The Railway Series

The Railway Series (1945-1946, 1948-1970, 1972, 1983-1996, 2007, 2011) is a set of story books about a fictional railway located on the fictional Island of Sodor and the engines that lived on it. Note: This article generally contains quotes from stories that have not been adapted for the television series Thomas and Friends. The 3 Railway Engines (1945) Edward's Day Out Edward and Gordon The Sad Story of Henry Edward, Gordon and Henry Thomas the Tank Engine (1946) Thomas and Gordon Thomas was a tank engine who lived at a Big Station. He had six small wheels, a short stumpy funnel, a short stumpy boiler, and a short stumpy dome. – Thomas the Tank Engine Thomas's Train Thomas and the Trucks Thomas and the Breakdown Train James the Red Engine (1948) James and the Top Hat Fat Controller: You’re a special mixed traffic engine. You’ll be able to pull coaches or trucks quite easily. James and the Bootlace Narrator: The next morning, The Fat Controller spoke severely to James. The Fat Controller: If you can’t behave, i shall take away your red coat and have you painted blue. So there! Narrator: James didn’t like that at all. Troublesome Trucks Driver: Look out for trouble, James. We’ll go fast and get them up before they know it. Don’t let them stop you. James: I’m doing it! I’m doing it! Will the top never come? I’ve done it! I’ve done it! Hurrah, it’s easy now. Driver: They’ve done it again. We’ve left our tail behind! James: That’s why it was easy. What silly things trucks are! There might have been an accident. James and the Express James: Hullo,Gordon! Is it tomorrow? Did you lose your way, Gordon? Gordon: No, it was lost for me. I was switched off the main line on to the loop; I had to go all round and back again. James: Perhaps it was instinct. Tank Engine Thomas Again (1949) Thomas and the Guard Thomas Goes Fishing Thomas, Terence and the Snow Thomas and Bertie Troublesome Engines (1950) Henry and the Elephant Tenders and Turntables Trouble in the Shed Percy Runs Away Henry the Green Engine (1951) Coal The Flying Kipper Gordon's Whistle Percy and the Trousers Henry's Sneeze Toby the Tram Engine (1952) Toby and the Stout Gentleman Thomas in Trouble Dirty Objects Mrs. Kyndley's Christmas Gordon the Big Engine (1953) Off the Rails Schoolboys: [singing] Silly old Gordon fell in a ditch, Fell in a ditch, fell in a ditch. Silly old Gordon fell in a ditch, All on a Monday morning. Leaves Down the Mine Narrator: One day, Thomas was at the junction, when Gordon shuffled in with some trucks. Thomas: Poh! What a funny smell. Can you smell a smell? Annie: I can’t smell a smell. Thomas: A funny musty sort of smell. Gordon: No one noticed it to you did. It must be yours. Narrator: Not that long ago, he had fallen into a dirty ditch, Thomas enjoyed teasing him about it. Thomas: Annie, Clarabel. Do you know what i think it is? It’s ditch water. Narrator: Before Gordon could answer, Thomas puffed away. Annie and Clarabel could hardly believe their ears. Annie and Clarabel: He’s dreadfully rude, i feel quite ashamed. I feel quite ashamed, he’s dreadfully rude. You mustn’t be rude, you make us ashamed. Narrator: But Thomas didn’t care a bit. Thomas: That was funny. That was funny. Narrator: He felt very pleased with himself. Annie and Clarabel were deeply shocked. They have great respect for Gordon, the big engine. Thomas left the coaches at the station, and went off to a mine for some trucks. Long ago, miners digging for lead have made tunnels under the ground. Their roofs are strong enough to hold up trucks, but not the weight of engines. A large notice board warns them not to enter the area. “Danger! Engines must not pass this board!” Thomas: Silly old board! Narrator: He had tried to pass it and he had never succeeded. But this morning, he had a plan. He had to push the empty trucks into one siding and pull four ones from the other. The fireman went to turn the points. Thomas’s Fireman: Come on! Narrator: The driver leaned out of the cab to see where they were going. Thomas: Now for my plan! Narrator: And bumping the trucks fiercely, he jerked his driver off the footplate and followed them into the siding. Thomas: Hurrah! Stupid old board. There’s no danger. There’s no danger. Thomas’s Driver and Fireman: Look out! Come back! Narrator: But it was too late. Thomas: Fire and smoke! I’ve sunk! Narrator: And he was. Thomas could just see out of the hole, but he couldn’t move. Thomas: Oh dear. I am a silly engine. The Fat Controller: And a very naughty one