Thomas and the Trucks

by W. Awdry

Based on Thomas the Tank Engine (Railway Series #2)

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1990

About the author

Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE, better known as the Rev. W. Awdry, was an English clergyman, railway enthusiast and children's author, and creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, who starred in Awdry's acclaimed Railway Series.

The characters that would make Awdry famous, and the first stories featuring them, were invented in 1943 to amuse his son Christopher during a bout of measles. The first book (The Three Railway Engines) was published in 1945, and by the time Awdry stopped writing in 1972, The Railway Series numbered 26 books. Christopher subsequently added further books to the series.

Reviews

[Ian McHugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas the Tank Engine is getting well fed up of pushing coaches around the yard. Filled with wanderlust, he wistfully articulates that he'd like to see the world. (It isn't mentioned how a train, restricted as it is to stay on rails, will be able to "see the world" but it's a child's book so maybe I'm over-thinking). Thomas' mate Edward doesn't mind taking one for the team and allows Thomas to do his run the next day. Thomas is well chuffed. Not really realizing the work involved in taking trucks about, Thomas is a bit of a wuss to start and begins bitching at the trucks to get a move on...big mistake. Thomas seems to forget that the first rule of management is to share you vision and mission with your team before you begin a task and, having not articulated his vision clearly, he ends up just pathetically pleading with the trucks to "hurry, hurry". The trucks take umbrage to his calls to get a move on and push him right passed the station - much to the annoyance of a load of commuters who've probably been stood there for a while whilst he gets his act together. The people are peeved, the trucks are delighted that they've got one over their tyrannical and inexperienced new boss, and the Fat Controller is incandescent with rage because he's going to have to deal with all of the irate passengers. In true weasly management style, Thomas then tries to blame the trucks. The Fat Controller is having none of it and tells him he has a lot to learn. Quite.
I'm unsure whether Flo got all of this when we read it. She just seemed to like the fact the trucks were quite naughty for pushing Thomas passed the station platform. She also showed great empathy for Thomas and was genuinely concerned with the sad face he had when he was being told off by the Fat Controller.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The usual book/episode in which Thomas learns to be a little less of a blowhard.