted first instead of last. But even so, I still love this season regardless.

Season 4 episodes from least favourite to favourite:

5/10.

26. Mind that Bike.

25. Rusty to the Rescue.

5.5/10.

24. Thomas and Stepney.

6/10.

23. Sleeping Beauty.

6.5/10.

22. Special Attraction.

8/10.

21. Granpuff.

20. A Bad Day for Sir Handel.

19. Special Funnel.

8.5/10.

18. Henry and the Elephant.

17. Bulls Eyes.

16. Toad Stands By.

15. Bulldog.

14. Trucks!

9/10.

13. Paint Pots and Queens.

12. You Can't Win.

11. 4 Little Engines.

10. Train Stops Play.

9.5/10.

9. Home at Last.

8. Passengers and Polish.

7. Steam Roller.

6. Bowled Out.

10/10.

5. Rock n' Roll.

4. Gallant Old Engine.

3. Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady.

2. Fish.

1. Thomas and the Special Letter.

Season 4 average score: 9/10.

Final score: 9.1/10.