too. I saw you. Thomas: Please get me out! I won’t be naughty again! The Fat Controller: I’m not sure. We can’t lift you out with a crane. The ground’s not firm enough. Hmm. Let me see. I wonder if Gordon could pull you out. Thomas: Yes sir. Narrator: But Thomas didn’t want to meet Gordon just yet. When Gordon heard about Thomas, he laughed very loudly. Gordon: Down a mine is he?! Ho! Ho! Ho! What a joke! What a joke! Narrator: Then he went off to rescue Thomas. Gordon: Poop! Poop! Little Thomas! We’ll have you out in a couple of puffs. Narrator: Strong cables were fastened between the two engines. The Fat Controller: Are you ready?! Heave! Narrator: It was a lot harder than they all thought. But at last, Thomas was free. Smokescreen Inspector: The Fat Controller says that Gordon blew ashes on his top hat as he passed Edward’s station. Narrator: Gordon was horrified. Gordon: (gasps indignantly) What?! I did NOT do it, and I was being extra careful this time, honest….! Paint Pots and Queens Edward the Blue Engine (1954) Cows Bertie's Chase Saved from Scrap Old Iron 4 Little Engines (1955) Skarloey Remembers Sir Handel Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady Old Faithful Percy the Small Engine (1956) Percy and the Signal Duck Takes Charge Percy and Harold Percy's Promise 8 Famous Engines (1957) Percy Takes the Plunge Gordon Goes Foreign Gordon: When I was young and green, I remember going to London. Do you know the place? The station's called King's Cross. The Engine: (scoffs) King's Cross?! London's Euston. Everybody knows that. Duck: Pah! London's Paddington. I know. I worked there. The Narrator: They argued till they went to sleep. They argued when they woke up. They were still arguing when the other engine went away. Gordon:(Irritated) Silly thing. I've no patience. Duck: Silly yourself. London's Paddington, PADDINGTON, do you hear? James: Stop complaining, you make me tired. You're both agreed about something anyway. Gordon and Duck: What's that? James: London's not Euston. Now stow it. Gordon: I'm sure it's King's Cross. I'll go and prove it. Gordon: Come on! Let's go! Narrator: It was only a few minutes before the Guard blew his whistle; but Gordon thought it was ages! Gordon: (To the coaches) COME ON! COME ON! Gordon: Never mind I like a good run to stretch my wheels. The Fat Controller: I wonder how Gordon's getting on. The Stationmaster: Excuse me Sir, have you seen the news? The Fat Controller: Not yet. Why? The Stationmaster: Just look at this Sir. Narrator: The Fat Controller took the news paper. The Fat Controller: Good gracious me! There's Gordon. Headlines too! 'FAMOUS ENGINE AT LONDON STATION. POLICE CALLED TO CONTROL CROWDS'. The Fat Controller: I see you had a good welcome in London. Gordon's Driver and Fireman: We certainly did Sir! We signed autographs till our arms ached, and Gordon had his photograph taken from so many directions at once that he didn't which way to look! The Fat Controller: Good! I expect he enjoyed himself. Didn't you Gordon? Gordon: No Sir, I didn't. The Fat Controller: Why ever not? Gordon: (Sadly) London's all wrong, they've changed it. It isn't King's Cross any more. It's St Pancras. Double Header The Fat Controller's Engines Duck and the Diesel Engine (1958) Domeless Engines Pop Goes the Diesel Dirty Work A Close Shave The Little Old Engine (1959) Trucks! Home at Last Rock 'n' Roll Little Old Twins The Twin Engines (1960) Hullo Twins! Narrator: The trucks complained bitterly; but then, trucks always do and no one takes much notice. The coaches complained too. No sooner had they arrived with one train, then they had to go out again with fresh passengers as another. Coaches: We don't know whether we're coming or going. We feel quite distracted. Henry: No one can say that we're afraid of hard work, but... Gordon: We draw the line at goods trains. James: Dirty goods train, dirty sidings. Ugh! Duck: What are you boiler aching about? I remember on the great western... Gordon: That tinpot railway.... Duck: Tinpot indeed! Let me tell you... The Fat Controller: I hear you've lost your numbers. How did that happen? 57645 and 57646: They maun hae slyly slippit aff Sir. Ye ken hoo it is. The Fat Controller: I know. Accidentally on purpose. 57646: Sirr! Ye wadnae be thinkin' we lost them on purrpose? The Fat Controller: I'm not so sure. Now then, which of you is 57646? 57645 and 57646: That, Sirr, is juist what we canna mind. The Fat Controller: What are your names? 