Duck And The Diesel Engine

Railway Series #13

by W. Awdry, John T. Kenney (Illustrator)

This remarkably epic volume was the first to elaborate upon the character of Duck, who had appeared briefly in ‘Percy The Small Engine’. This was also the first volume to see a diesel engine on the Fat Controller’s railway. Yet, this diesel was to be the Railway Series’ first true villain – a specific characteristic that stressed Awdry’s strong opposition to the modernisation of railways with diesel traction. The stories tell of how the baneful visitor makes Duck highly unpopular with the other engines and has him briefly exiled. The Great Western hero must win back the trust of his friends by preventing a serious accident. Additionally, this volume was the first to ‘guest-star’ a ‘real’ engine -‘City of Truro’.description from J. Smith, sodor-island.netDomeless EnginesPop Goes The DieselDirty WorkA Close Shave

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books

64 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1957

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

[Lynn Maitlen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so Awdry didn’t like Diesel engines 😂 very apparent here

Anyway, I liked this one quite a bit. Not sure how kids would feel about it, or get all of the references, but as a young adult (and kid at heart), I appreciate the art and messages these stories have to offer. Don’t gossip should be an easy thing to abide by.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another outstanding volume in this series, this time focusing on Duck. For the first time, the Rev W. Awdry introduces a diesel engine to his railway, but he is not a pleasant character, as he goes around telling lies about Duck, getting him in trouble with the Fat Controller, and making him very unpopular with the other engines. However, when Duck is sent away, Diesel shows his true colours, but not before Duck is involved in a horrible accident. This book also has a surprise in store, as we meet 'City of Truro', a real life engine who visits Sodor. The stories are all enjoyable to read aloud, particularly, I think in the second story, and your children will probably sympathise with Duck. This book is illustrated by John Kenney, the illustrator behind many great Ladybird Books.

[Andrew Ives · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never been the biggest fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, even when I was little in the 1970s because even by that time, steam trains were a thing of the past. The idea of them talking to each other seemed rather silly too. I only ever had one such book and an audiobook LP, neither of which distracted me from my Top Trumps, Corgi cars and Panini stickers too often.

Reading this now, in the cold light of day, I still feel much the same. The vocabulary about sidings, shuntings, City of Truro and whatnot is going to take some tiresome explaining to modern kids at bedtime. The illustrations are the best thing about this book, but even they are rather samey. The plot is very slight indeed, and slightly bitchy with Diesel backbiting and telling lies about Duck and the other trains. Not really my idea of the ideal bedtime fairytale. Give me a Ladybird book any day. 2.5/5

[RJC · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stories in one. Nice read.

[Sofia K · Rating 5 out of 5]

cool

[Meowcats TV · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introduction of Diesel engines in the series, and a classic.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes:
we read these books so many times
the classic series is the only way to enjoy Thomas