57645 and 57646: Donal an' Douggie, Sirr. The Fat Controller: Good! Then your controller can tell me which is which. Donald and Douglas: Och! Ye’ll get no muckle help fae him, Sirr. The Fat Controller: Why? Donald and Douglas: He disna ken oor names Sirr. Hoo cud he? We only gien oorsels names when we lost oor nummers. The Fat Controller: One of you is playing truant. I shall find him out and send him home. Inspector give these engines numbers, and set them to work. The Missing Coach Donald: You may have noticed, Douggie, that the painters forgot something. Douglas: What did they forget? Donald: They painted brand new numbers on our tenders, but they put none on us. Douglas: You mean... Donald: Just that. Now hush, here’s the inspector. The Inspector: Now 9 and 10, here's Duck. He'll show you round before you start work. Donald: We like it fine here. Duck: That's good, but take my tip, watch out for Gordon, Henry and James. They're sure to try some nonsense. Douglas: Don’t worry yourself. We'll soon settle them. Narrator: Donald and Douglas had deep toned whistles. Gordon: They sound like Buses. Henry: (chuckles) Or ships. Gordon: Tugboat Annie! (laughs) Donald: You wouldn't be making fun of us would you know? Gordon: Uh, no. Henry: No, no, certainly not. Douglas: That's fine. Know just mind the both of you, and keep it that way. Narrator: That was the way Gordon and Henry kept it! The Fat Controller: (gasps) Number 9, and why have you not taken the goods? Douglas: My tender is away Sir. The Fat Controller: I see, some defect no doubt. Tell me, why did #10 leave so quickly? Douglas: Maybe, sir, he saw you coming and thought he was late. The Fat Controller: Hmm. The Fat Controller: Douglas, why are you masquerading with Donald's tender? Break Van The Deputation Branch Line Engines (1961) Thomas Comes to Breakfast Daisy Bulls Eyes Percy's Predicament The Fat Controller: Gallant Old Engine (1962) Special Funnel Peter Sam: Oh dear! Someone’s squashed it. Thin Controller: It’s a Giesl, the most up to date funnel there is. Listen! With your old funnel puffing is hard work. It uses strength you need for pulling trains. Your new funnel has special pipes that help the air come easily. Puffing will be easier, so you will have more strength for your work. Peter Sam: Yes, Sir. Steamroller Skarloey: Oh dear! He’s worse than ever. I’m sorry my plan was no good. Rusty: Never mind. We’ll think of something else. Boy: Look! Here’s Sir Handel. He raced a steam roller last week. The roller nearly beat him too. It was most exciting. Passengers and Polish Nancy: Wake up, lazybones! Your brass is filthy. Aren’t you ashamed Skarloey: No. You’re just an old fusspot. Go away! Nancy: Rheneas comes home tomorrow. Don’t you want to look nice? Skarloey: What! Tomorrow! Nancy: Yes, daddy told me. I’m going now. Skarloey: Nancy, stop! Do I really look nice. Please polish me again. There’s a good kind girl. Nancy: Now who’s an old fusspot? Duncan: Aren’t you going to polish me? Nancy: Sorry, not today. I’m helping the Refreshment Lady this afternoon. We must get the ices and things ready for the passengers on Skarloey’s two o clock train. Never mind, Duncan, I’ll give you a good polish tomorrow. Gallant Old Engine Thin Controller: Your valve gear on one side had jammed. We’ve unfastened the rods and tied them up. Now Rheneas, we need to reach the next station. Can you pull us there on one cylinder? Rheneas: I’ll try Sir, but the next station isn’t the right station. Will the passengers be cross ? Thin Controller: Don’t worry. They know we can’t reach the top station today. Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine (1963) Bluebells of England Stepney's Special Train Stops Play Bowled Out Mountain Engines (1964) Mountain Engine Bad Look Out Danger Points "Devil's Back" Very Old Engines (1965) Crosspatch Bucking Bronco Stick-in-the-Mud Duck and Dukes Main Line Engines (1966) The Diseasel Buzz, Buzz Wrong Road Edward's Exploit Small Railway Engines (1967) Ballast Donald and Douglas: Verra wee engines bring the ballast down from the hills. Gordon: I don't believe it. Donald and Douglas have pulled our wheels before. Rex: What d'you think of our 'chute'? Good isn't it? Duck: Where did you spring from? Rex: I've been here all the time. I'm Rex and you, I'm sure, are Duck. Duck: How did you know? Rex: That's easy; there's only one great western engine in these parts. Rex: (To Duck) As you can see, the small controller's given us different coats. Mike: (Grumbles) Silly nonsense. Bert: (Protests) I like being blue. Mike: (Fumes) It's all right for you, but not for me. Passengers'll say I look like a pillar box! Rex: Shocking! Consider my feelings. When we were both green. Passengers kept calling me "Mike"! Mike: (Splutters) You...you... Bert: Stop it, you two. Duck, have you seen our coaches? Duck: Where are they? Bert: Over there. Duck: But they're trucks...(Finishes lamely) I mean they're not like ours. Rex: I agree. They are like trucks, but they behave surprisingly well. Mike: (rudely) Says you. Tit for Tat Bert's Driver: We've got visitors today Mike: We have 'em every day. Bert's Driver: But these are special. One takes 'moving pictures' and the other writes books. So mind you all behave. Bert: I don't want to be a moving picture in a book. I want to stay as I am. Bert: They did it on purpose! Bert: They splashed me! They SPLASHED me! Bert: Pictures indeed! Bert: I'm a nice picture; covered in mud! Narrator: He sizzled crossly when the Fat Clergyman sat in his tender for the journey back. Bert: Driver oughtn't to allow him after what he's done! Bert: (To himself) I know how to pay the Fat One out. It's a lovely plan. I only wish the Thin One was there too. Bert: Tit for Tat! TIT for TAT! The Small Controller: You're a very naughty engine. I won't have rudeness to visitors. Bert: (Falters) They splashed me. I only.... (Bert is probably crying as he's talking) The Small Controller: That's no excuse I'm ashamed of you. Bert: (To Rex and Mike) Those visitors are nice. They came and said 'sorry', and I said 'sorry' too. Then they cleaned me like driver does. They know lots about engines. The Thin One's writing about me in a book. He promised he'd write about you too. Think of that! Mike's Whistle Mike: Oh, goodness! It's shocking! If engines can't whistle properly, they shouldn't try. Bert: Then why do you? Mike: Why do I what? Bert: Try to whistle, of course. Mike: Stop laughing! You're jealous. Narrator: Mike was proud of his shrill whistle. Mike: Mine's better than yours anyway. Rex: Listen, Mike. If I had a whistle like yours, d'you know what I'd do? (Pauses impressively) I'd lose it. Mike: (Splutters) The Idea! Whistles are important, let me tell you. Engines without whistles aren't proper engines at all. Narrator: Mike went redder than ever with fury. His steam pressure went up suddenly, and his safety-valves blew off, "Whoooooosh!" Mike's driver: Hello! As you're ready first, you'd better take the 'passenger'. Mike: What! and leave my goods? Mike's driver: Yes, Bert can do that. We can't have you blowing off in here. Come on! Mike's driver: What's bitten him? He doesn't like coaches, but he's never been as bad as this. Mike: (muttering) They're jealous, they're jealous. I'll show them! I'll show them! Mike's driver: (remarks) He's in a flaming temper about something. The Small Controller: I've no spare whistles. So you'll have to wait. It serves you right for being such a cross patch. Thomas: (as Mike comes in) What's that? Rex: Oh! Take no notice. It's an Improper engine. Bert: Why Improper? He looks all right to me. Rex: It's got no whistle. Bert: Oh dear! How shocking! We don't approve of his sort, do we? Useful Railway Narrator: Mike had trouble with some sheep. He grumbled about them dreadfully. Rex: They're silly but they're useful. Mike: What! Rex: Farmers sell their wool. Mike: What's that? Rex: People make clothes from wool. You know - things they wear instead of paint. Bert: But I don't understand, Sir. We can't drive sheep down the line. They wouldn't go straight. Rex: Silly! We don't drive sheep, we take their wool, in bales on trucks. It'll be easy. The Small Controller: (Laughs) Very well, Rex. You seem to know all about it, so you shall take the next train. Willie: Crumbs! That's torn it! I must warn Rex. Rex: (happily to himself) I said it was easy! I said it was easy! Rex: Stop! Stop! Stop! (Narrator: He whistled.) The trucks: On! On! On! (Narrator: Urged the silly trucks.) The passengers: Ooh! Look! There's been an accident! Rex: That accident served me right for being swanky. Bert: No. It wasn't your fault at all. Mike: Sorry we laughed. The Small Controller: I'm proud of you all. Thanks to Rex, the accident did little harm. Bert and Mike worked like heroes, and our customers admire the way we managed. They thought we were a 'toy railway', but now they say we're Really Useful. They've promised us plenty more work when the wool traffic is done. Enterprising Engines (1968) Tenders for Henry Flying Scotsman: You’re changed a lot. Gordon: I had a rebuild at Crewe. They didn’t do a proper Doncaster job of course, but it serves. Flying Scotsman: I had a rebuild too and looked hideous. But my owner said I was an extra special engine and made them give me back my proper shape. Gordon: Is that why you have two tenders, being special? Flying Scotsman: No. You’d hardly believe it, Gordon, but over there they’ve hardly any coal and water. Gordon: But surely, every proper railway... Flying Scotsman: Exactly. You are lucky, Gordon, to have a controller who knows how to run railways. Super Rescue Driver: Well! Well! Well! Did you hear what Signalman said? Henry: I thought they’d be laughing at me! Driver: Moving two dead diesels and their trains? That’s no joke for a failed engine. D’you think you can do it? Henry: I’ll have a good try. Anyway 7101’s better that old Spamcan. He did try and silent him up last night. Driver: Come on then, we mustn’t keep the passengers waiting. Henry: Get moving you! Escape Douglas: No time to turn round, I maun run tender firrst. The Diesel: Yoohoo! Yoohoo! A steamer’s escaping! Yoohoo! Douglas: Take no notice Foreman: Aha! A Western engine! A western auto coach, and goods brake too! You can’t take these. Driver: Can we no! They’re all fer uz. See fer yeself. Foreman: Seems in order, but it’s queer. Guard: Sure, and it is, but I could tell you queerer... Foreman: So could I! Right away Guard. Little Western Duck: Beg pardon, Sir, but we do need another engine. Fat Controller: I agree Duck. That is why I am giving 7101 another chance. Gordon: Sir, we had hoped for a real engine. Fat Controller: They are rare, and unless one escapes, there’s little hope... Donald: But Sirr, one has... Fat Controller: and thanks to Douglas is now at our Works. Douglas: Sirr, is there anything ye don’t know? Fat Controller: More than you think. Oliver’s crew told me all you did, Douglas. Oliver the Western Engine (1969) Donald's Duck Resource and Sagacity Toad Stands By Bulgy Duke the Lost Engine (1970) Granpuff Bulldog You Can't Win! Sleeping Beauty Tramway Engines (1972) Ghost Train Woolly Bear Mavis Toby's Tightrope Really Useful Engines (1983) Stop, Thief! Mind That Bike Fish Triple Header James and the Diesel Engines (1984) Old Stuck-Up Crossed Lines Fire Engine Deep Freeze Great Little Engines (1985) Patience is a Virtue Peter Sam and the Prickly Problem Pop Special Sir Handel Comes Home More About Thomas the Tank Engine (1986) Thomas, Percy and the Coal The Runaway Better Late than Never Drip Tank Gordon the High Speed Engine (1987) High-Speed Gordon Smokescreen Fire Escape Gordon Proves His Point Toby, Trucks and Trouble (1988) Mavis and the Lorry Toby's Seaside Holiday Bulstrode Toby Takes the Road Thomas and the Twins (1989) Scrambled Eggs What a Picture! Trevor Helps Out Down the Drain Jock the New Engine (1990) We Need Another Engine Sticking Power Jock Teamwork Thomas and the Great Railway Show (1991) Museum Piece Not the Ticket Trouble on the Line Thomas and the Railtour Thomas Comes Home (1992) Snow Problem Washout! Toby's Megatrain Thomas Comes Home Henry and the Express (1993) Out of Puff Overhaul Sliding Scales Henry Sees Red Wilbert the Forest Engine (1994) Percy's Porridge Cab Over Wheels Foaming at the Funnel Wired Up Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines (1995) Birdstrike Edward and the Cabbages Rabbits Golden Jubilee New Little Engine (1996) Speedkiller Sir Handel's Plan Dirty Water I Name This Engine... Thomas and Victoria (2007) Overloaded Avalanche Eels on Wheels Toby's Vintage Train Thomas and his Friends (2011) Thomas and the Swan Buffer Bashing Gordon's Fire Service Centenary About the books I started my life-long interest in railways approximately 50 years ago when, one Christmas, I received a first edition of Thomas the Tank Engine in a parcel from Santa Claus. As a book dealer, I very much regret that I do not still own that first edition. My mother gave it away to the local hospital with a load of Eagle annuals and other things, which I also regret I no longer own. From a childhood enlivened by the Reverend W Awdry's books, I remember the wonderful character of the Fat Controller. He was a bureaucrat; he was a man with a hat; and he was derided by the people who really ran the railway – who, in those stories, were the engines – for not knowing much about rail engineering. It sounds a little like Railtrack. Lord Greaves, House of Lords Railtrack debate, Hansard, 5 April 2001 See also Thomas and Friends Category: Children's books Category:Thomas & Friends